Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can someone tell me if it is safe to put a heating pad underneath the store bought tubs, I have some of the big tubs and need some temporary housing for some smaller snakes, I was just curious if the plastic would melt or even worse catch on fire. Thanks for any help on this issue. Jason

in my experience i've never had a problem with heat on tubs. i don't use a lot of heat, corns in rack with tubs are about 84 or so at the hot spot in summer. i feel that as long as you don't really crank up the heat for some exotics you should be fine. i would recommend a thermostst for this reason.

>>in my experience i've never had a problem with heat on tubs. i don't use a lot of heat, corns in rack with tubs are about 84 or so at the hot spot in summer. i feel that as long as you don't really crank up the heat for some exotics you should be fine. i would recommend a thermostst for this reason.

I agree thermotats are life saver's. Back in my Drom days I had the entire collection in rubbermaid tubs stacked, unlike the fancy racks. One of the bottom cages feet ended up sitting on the heat tape. Next thing I knew it I had a big hole melted in the tub and a nasty piece of heat tape. I think I might still have it not for use but as an example.

This experiance taught me two things one check the cages more often. It happened over about a week time period, and two, heat tape needs air space to work properly.

My 2 Cents
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Hypomelenistic Red Tailed Boas
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino Red Tailed Boas
0.1 Suriname Red Tailed Boa
0.1 Anerthrystic Red Tailed Boa
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse

I use the ones from BeanFarm. They don't go over 95 degrees and negate use of a thermostat. Just tape (aluminum tape) onto styrofoam piece and place your rubbermaid on top. The styrofoam should be slightly larger than container.

Mike

Mike are you talking about the ultratherm heaters? All undertank heaters WILL go over 95 degrees. This is a marketing play to make you buy their pad.. It depends on what the air temp is as to wither or not the pad will over heat in the cage. I have had several people call me to order a stat for those pads and were mad because they were eld to beleive it woudl not go over a certiain temp. The pad has no way of telling if it is overheating or any way of adjusting itself if it does...
Hope this helps,
-Matt
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www.MGReptiles.com
Professional Reptile Heating Supplies

These are the UTH's made in Scotland. I've tried it on a thermostat ( Herpstat, Ranco, and Johnson ) and the temps never get warm enough to the touch to do much good.
All hookups with multiple UTH's. If only one UTH were used the results might be better with the probe in place.

Right now my temps are great without the thermostat and it doesn't feel very hot to the touch when I move the aspen bedding aside. I've never measured actual temps, but it doesn't feel hot enough to burn my skin.

I'm using the Herpstat with my incubators only. The others are gathering dust.

Mike

In some cases you can use a heat pad without a thermostat but this depends on the air temps, cage density and pad wattage. You should put a thermometer on there just do be safe.. We being warm blooded we will not feel like things are to hot but they may be to a herp
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www.MGReptiles.com
Professional Reptile Heating Supplies

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www.MGReptiles.com
Professional Reptile Heating Supplies

One last response. All my rubbermaids have a "round foot" on the corners. This prevents the UTH and plastic from coming in contact and keep my temps in the 90 range. If your plastic container doesn't have any "feet", use a thin lath wood to raise slightly.

Mike