Quote Originally Posted by Malum Argenteum View Post
There's big difference between setting up a tub that runs in spec for a few days, and an inexperienced keeper who is trying to come up with permanent, stable housing that will work well in the medium to long term.

When the entire tub is thermostatically controlled -- by only surface heat, no less -- thermostat functionality (hardware as well as operator input) becomes much more a life and death issue. When the probe on the cool side falls out of place and that mat runs hot, that's a big problem. But when an enclosure that is in a room with a decent ambient temp (an ambient temp that can be checked simply by walking into the room and feeling the air), the failure of a heat mat on or off isn't mission critical, and can be diagnosed simply by seeing the snake hugging one side of the enclosure..

More broadly, tubs are for use in a rack (for security in both senses -- the feelings of security of the snake, and the actual security of the snake not escaping from under a top that was designed to hold sweaters in) in a room where ambient temps are reasonable. For a room that is temperature-challenged, the correct tool is a PVC enclosure with an RHP.

The problem with recommending that keepers use equipment in ways that it isn't suited for (tubs in a cool room, heat mats for general warmth) is that the housing situation gets very fragile -- any equipment failure is both more likely to occur and more likely to end badly. As a breeder who talks to a lot of novice keepers, and hears about deaths (of animals that I bred -- that stings even more) that easily could have been avoided by at least aiming at "ideal" (even if not attaining it), I always recommend resilient design in housing that uses the right equipment for the job.
I'm not necessarily recommending that people who have no idea what they're doing use this method. I've seen it recommended here multiple times over the years and thought I'd share how it worked for me. I do suppose I could have been more clear or put a disclaimer, though I can't edit it now. I do have adhd and tend to get ahead of myself. I do believe this method has its merits though. Quarantine, or temporary enclosures above all. Also, considering the wait times on a T8 with an RHP this could possibly work as a temporary enclosure. Most people don't typically have such cold ambients as well. Typically people are looking at something closer to 70 F. In my situation specifically I needed a fast quarantine tub. I don't agree necessarily that tubs only belong in racks.