Can I get a UTH for the second floor of my tank?

[LilyChristen]

Would it be safe to get a 1-5 gallon heater for the second floor? I can weave a duct tape net to put under the UTH to catch it in case it falls, but will the small UTH melt the plastic? I'm just wondering because it says you can use the small ones for those small Kritter Keeper things which are also plastic. Has anyone ever tried putting a UTH on plastic?

 

[RAlbrecht]

UTH type heaters should only be attached to glass. If you read the label it states that from the ones made by Zoo-med...

 

[LilyChristen]

UTH type heaters should only be attached to glass. If you read the label it states that from the ones made by Zoo-med...

"NO PLASTIC cages (Only the RH-7 Mini is suitable for use on “Keeper” type plastic cages because of it’s low heat output. Always place the heater on the back or side wall of this type of cage)"
Straight off of the manual that comes with their heaters.
I was wanting to know if it would make the whole tank too hot since it would be right over another area with a UTH. I thought maybe the heat from the mini UTH would overheat the area under the second floor thus melting the plastic.

 

[LilyChristen]

Also, I'm assuming it just says to put it on the back/side so heat can escape which wouldn't be a concern if I put it under the second floor.

 

[RAlbrecht]

I just don't see the reasoning for adding the uth for that little shelf... as long as you have a warm side and a cool side the geckos pretty much handle the rest. Adding extra wires and stuff in the tank isn't really needed

 

[LilyChristen]

Well they get kind of mean when they eat together so I'm planning on feeding one upstairs and one down so they won't fight over each other's bowls so I wanted a small UTH to help the one upstairs digest her food better after eating. I guess she's smart enough to just go back downstairs though.

 

[roger]

Would it be safe to get a 1-5 gallon heater for the second floor? I can weave a duct tape net to put under the UTH to catch it in case it falls, but will the small UTH melt the plastic? I'm just wondering because it says you can use the small ones for those small Kritter Keeper things which are also plastic. Has anyone ever tried putting a UTH on plastic?

If they are fighting for food I would most definately seperate them.They will eventually fight .IMO u dont need 2 heated areas.They will find the warmth

 

[LilyChristen]

They're not fighting anymore. The main thing was one time Gir had her leg in the food bowl and Izze tried to bite it so I freaked out. Nothing like that has happened except for that one night. They've lived together happily for their entire lives except that one time, and I'm only trying to take an extra precaution so that nothing like that happens again where one mistakes the other's limbs for food. They can get a little mean if one finishes eating a lot earlier than the other and then they're both around the same bowl. From what I've read, it's normal for that to happen if they're fed out of the same bowl. They're usually really nice to each other and will share hides even if they don't have to. I changed my mind about the UTH, I was just starting to think about it and I just wanted to know if it was even remotely possible before considering it as a real possibility.

 

[EmanResu]

I like your second level, I am getting ready to do one myself...I was wondering where you got those blue dishes?

Thanks,
Josh

 

[LilyChristen]

I like your second level, I am getting ready to do one myself...I was wondering where you got those blue dishes?

Thanks,
Josh

Thanks, it was actually a LOT easier to make than I thought it would be. I got them from *****. They're 2.99 each and they're perfect for mealworms/superworms or just water.

Edit: It edits out store names? What the heck? p e t c o

 

[acpart]

The packaging on the mini (1-5 gallon) UTH is somewhat confusing. There's one place where they state (as mentioned by someone above) that the mini size is OK for plastic containers, but on the packaging they say "glass only". I have a feeling they used their standard warnings for all the heaters on all the packaging regardless of size.

That said, I do heat my second level with a mini-UTH. HOwever, I use 2 pieces of ceramic tile and place the UTH in between them (I'll post a picture below).

I have also used zoo-med UTH's on a temporary basis with plastic enclosures by using a thermostat with them. There could be a problem if the thermostat fails, but this has not happened. I don't do it as a regular thing, but it's worked short term.

Aliza

 

[EmanResu]

There should never be a problem with the UTH's actually melting the plastic container.

Almost everything we buy that is made of plastic is made of ABS plastic...which has a melting point of 221 degrees F. Even unregulated they don't reach that point, and I know because I recently plugged my 10-20G Zoomed UTH into the wall, and used the probe from my Johnson Thermostat on it. Maxed out at around 137 degrees F. There could be variances in the different UTHs but I still don't see them getting over 221.
http://www.dynalabcorp.com/technical_info_abs.asp

 

[LilyChristen]

I'm probably not going to use it, but if my red lamp causes the top floor to get too hot because of how close it is, I may have to resort to the mini UTH (I need additional heat to keep the warm side around 90 and the heat from the UTH would help heat the area under it) and thanks for the pic.

 

[Dog Shrink]

I didn't notice a probe thermometer anywhere in your tank just the stick on and the ambient round thermometer. You really should be monitoring your floor temps to get an accurate reading of the floor temps. Air temp doesn't matter with leos. Also what type of plasticis your upper level made of?

 

[LilyChristen]

I have one, it's not in the pic though. I left out a couple of things to show the second level more clearly. I don't know what type of plastic it is because my mom took care of that part, but I can ask her tomorrow morning.

 

[Dog Shrink]

I would. If it is corrugated plastic sheeting it isn't going to tolerate heat as well and could melt.

 

[LilyChristen]

Well it's plastic used in those big xray machines so I'm pretty sure it won't melt. My mom works at a place that designs, programs, builds, and tests some special kind... I think it's an MRI machine but I don't remember. She said it's special plastic that's more heat and radiation (not relevant lol) resistant than plain old normal plastic but I'm still going to ask just in case and do some research on it but I'm guessing since normal plastic can tolerate pretty high heats mine should be fine. I still have a week before I can afford the UTH anyways.

 

[EmanResu]

Corrugated plastic sheeting is made of Polypropylene...it has a melting point between 130 and 171 degrees Celsius...that's 266-338 degree F.
So even if it's made out of corrugated plastic sheeting, you'll be just fine.

 

[Spots]

I have a second level similar to yours, but made of like wood (the word for it is really escaping me right now lol). Anyways, I don't heat it. Like others have said, as long as the bottom floor reaches the correct heating temps, the second floor heating is not necessary. I do have a heat lamp for the second level (the second level is over the hot side) just for lighting purposes since my room is pretty dark and i want them to know when "day" is compared to "night". The light warms the second level a bit and I find that the temp is slightly higher with the second level because the second level traps the heat down.

Anyways, after my rambling, I just wanted to say that you should consider feeding them seperately in another tank. I also had the same problem as you. Now, I take them out individually and feed them in a large plastic container (from dollarama if you're on a tight budget..some ppl use another tank but I don't want to spend the money on another tank) and when that gecko is done eating, I put her back and take the next one out. I have mealworms in the tank 24/7 but usually as long as they both ate crickets in the container, they don't ever "fight" over worms in the tank. Just a suggestion.

Also, very smart idea with the two tiles Aliza!