Tips for keeping a large tub heated?

[sufficio]

Hey guys! So we just upgraded our BP to a bigger tub since he'd outgrown the previous one. We're having trouble keeping it adequately heated though. We have an UTH(with a thermostat) and a 100-watt overhead bulb but it's just not getting hot enough. So here's the predicament.

If the lamp is over the hot side, the temps there are great: 85-90 degrees. But that makes the rest of the tub fall to low 70's.

But, if the lamp is over the middle of the tub, the whole tank gets an acceptable ambient temp of ~77, but the hot spot drops to about ~83.

I currently have the lamp's dimmer off, and the UTH is set to 99 degrees(but because of the thick plastic, somehow a lot of that heat is lost).

Anyone have any suggestions?

Currently we're thinking these are the only two solutions:
-Get another heat lamp(would prefer not to, for the power bill and cost of the lamp itself, things are very expensive up here)
-Pack insulation around the edges of the tub. We plan to pick up some Styrofoam insulation asap to try this.

Some images:


(The foil is to try and help focus the heat lamp more directly)

[bcr229]

What is the ambient temp in the room?

[sufficio]

What is the ambient temp in the room?

Good question! We're in Canada and in a basement so even though it's summer, it's quite cool. I'd say high 60's, low 70's most days.

[bcr229]

Take a blanket, fold it a few times longways, wrap it around the tub and secure with a bungee cord. Leave the short side of the tub on the cool end open initially so it doesn't overheat. If that works then you can work up a prettier solution using foam insulating panels.

Also you'll want to get an undumpable water bowl with the base wider than the top. Our "Dollar" stores sell them locally.

[sufficio]

Take a blanket, fold it a few times longways, wrap it around the tub and secure with a bungee cord. Leave the short side of the tub on the cool end open initially so it doesn't overheat. If that works then you can work up a prettier solution using foam insulating panels.

Ah, great idea! We have plenty of blankets so that'll be a great test to see if the insulation would help. I'll do that and update later/tomorrow if it helps Thank you!

[JodanOrNoDan]

It would also help to have a tub with less height.

[sufficio]

It would also help to have a tub with less height.

Yeah, unfortunately we realized this after getting it home. We chose a tall tub because we plant to mount some branches for him to climb, as he's always been a climber. But if I could go back I'd definitely choose a slightly shorter tub haha.

[sufficio]

Hmmm, somehow wrapping it in a blanket overnight hasn't done much to help. It's helped a tad bit for the ambient temp(bumped it up to ~74's) but somehow(I have no idea) the warm side dropped in temp. I don't even know. It's dropped to ~85 from the 90's it was in before.

Is there any danger in setting the UTH higher than 100 degrees? I know when temps reach 100+ it can start causing damage to snakes, but it seems like ~10 degrees or so are lost through the thick plastic. If it's safe, I'll try setting the UTH to ~105 to see if that bumps it up to a nice 95. I figure it can't be too dangerous since he can always thermoregulate and move to the cool side(there are tons of hides along the whole tub, with 2 on each side and 2 in the middle). But I wanted to ask first!

[PitOnTheProwl]

What is the actual temperature of the floor UNDER the substrate on the UTH?

[sufficio]

What is the actual temperature of the floor UNDER the substrate on the UTH?

He's cleared away a spot of substrate and always lays right against the plastic, and that area reads at ~91-93. It's never read higher than about 95. It's kind of bizarre how much heat is lost through the plastic, and I've started wondering if something is malfunctioning, or if it's normal to lose ~10 degrees through plastic. Inches away from that spot the temp drops down to mid 80's.