Can I attatch my ZooMed Heat pad directly to tub?

[The Serpent Merchant]

You might lose 5 degrees going through the glass, that is still 120... more than hot enough to burn a snake. Substrate is irrelevant as a snake can burrow/get under it and lay directly on the floor of the cage.

a BP can sustain neurological damage at 108 degrees...

[suzuki4life]

You might lose 5 degrees going through the glass, that is still 120... more than hot enough to burn a snake. Substrate is irrelevant as a snake can burrow/get under it and lay directly on the floor of the cage.

a BP can sustain neurological damage at 108 degrees...

I guess they should lay their cage out better then.

I bet if I take a heat pad, place it under a tank, plug it directly into the wall, place repti carpet and then a piece of slate over it(rock)...I'll bet the rock and area around it will be lucky to hit 100 degrees.

[rebelrachel13]

I bet if I take a heat pad, place it under a tank, plug it directly into the wall, place repti carpet and then a piece of slate over it(rock)...I'll bet the rock and area around it will be lucky to hit 100 degrees.

Sure. Just don't try it with a snake in there.

[suzuki4life]

Sure. Just don't try it with a snake in there.

I don't need to "try" it. I'm sure its been done by me throughout the last 20+ years at some point in time.

[kitedemon]

I guess they should lay their cage out better then.

I bet if I take a heat pad, place it under a tank, plug it directly into the wall, place repti carpet and then a piece of slate over it(rock)...I'll bet the rock and area around it will be lucky to hit 100 degrees.

The OP is NOT speaking of a tank. A plastic tub has next to no insulative value. There is likely to be little loss of heat to the tub so you are relying on just the (MOVABLE) substrate to protect the OPs snake. That is irresponsible. I might concede that a UTH on a tank with carpet and rocks might not exceed 100ºs but that is NOT what was described. You do understand that Royals cannot digest food if their core temp is to high or too low right? The OP does not have regulated rooms or over head heat just a single snake and a plastic tub. Even if you don't need a t-stat (I disagree but...) he/she does.

Thermal burns are the NUMBER ONE injury for captive reptiles. Thermostats are the primary defence against this occurring. Cycling a resistive heater should do less harm that running it 100% 24/7.

[suzuki4life]

Cycling a resistive heater should do less harm that running it 100% 24/7.

if kept within proper voltage specs, a resistor should hold constant practically forever. Heating them up and cooling them down is what causes them to fail over time. However, a switch, manual or electronic, that holds a constant tend to fail.(from dirt build up, heat, corrosion etc).

Plastic holds a higher R value than glass.

[suzuki4life]

BTW since this is a tub, how does the OP intend to get proper airflow to the pad since most don't have a deep recess on the bottom to allow clearance?

[The Serpent Merchant]

BTW since this is a tub, how does the OP intend to get proper airflow to the pad since most don't have a deep recess on the bottom to allow clearance?

If a UTH is on a good thermostat with the probe directly on the UTH there is no need for air flow over the UTH as any build up in temperature will be detected by the thermostat and power going to the UTH will be reduced maintaining the proper temperature.

[suzuki4life]

If a UTH is on a good thermostat with the probe directly on the UTH there is no need for air flow over the UTH as any build up in temperature will be detected by the thermostat and power going to the UTH will be reduced maintaining the proper temperature.

we already discussed that you don't put the sensor on the heat dource directly on another post. Tired of beating the dead horse.

[kitedemon]

Plastic holds a higher R value than glass.

This is absolutely hilarious. So you are claiming that your coffee will stay warmer longer in a 1mm thick plastic cup than a 6mm glass mug? TRY IT!! Gatorade bottle is about the same thickness of a tub make some coffee and pour it in a glass mug (about the same thickness as a 15gal tank) and in your gator aid bottle and see which cools quicker. Again it is not as easy as you suggest, equal thickness sure, but really, you have 6mm tubs???