Removing UTH (has it gone bad?)

[C-New]

Another novice question....
I removed an UTH a while back and just have had it in the supply bin. How can I tell if it is any good? It is a ZooMed and was stuck to the bottom of a glass aqu. I have a new one, but if this week old one that I pulled off is still good then I would like to use it. I was pretty careful not to bend it too much when pulling it off, but I do not know what risk I am taking if I did.
Is it a fire hazard or will it just not heat up if I broke the filiment or whatever is on the inside of this thing?

[mr. s]

Fire hazard? I would say no. I think the worst that could happen is that it would not heat up at all. I think the only way that it could be a fire hazard is if it had wires exposed. It is not going to get hotter because it was bent, I think that is pretty much guaranteed. I have a zoomed that I have been using for 10 years and it has been through everything. Still good.

[C-New]

I did not think so either, but I wanted to see if anyone had a bad experience after pulling one off the tank. I hooked it up a bit ago and its getting warm...

So even if the warning on this says no to plastic putting on a tub is ok?

[mr. s]

You are going to want a dimmer. Those heaters get WAY too hot on their own, (kind of silly, I know). Once you have a dimmer set up, 85-90 F, it won't be a problem using it on a plastic container.

[mpkeelee]

when i pulled them off i would bend and twist to get it off. i wasnt gentle at all and they would always heat up and work just fine. just make sure u have a thermostat for it or else u will burn or even cook ur snake. my tiny UTH got to 120 one day when i left it in an empty tub cuz i wanted to see how hot it would get

[het.pied]

the way i pulled mine off(all four), didnt even wait for them to get cool and they came off real easy. then i covered them with wax paper and theyll be good to go for the next tank.

[C-New]

Thanks all. It is heating up just fine. I have a rheostat, thermostat, dimmer...I am all set ready to go.
The ball is currently in his 10 gal glass tank and its working well. I am trying to set up a tub for the ease. The UTH has been on for 3 hours or so and its up to 94...wide open...and the Ambiant temp is only at 73.9.....
So far in my glass I have the UTH up to 110 then a reptile carpet over it on the inside and then cyrpess and it keeps the hide about 88-89.

Will this UTH heat up a 34 qt tub enough to not use a light? I live in the phoenix area and yes it has been chilly 34 in the AM and 65 day time and our house is staying about 71. Should I just ask the wife to bump up the heat to 76 or so?

I was hoping the Tub would do away with the light and foil and towels and stuff that its taking to keep the glass warm enough.....

[bman123]

Keep the uth at 94 not 110. Just use paper towels or newspaper for substrate.

[C-New]

It is a 10 gallon glass tank. I have the lid covered with foil all but where the 60 w red light is. A towel over the back to and top to keep the heat it.
The only way I can keep the Humidity up is to use cypress.

Leaving the UTH at 110 is directly on the glass. There is retile carpet and the cypress...so the actual heat he is getting in his hide on the hot side is 89-92 degrees from coldest to hottest part of the day.

[Kaorte]

How are you measuring the temperature of the UTH? There is a difference between a dimmer and a thermostat, which do you have? A thermostat is much better than a dimmer, especially if your house temp fluctuates.

As long as your house stays in the 70's, you shouldn't need any supplemental heating on a tub. They hold temps and humidity much better than tanks.

Honestly, I would loose the reptile carpet. After he pees or poos on it, it is basically toast. That stuff is hard to clean and even after you have cleaned it, it can still have an awful smell to it which means bacteria is growing.