Reptile & Amphibian Forums

im looking in the future to add one or two more kings too my collection. My two current ones are each in a 20 gallon long. This summer i was thinking of getting one or two more, but was looking instead to house in a rubbermaid or sterlite container as the 20 gallon tanks are getting very very expensive. Im not really looking for a rack system as it will only be for two snakes. what is the best way to use a uth with a rubbermaid? do I just stick it to the bottom like i would a glass tank and use the dimmer? so for two tanks, i would purchase two of the heat pads(I use zoomed). what about when the snakes get bigger and have to move up in rubbermaid size, do I then have to buy new zoomed heat pads, or can the ones be removed from the smaller houses? im not sure if they can be reused once removed. thanks for any info...Pete

You need a reostat (light dimmer switch) to regulate the heat so that you can sit the tubs directly on top.
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You may wish to consider a heat tape instead of an UTH that sticks on to the bottom of the Rubbermade container. Use a rheostat or thermostat temperature controller to maintain the proper heat. I would use the heat cable affixed to the rear of the rack as described in the initial thread on building a rack or a recessed heat tape along the rear end of the shelf. The Melamine shelf can be recessed to accept this tape using a router so that the heat tape is not disturbed when moving the container in or out. If you wish to use the stick on heat pad do not stick it to the bottom of the plastic container. Instead I would buy a 12"X12" thin flooring tile at Lowes and affix the UTH to this and place this tile heat pad under the container. Last week I got a 12"x12" thin flooring tile at Lowes, had them cut it 8"x12" and notch it to recess the cord junction as it goes into the heating pad for 79 cents the price of the tile. The cut and notch cut were done free! Hope this helps. Don

>>You may wish to consider a heat tape instead of an UTH that sticks on to the bottom of the Rubbermade container. Use a rheostat or thermostat temperature controller to maintain the proper heat. I would use the heat cable affixed to the rear of the rack as described in the initial thread on building a rack or a recessed heat tape along the rear end of the shelf. The Melamine shelf can be recessed to accept this tape using a router so that the heat tape is not disturbed when moving the container in or out. If you wish to use the stick on heat pad do not stick it to the bottom of the plastic container. Instead I would buy a 12"X12" thin flooring tile at Lowes and affix the UTH to this and place this tile heat pad under the container. Last week I got a 12"x12" thin flooring tile at Lowes, had them cut it 8"x12" and notch it to recess the cord junction as it goes into the heating pad for 79 cents the price of the tile. The cut and notch cut were done free! Hope this helps. Don

Or heat cable.....
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Why did you have them cut 12x8 when 12x 6 would equal 0 waste from the 12 x 12....Dunno!..i like the idea of ceramic maitaining reserve heat,kinda like crock pot...good luck

Christopher D, I had them cut the tile 8"x12" because that is the size of the heating pad. It's sticky side is then put down (stuck) to the tile. If the tile were cut 6"x12" , 2" of sticky side would be exposed. Hope that clarifies. Don

I figured as much! that where my dunno?(reply) came into play,sorry upon re-read the dunno seemed loader than i meant.Did you route and inlay heat and tile

I've got a repto-med or whatever it's called UTH and I just have it right underneath my plastic container for my bullsnake, and as I've kept a few other colubrids, and with total success. They don't really like to stick to the plastic so it just sits underneath it, and it doesn't get too warm. Have a half dozen vent holes in the cage and everything is good. My bull spends plenty of time curled up over the heated section, especially afer it eats.
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- Matt

1.0 Black Milk '04
1.0 Andean Milk '06
0.1 Eastern King '97
0.1 Bullsnake '09

i use Cobra heat pads on individual rubbermaids,,,they are like self contained heat tape and you don't have to wire them....
but still need a temp contol....
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Ball Python
Jungle Carpet Python 1.0
Eastern King 0.1
Mexican Black King
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Hypo Brooks 1.0
White Sided Bull 1.0 (Envy)
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Axanthic Brooksi 0.1 (Mark Kenderdine)
Goini King 1.0 (Mark Kenderdine)
Northern Pine 1.0 (Nick Puder)
Arizona Mtn. King 1.0 (AAM Snakes)
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