UTH problem...

[Jakob]

i am using the sterilite 6" flat containers from walmart and i am able to control the humidity and temp very well compared to my glass tank of death! i am using a black light as my heat source above the lid which has holes drilled in it. i am not sleeping well at night because my Bp's home is in my bedroom (where he will stay). its like im at a night club when i wake up from time to time throughout the night. i read on here about getting a $10 heating pad from any large store and to make sure that it didnt have an auto shut off. every single heating pad i found in wal-mart/target/CVS all had auto-shut-off. i had to buy a $25 heating pad by Sunbeam because it had a selectable auto shut off and had 6 different heat settings. it would not heat up the sterilite container worth anything. i took my temp probe, pressed it on the pad and the temp would only read 96 degrees on the highest heat setting. i had it on for hours too.
if you are one of the many people that are using the regular heating pads with no auto shut off, please let me know the name brand so i might locate one on the internet. thank you.

[joepythons]

i am using the sterilite 6" flat containers from walmart and i am able to control the humidity and temp very well compared to my glass tank of death! i am using a black light as my heat source above the lid which has holes drilled in it. i am not sleeping well at night because my Bp's home is in my bedroom (where he will stay). its like im at a night club when i wake up from time to time throughout the night. i read on here about getting a $10 heating pad from any large store and to make sure that it didnt have an auto shut off. every single heating pad i found in wal-mart/target/CVS all had auto-shut-off. i had to buy a $25 heating pad by Sunbeam because it had a selectable auto shut off and had 6 different heat settings. it would not heat up the sterilite container worth anything. i took my temp probe, pressed it on the pad and the temp would only read 96 degrees on the highest heat setting. i had it on for hours too.
if you are one of the many people that are using the regular heating pads with no auto shut off, please let me know the name brand so i might locate one on the internet. thank you.

First off welcome to the group .Now onto your problem.I am a little confused as to what you are using for your heat source.You start out with a black light overhead(unable to supply heat),then you said you have a heat pad but your subject says UTH.If whatever you are using gets the heat inside at least 90ish and does not go higher then your temps will be set.Do you by chance have a pic of this 6" tub as i have never seen nor heard of that size.I am not being rude here just trying to help you out.

[Jakob]

first off, thank you for the welcoming! my wife and i had a joint account already, but i was informed that we needed to host our own accounts.

i am getting my desired temps with my black light (i did not mention that i was 'unable to supply heat' as you stated). i do not want to use my black light any longer because its bothering my sleep. i want to switch to UTH. the exact dimensions are: 26" length x 18" width x 6" depth = walmart special!

i also might have to switch to ceramic heating which puts off no light. by the way, i am stoked about going to the Arlington reptile show tomorrow morning.

[joepythons]

first off, thank you for the welcoming! my wife and i had a joint account already, but i was informed that we needed to host our own accounts.

i am getting my desired temps with my black light (i did not mention that i was 'unable to supply heat' as you stated). i do not want to use my black light any longer because its bothering my sleep. i want to switch to UTH. the exact dimensions are: 26" length x 18" width x 6" depth = walmart special!

i also might have to switch to ceramic heating which puts off no light. by the way, i am stoked about going to the Arlington reptile show tomorrow morning.

Ooops i left a part out about how black lights are unable to produce heat.At least my knowledge i have never seen a blacklight produce heat that would reach 90ish temps.A ceramic heater will melt your tub in seconds thats for sure.Well good luck maybe you will find something at the show .

[AzureN1ght]

Since BP's are better off with belly heat to warm them than an over-head heat source, and UTH (such as reptile heat mats and flexwatt) don't emit light of any kind, it sounds like switching over is the best thing for you -and- your snake.

BPs like belly heat to aid digestion

That being said, if you're going to pick up a belly heat (UTH) source at the reptile show, see if you can pick up a thermostat (Ranco, Johnsons, Helix or Herpstat) while you're there--as UTH should be controlled by a thermostat to prevent belly burns.

I'm sure an UTH will make both you and your BP happier!

[Jakob]

i have to keep my black light away from my lid by about 1"-2" so that it will stay at 92 degrees. any closer it will quickly reach 95+. this is with a phillips 75 watt black light bulb from Lowes.

[Jakob]

AzureN1ght, precisely. thanks for the idea on picking up a thermostat tomorrow. is it better to get a reptile specific heat pad (if so, which brand?), or save some money and get a basic pharmacy heating pad that has NO auto shut off?

[AzureN1ght]

Definitely go with a reptile heat pad--they're designed to be on 24/7, whereas human heat pads are designed to be turned on and off (even if there's no auto shut-off feature), because hey--what human uses a heat pad 24/7?

I don't use a heat pad personally, so I'll let someone else reccomend a reliable reptile pad brand. I use flexwatt--which is heat tape.

And the thermostat's -definitely- important. Hopefully someone will be along shortly to reccomend a good reptile heat mat.

[Christina]

i use the Heat Wave by Exo Terra- it's only for glass tanks, but it seems to do the trick- they come in a variety of sizes too. i got mine at my local reptile house.