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So... That happened

X

XenDrgn

New member
A little while ago, I had noticed that my UTH had stopped putting out heat. We keep our house in the right temps so it wasn't a bit deal to replace immediately (but then these cold snaps kept happening).

So: went and purchased new UTH.

Yesterday I went to finally install the thing, get the tank emptied out to clean and inspect and swap the heaters and what do I find....

The bottom of the tank is shattered. A spiderweb of cracks radiating out from the shriveled, melted, twisted mass that -used- to be a UTH.

Needless to say I was not a happy camper. If it had gotten hot enough to melt and crack my tank.... I am just so glad my snake was ok. Especially because about 6 hours before I found that, I had a horribly graphic dream where I went to pick up my snake had she had been sliced open up along the belly and we didn't know why. And I woke up panicked and horrified. Thank heaven it was only a dream! But then I found the problem with the tank and realized how easily the horror of the dream could have been reality.

So: happy ending to this story:
I went back to the store I purchased the tank and UTH from, they refunded both and I used the refund to upgrade her from a 10g aquarium with a horrible non-securable lid to a 20g Zilla tank with a sliding/locking lid and locking feed hole.
 
I am beyond happy that your snake is okay. That's a very scary story. Congrats on your new tank and UTH. I hope they serve you well for a long time.
 
so far: with the new tank/heater combo, I followed the advice of the forums here and I wrapped the heater in aluminum instead of sticking it directly to the glass. And while there is the potential for it to scorch my bookshelf again (yeah the last one left a black mark behind, but that's why we chose cheap bookcase) the tank is staying a perfect 80 degrees.

I really think the last one was faulty as it was never below 95, and that was with 2 inches of substrate.
 
I too am happy all turned out okay! I see you live in Florida ... so that's always a help I suppose. This weekend here in Delaware it could reach 0° so I'm hoping the electric won't go out! I've about had it with this winter!
 
Yeah, our apartment is pretty well insulated so the temp inside stays pretty steady. I think our coldest was maybe 68-70? and considering wild ones deal with much crazier temp fluctuations (because they're all over our complex) I figured she was safe enough until I could get the replacement. Because our normal temps are mid 70's at home, the heater is really more for just giving a warmer spot for feeding days. its less life or death and more comfort levels. Cause yeah, If I lived up north.. that would be a COMPLETELY different story!
 
No, your heat pad was "Not Faulty." They typically put out about 115 degree heat, some even hotter than that. If you used a thermostat, it would not get that hot. 85 to 90 degrees is not hot enough to break glass or melt plastic. If you don't have a thermostat you really should get one. Most of us use thermostats for the very reason you are apparently just now finding out. Just think what this may be doing to your snake.
 
You are correct that I did not use a thermostat. But it was monitored. The tank sits beside by desk, the thermometer visible to me. During the day the temps were monitored and if it started to creep above 86, I would unplug. At night if was left unplugged because our ambient house temps are more than adequate for an all around temperature.

Also.. I would just like to say this. I've been absent from the forums for a few months, but since returning, and reading posts where you have commented, you have gotten rather... acidic. Would a thermostat make my life easier, a little more worry free, and provide easier control: yes. Do I think it would have prevented the issues I was having: no. There is a lot I haven't said about the Heater. Things I noticed about it before it failed. Because, as mentioned above: If it was plugged in, it was monitored.
 
You think my posts are acidic? Good. My concern is for the health and well being of the animals. If I hurt your feelings or (somebody else's) in the process, I really don't care.

You stated the temps "Never got below 95 even at 2 inches of substrate" in your post above. If the temps are 95 degrees at 2 inches of substrate, then of course they are even hotter at the glass bottom of the tank. Now you are saying the temps were monitored and if it got above 86 you'd unplug it. Geeeez...... get your story straight, and get a thermostat before you kill your poor snake
 
XenDrgn said:
I really think the last one was faulty as it was never below 95, and that was with 2 inches of substrate.
Click to expand...


This was towards the end of the heater's life span, I would notice it starting to spike and immediately disconnect it. I noticed I had to start disconnecting it more and more often. Eventually getting to where it was off more than it was on. Until eventually it was only used the day after feeding, and carefully watched. It wasn't always like that. I had some trouble with it at first because I didn't know how to use it. I eventually found a setup that did work for a while. However, it started to fail as the unit started to fail.
 
Now that my camera is working: Updated Images of the new setup.

LSAzGYs.jpg

FhTaSPs.jpg

9kPNkNS.jpg
 
I agree, a thermostat actually WOULD have prevented what had happened. It would have stopped the UTH from getting so hot that it cracked the tank. Obviously you weren't watching it during the sudden spike in temperature, and you didn't "unplug it". And you are VERY lucky your snake was okay, but he could've been roasted! I did a test to see how hot a UTH could get when not plugged into a thermostat and it got up to 175 degrees.

Honestly. I don't understand why people like you refuse to purchase a $30 thermostat that could easily save your snakes life and make your life so much easier.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Nice looking set up by the way! Is it possible you can put more 'clutter' in it, like fake leaves and vines? He looks a little exposed in there.

Honestly, there's no reason to not use a thermostat. Whether it would have prevented what happened I don't know, but it'll make your life 10x easier. You won't need to constantly check and monitor the temperatures. I check mine once a day with a heat gun and check the thermostat hasn't changed in position and it works well.

I've never thought Karl's post are acidic, he's just looking out for the animal and doesn't sugar coat his words as much as everyone else. Sometimes some people need to hear a hard truth.

Glad your snakes okay though, that's the main thing [emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Yes, she will be getting more vegetation to hide in soon. What's in there was enough to fill a10g tank but not a 20g. There are actually 4 hides in there though it doesn't look like it. Two in the warm, one in the mid, and one in the cool.
 
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