Concerns about putting UTH on tub

[mj_romo]

I've had both of my BPs for approximately 15 years, and they've been in show tanks because they've generally been part of the decor in my home.

Recently, I've been trying to re-home them for a number of personal reasons - chief among those reasons being that we have a second child on the way and space is a crucial premium. However, I've been unsuccessful in finding a suitable re-home, partially because I really can't give them up.

So, I've decided to tub and rack them in order to save space and enable me to keep them in a different part of the house. Someone here was kind enough to send me some plans for what I'm going to use - my rack will also double as a bedside table.

My husband has some major concerns about tubbing, the primary concern being the danger of putting a UTH on a plastic tub. I've assured him that with a proper thermostat that there's no danger of melting the tub, but he's a bit nutty about this. I think it would help if he also was able to "hear" (read) it from other herpers who tub their reptiles.

If this could please be addressed positively but honestly, I would appreciate it. Thank you.

[MustBeSatan]

Hundreds of people on this site alone use Flexwatt to heat plastic tubs... If you just turned on Flexwatt without any sort of regulation, it could easily burn your snakes if not melt the tubs.

With a good thermostat and, if that doesn't placate your husband, a backup thermostat/rheostat (just get a lamp dimmer to use as a backup, 15$ or less at wal-mart/home depot/etc.) there should be no danger of using an under tank heater for your tubs.

I would recommend using aluminum foil tape or similar to hold the UTH on the bottom of the tub though, that way you can remove it much more easily than if you use the glue that comes on the UTH.

Tubs are awesome! I wish I could keep all my pets in tubs lol.

[seeya205]

A properly controlled uth is no problem under a tub! You need to get 38-41 qt tubs and measure them then make the rack that size. You just need enough space on each shelf to barely slide the tub in!

[Teresa]

I have 10 BP in tubs with UTH on them. They all have reostats to go with the UTH and I have had no problems. They have been set up this way for about 6 months.

[Vypyrz]

I have been using tubs for a while now. My UTH's are mounted directly to the tub and are ran with thermostats. I've had no problems. Actually, after I moved my snakes from tanks to tubs, I noticed a significant improvement in feeding response and got one of them who had previously rejected F/T to sucessfully switch...

[Kaorte]

Just to add to the pool of approval... I have been using tubs since shortly after I got my first snake. I only use flexwatt belly heat on a thermostat. I have never had any issues.

Is your husband concerned about a potential fire hazard? If the thermostat is controlling the UTH and keeping it in the low 90's there is no risk of it bursting into flames or anything like that. Especially if you are using a UTH and not flexwatt. Flexwatt gets much hotter unregulated than a regular UTH from the pet store does. That being said, a UTH will still get hot enough (unregulated) to burn or cook your snake, but not melt anything or set the plastic on fire.

[angllady2]

I use flexwatt under my tubs, and a proper thermostat, and I don't have any problems.

I was a bit nervous at first, but once I had everything set up, I knew there was nothing to worry about as long as I have my thermostat.

Gale

[snakesRkewl]

I've had sterilite locking tubs on flexwatt with a thermostat for 2 years now, no problems what so ever.

As long as the thermostat probe is taped down nicely so it can't be moved off of the flexwatt, then you shouldn't have any issues either.

[BPelizabeth]

I bought my first rack....sterilite tubs with flexwatt.....I personally use a herpstat. We are now building another rack and I have sterilites to put in it with flexwatt....again with another herpstat. We have not built the rack so they are just in tubs with the flexwatt. No problems.....just make sure you don't just leave the tub on the floor ......I put wood slats underneath to get an airflow.