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UTH on the side?

N

nightmaredisco

Beardie pro, snake noob
Alrighty, my current UTH is too big for the viv, so I just ordered an appropriately sized one that will be here next week, along with a thermostat. I am using a folded towel as substrate but I worry about him burrowing under it and getting burned, I am about to duct tape down a towel I have cut to fit the area to eliminate the problem for now, but when the new one comes, is it actually ok to put it on the side of the viv and not the bottom?? In my head, I feel like this would not provide adequate heat, but I read that putting it one the side is "ideal" ... but I don't believe everything I read on packages. So, what do you guys think?

Thank you
 
I believe on the side is more for iguanas and such (correct me if I am wrong). Snakes need some warmth on their bellies to help digest their meals. With the thermostat set right you needn't worry about burns. It might work but probably wouldn't be ideal for our little guys. :)
 
I would set it to 82 or 83. With 85 being the high threshold. You don't want it to get any hotter than 90 for sure. :)
 
NO NO NO NO TAPE!!!!!!! Don't put tape in the viv or anywhere where your snake could come in contact with it. They ALWAYS find a way to get stuck and it is very hard to unstick them and if you don't find them right away they can really hurt themselves.

put the uth on whatever surface you are putting your viv on, do not attach it to the viv, and then use the little feet that came with the uth to elevate it off the uth. The uth should only cover about 1/3 of the viv, so put it off center. It won't hurt to have the uth exposed to the air.
 
If the UTH is too hot, as a temporary measure you can buy a piece of thick tile, ceramic or clay or slate, and place that inside the viv, over the Uth which is outside the viv. If the UTH is too large, don't stick it on, just set the tank over the appropriately-sized amount of UTH- about 1/4 to 1/3 of the viv. I guess I'd go 1/4.
 
Unfortunately, I've already stuck it on. I'll be ripping the stupid thing off as soon as the new one arrives. The viv is directly on my floor, I wish I'd have known this in advance and I wouldn't have stuck it on :/ I am confident though that I have him successfully separated from the UTH enough to not get burned and still receive enough heat. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
 
I'd take the viv off the floor if you have your UTH on. When I first started keeping snakes I didn't know they needed a thermostat and I had my tank on the floor.. well, when I upgraded my snakes into their new cages with the thermostat and all and I lifted my old tank up.. the carpet was burned nearly black. Eventually I will need to replace the carpet in the room.
 
Having the UTH on carpet is a FIRE HAZARD!!!!!!!!! They all come with little rubber feet to put on the viv so that excess heat has space to dissipate. Don't put your viv with the uth directly on a solid surface, especially not something carpeted.
 
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