Heat Tape?

[skinnyrascal]

I recently bought a huge plastic storage bin for my female ball python. I plan to move her into it as soon as I can so she'll have plenty of room to grow, and I hear heat tape is what's typically used for that type of enclosure(I can't use a tank because it would be way too heavy for me to move and clean). I just wanted to verify that it's completely safe for the snake and the plastic won't melt? How much/how big of a piece do I need - does a certain size provide a certain amount of heat? If you can recommend me any specific brands or sites that'd be great.
The tub is probably about 30-40 gallon, looking to heat it efficiently and just enough that an adult ball python would need.

[kitedemon]

heat tape is a bit of a slippery term, there is heat cable and heat films tape could be either.

NO heat source can should be used UNREGULATED

Typically in UTH that do not need to be wired I'd recommend ultratherm or lately zoo med *I think* (or kane) they are restricted heat and under no circumstances get hot enough to melt plastic. They max at 100ºF too hot to be use with out a regulator but not hot enough that if it failed it would be a huge issue.

Flexwatt is another carbon element (same as uths) but it comes un wired and needs to be wired it also gets VERY hot unregulated and it is not recommended to ever be used with out control the manufacturer states it should not be run over 100ºF but it will exceed 160º unregulated. In the case of a failure it can have steep consequences.

Heat cable or rope is coated wire that gets hot. It is wired and water resistant so it can be easier to deal with if it might get damp or splashed upon. It also gets quite hot and unregulated could cause severe problems.

The easiest for a single enclosure is a UTH I personally like the ultratherms solid and dependable and they run cooler than most so T-stat failure is not such a huge problem.

[skinnyrascal]

UTH = undertank heater? So those are safe for plastic bins as well?
What does it mean to 'regulate' the heat source?

[jbean7916]

Regulate by buying a thermostat or dimmer switch. Keeps the heat source at the temp you need it to be to be safe for your baby!

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

[Annarose15]

So, just to be clear, heat tape/UTH/heat cable is NOT going to increase your ambient temps by more than a degree or two, especially in a tub as enormous as 30-40 gallons. 41 quarts is the size I use for my full-grown females (2500g+), and many of them would be perfectly content in a 32-qt. as adults. If you have a hatchling, a tub that size could end up being a nightmare to clutter up enough for her to feel secure and to maintain proper temps in.

[kitedemon]

Yes UTH=under tank heater
Flexwatt = carbon heating element

These are all carbon heat elements in different configurations. The base tech is all the same however.

Example of a UTH http://beanfarm.com/product_info.php?products_id=5577

Regulators,

Dimmer (rheostat) they type used for home lighting. The simplest type they need absolutely stable room temps to work if the room varies the temp does too.

Thermostats vary the heat based on a reading from a probe (thermal sensor) that is placed on or near the heat source. they come in two basic varieties.

On/off type this is a dead basic type. It will run full power until the probe is over the temp set on the thermostat and shut down the heat until the probe cools below the set point then it starts over again. They do best in reasonably stable rooms temps with low power heating elements (like an ultratherm that do not get too hot too quickly) and heavy enclosures (that do not heat or cool quickly) The should be used in conjunction with a good or know accuracy thermometer as they have poor accuracy on their own. (viv electronics, johnson, ranco are the best there are many others of poorer quality)

Proportional thermostats these in basic function keep the probe at the point programmed into the thermostat. The method they use varies but basically they if set to 90ºF they heater stays basically at 90ºF all the time never going cold or hot. Constant even heat. They have accurate probe temps so lesser quality thermometers or unknown ones can be used and checked against the probe reading for accuracy. They are the best on the market. There are a number some with the most basic function (Viv, electronics and helix) and some with advanced control and reporting (ecozone and herpkeeper) and the most safety features and best price (Herpstat my personal recommendation the safest and cheapest on the market...)

ALL HEAT SOUCES NEED TO BE REGULATED!!!!

[skinnyrascal]

Yes UTH=under tank heater
Flexwatt = carbon heating element

These are all carbon heat elements in different configurations. The base tech is all the same however.

Example of a UTH http://beanfarm.com/product_info.php?products_id=5577

Regulators,

Dimmer (rheostat) they type used for home lighting. The simplest type they need absolutely stable room temps to work if the room varies the temp does too.

Thermostats vary the heat based on a reading from a probe (thermal sensor) that is placed on or near the heat source. they come in two basic varieties.

On/off type this is a dead basic type. It will run full power until the probe is over the temp set on the thermostat and shut down the heat until the probe cools below the set point then it starts over again. They do best in reasonably stable rooms temps with low power heating elements (like an ultratherm that do not get too hot too quickly) and heavy enclosures (that do not heat or cool quickly) The should be used in conjunction with a good or know accuracy thermometer as they have poor accuracy on their own. (viv electronics, johnson, ranco are the best there are many others of poorer quality)

Proportional thermostats these in basic function keep the probe at the point programmed into the thermostat. The method they use varies but basically they if set to 90ºF they heater stays basically at 90ºF all the time never going cold or hot. Constant even heat. They have accurate probe temps so lesser quality thermometers or unknown ones can be used and checked against the probe reading for accuracy. They are the best on the market. There are a number some with the most basic function (Viv, electronics and helix) and some with advanced control and reporting (ecozone and herpkeeper) and the most safety features and best price (Herpstat my personal recommendation the safest and cheapest on the market...)

ALL HEAT SOUCES NEED TO BE REGULATED!!!!

Okay, thank you for all the info!

I've been keeping her in a 20 gallon tank with an undertank heater. She has a thermometer, but I didn't know a thermostat was important as well. ._.;; I just looked at the tutorial on how to set up a storage tub for a snake. Seems easy enough so I will try that. I hope PetCo sells thermostats, otherwise I will order online.

[snakesRkewl]

I hope PetCo sells thermostats, otherwise I will order online.

Our local ones do, if you like to pay $45 for a $30 thermostat...

[skinnyrascal]

Our local ones do, if you like to pay $45 for a $30 thermostat...

Haha, that's lame. But online I'd have to pay shipping anyway...

[BleedingOrange36]

Haha, that's lame. But online I'd have to pay shipping anyway...

Go get a hydrofarm on amazon. 30$ shipped