Melamine and UTH

[Big Mike]

If I built a melamine enclosure and I wanted to use an UTH, what would be recommended? Would it be effective to put an UTH on the underside of a piece of melamine? Would that be a fire hazard?

I would have an overhead heat lamp as a daytime supplemental heat source. I have seen that people use heat tape and put plastic containers on melamine shelves but I want to make an enclosure that is all melamine with glass doors.

Any tips or suggestions? :confused:

[lance]

mike could you put the uth on the back wall or roof and still get enough of a heat radiant
lance

[Grant vg]

I think if ur gonna use a uth for a melamine enclosure.....theres no way it will heat an enclosure from the side or roof....imo...

Most uths dont creat that much of an ambient in wood enclosures....the purpose of it being used underneath, is because the snake or what have u will be in what u could call "direct contact" rather then it having to slide up the side or even better hang from the ceiling to keep warm....

Im not sure what type of UTH's u have, but mine can heat very well through melamine if left at full power....(but u should use a thermostat)

Just try it....Get a piece of melamine....and put it on top of the uth....also, make sure u measure the wood with a digital thermometer (something with a probe.....)

[Linds]

Another excellent option, just because often the UTH/heat tape may need to be so warm to get through 3/4" of melamine that it *could* become a bit of a fire hazard, are radiant heat panels. They are a bit more pricey than some of the other heating methods, but probably one of the best, and safest methods to use. Also, they last a long time and are cost effective to operate. There is also zero risk of your herp burning itself should it come into contact with it.

[lance]

yeah yeah thats what i was thinkin of but couldnt remember the name
radiant heat panels

[RaVeNo888o]

cant you just put the heating pad inside the tank but make sure you cover it with reptile carpet or something so the snake cant come in direct contact with it. It actually said that on the back of my package, that it didnt have to go under a tank, it could be used on the floor inside if you had a wire cage or something, just cover it with reptile carpet

[Linds]

You *can* put them in the cage, but they have to WELL sealed away to eliminate the risk of electrocution should a water bowl get dumped in the area.

[reverendsterlin]

human heating pads can be used inside if the enclosure is large enough too.
Sterling

[Linds]

I know I sound like a broken record, I think I must reply to similar questions witht his same thought at least once a week throughout snake forums.

IMO human heat pads should be avoided for heating reptiles. Sure, many people have used them wihtout incident and much success for years, but some people have also lost their collections and homes to them as well. They are a fire hazard. They may have all the built in settings, etc., making them quite convenient, but the fact still remains that they were not designed to be left on 24/7. Personally, I would rather spend a few extra dollars and buy something that was designed for the purpose and the extra control devices needed. I feel its a small price to pay, when everything has been taken into consideration.

[blckkat]

why don't you just use cermic heating bulbs? they can be hung like a typical light, and a wire shield can be placed over it to keep the snake from getting near it. that's what my plans are for my enclosure.

[Big Mike]

I could use ceramic elements and/or heat lamps but I like the idea of belly heating for terrestrial snakes. I'm thinking of getting a piece of floor tile and putting the UTH on the bottom of that and putting that in the enclosure. It would be like a home made heat rock but would be evenly heated. I would find a way to raise it up just enough to ventilate the UTH without allowing the snake to get under there and overheat himself. What do you think?

[Grant vg]

If ur gonna find a way to elevate the tiles to leave room for breathing...how are u gonna seal it so water cant be spilled on it?

[ReneeB]

Here's a reply from another thread.. I like how this is done..

I took a few pictures of the UTH contraption I use inside the wooden cages (melamine to be picky) Some day when I have more time, I'll get them set up on a webpage, but for now this will work. Just remember, I'm not a carpenter by any means. This model isn't pretty by any means, but it sure works and the geckos are happy with it. Anyone with more ambition can make a snazzier looking model.

General overview of contraption (http://pages.sprint.ca/geckosndartfrogs/files/heat/wholecontraption.jpg)
Underside view (http://pages.sprint.ca/geckosndartfrogs/files/heat/underside.jpg)
Sideview (http://pages.sprint.ca/geckosndartfrogs/files/heat/sideview.jpg)
Topview (http://pages.sprint.ca/geckosndartfrogs/files/heat/topsurface.jpg)
Cord Exit/Backside (http://pages.sprint.ca/geckosndartfrogs/files/heat/cordgroove.jpg)

[Big Mike]

Thanks Renee,
Ya, I have seen that gecko set-up. That's kind of what gave me the idea.

Grant,
I was thinking that the UTH would be on the bottom of the tile which would be 1/8" off of the bottom of the enclosure and therefore above spilled water. Of course that's not a perfect system. I would much rather find a way to have the UTH under the enclosure instead of just under something in the enclosure.

All this has me thinking that just a heat lamp and a ceramic heating element might not be such a bad idea. I would be sure to have them caged off from the snake and have a heat absorbing basking rock under the heater for belly heat.

I'm still just brainstorming, I have not commited to anything so keep the ideas comming.

Thanks

[ReneeB]

something else I've noticed it the use of a heatlamp/ceramic element used above a nice big piece of slate. You can make a cave hide out of the slate so the the temp on top of the slate roof and the temp IN the cave are a few degrees apart and gives a choice.

Another thing I've seen used is the ceramic element put on the bottom of the enclosure thru a hole cut into the wood with a piece of glass over it.. the glass gets hot/warm and the substrate ontop of the glass warms nicely..
here's a drawing to help.
http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=beausoleil&album_id=89509&image_id=0&show=image&param=88180
sorry about the pic quality, it's a bmp converted to jpg