under tank heater

my under tank heater keeps falling off. it's still sticky it just won't stay and it works fine (other than that) so i don't want to buy a new one. anyone have any tricks to get it to stay up?

[Adam_Wysocki]

duct tape ... the universal repair tool! ... LOL

-adam

[Jack_Hammer]

First of all your UTH should not touch the bottom of your enclosure. Air is the best insulator. Put the heater on the surface of your stand then place your enclosure on some 1/4' risers above the heater. You should have a space that is between the heater and the enclosure of about 1/4''.

One, your heater won't have to work as hard to keep up temps. saving you money on electric and replacement heaters.

Two, you won't have to worry about you snake getting thermal burns from a heat source that he/she is in direct contact with.

Hope I shed some light on your situation.

[Kara]

Not necessarily, "Jackhammer". You can affix the UTH to the bottom of the enclosure & leave an airspace on the other side - i.e. between the tank & stand - to prevent heat buildup. Temperatures should be regulated with a rheostat or thermostat.

Duct tape or electrical tape work fine for reattaching the heating pad.

K

[Jack_Hammer]

Of course we all know to use reostats and thermostats(at least I hope we all do). However, we do not live in a perfect world and heaters have a way of going bad and raising the heat as well as just plain going out. A snake being cold blooded cannot necessarily tell in a gradual heat rise or drop. That is why we have heard so much about snake and other reptiles literally sticking to heaters and having really bad burns. Therefore, I would not put an UTH directly on the tank.

What's wrong with heat build up? Just turn your reostat down. If you have a thermostat it will adjust it for you, and your heater won't have to work as hard.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Why would I want an insulator between my heat source and the thing I'm trying to heat?

What KLG said .... she's wicked smart!

-adam

[Kara]

I think heater failure is a lot less common a cause of snakes being burned than poor husbandry. While it can happen, it shouldn't be a reason not to use a product in the manner it was designed to be used, especially with a safeguard such as a thermostat.

Whew - guess I better go start pulling heat tape off of all our racks & cages & suspending it instead of giving it direct contact.

K

[Jack_Hammer]

ooooo, burn me...

[Kara]

Whatever dude...just relaying personal experience. Lighten up.

[Jack_Hammer]

KLG, bp-pandora asked for some advise. That is just what I did. I'm not here to argue with you or anyone else. I simply gave some advise. Some pretty good advise if you ask me...


As far as the insulation question for bp pandora, insulation can be used both ways. For keeping heat in or keeping it out. Air just happens to be the best insulator there is.