Is this Under tank heater appropriate?

[newsboys]

Hello,
I saw this heater advertised at a crabbing web site, however, it maintains a steady temperature of 100 degrees F. (reference here: http://www.thecrabbagepatch.com/AC071.htm) Is this heater appropriate for crabs, even though the temperature is high? I know it won't get *as* hot as 100 degrees through the aquarium and sand, but will it go as low as 75 degrees, like the temperature should be, or should I be looking for a heater that is lower or adjustable?
Currently my temperature is perfect, but I know it will drop in the summer due to air conditioning, so I need a heater.

Thanks in advance!

[ladybug15057]

The cobra UTH does have a higher heating output then the ZooMed UTH. They all run at a certain high temp, and why one should seriously consider investing in an Electronic thermostat to plug their heating source into. (NOT a rheostat) The thermostats are set to a certain temp. When that temp is reached the thermostat turns off the heating source, when it dips below that temp it turns the heating source back on. (much like a thermostat in ones home used for their furnace and air conditioning)

[newsboys]

Alright - so pretty much any heater I buy is going to be a higher at a higher temperature than what I want it to run? Where can I get one of these thermostats, and would the thermostat sensor then go *in* the tank with the crabs, probably under the sand, where the heater is?
Thanks for the quick response.

[ladybug15057]

About 1/3 down this link (or on page 2 if it takes you to the first page of this topic) I had done a detailed reply about the thermostats:

thermostat

There is a probe with it and it does go inside the tank in the substrate. It is one of the best investments I have made for all our tanks and iso's. Gives me peace of mind too when we go away for a week end. No more plugging in and unplugging the UTH. BUT, even with the thermostat one should still monitor the substrate temp at both the cool and warm side of the tank.

[newsboys]

Thanks Ladybug.
So I saw the Zilla on ebay, or I suppose I could pick one up at PetSmart, although I don't know if it would be cheaper or not, but it saves me on shipping... Since I'm already placing a shell order from this store, I saw a thermostat there.. http://www.thecrabbagepatch.com/AC060.htm I know it's only 500w instead of the 1000w zilla, so is that going to make a difference if I only have one heater mat? Down the line when I get a bigger tank, I will probably need a bigger heating mat than a 'small' one, but I would assume that one large heating mat would still be under 500w - am I save to assume this, or should I ditch the 500 and get the 1000w?

Thank you

[ladybug15057]

The ESU (now called Zilla) I have on our tanks/iso's I have used them with UTH's for 10 gal tanks up to our 55 gal tanks. (ones rated for 50-60 gal tank) Doesn't effect the controller at all and still regulates the UTH the same. So you should be fine with the same thermostat for any sized UTH. (unless someday they may come out with one rated higher, and higher wattage)
But the one at Tammy's store looks like it would work, it is rated up to 500 watts, and it says it has 2 outlets. So you may be able to even use it with a light source some day as well if you opt to go that way for the night/day cycle. Just make sure to check the package for the wattages of the lights along with the UTH.

[newsboys]

Alright - will do.
I'm thinking of buying a medium sized heating mat (10x11 inches) rather than the small (8x8 inches), as it might suit a bigger tank better when I upgrade the tank, and it should work in my ten gallon I currently have (10.5x20 inches). However, Crabbage Patch is out of the medium sized ones
I have a question, though.
I was in Petsmart today (two locations - neither of them had thermostats >_<) and they have two different types of heater mats - a 'desert' mat, and a 'rainforest' mat, which is supposed to be better for humid habitats. They are both 'Exo Terra' mats. These heating mats go on the *outside* of my aquarium tank, correct? If so, does it really make a difference in which mat I buy? I ask because the T-Rex has only one type of heating mat, and those are what are offered at the crabbage patch, so I'm wondering if I should spend the little bit extra and get a rainforest style heating mat by Exo Terra instead?

Also - is it necessary to regulate the tank with a humidifier when I get a bigger tank eventually, such as with this "Repti Fogger" http://www.livehermitcrabs.com/zoomedrefo.html ? I bet that would work well if I had a screen-top lid, but I'm unsure whether it's necessary if I get a glass or aquarium lid. If it will be necessary, would anyone advise getting this Zoo-Med HygroTherm device [http://www.livehermitcrabs.com/zoomedhy.html] which works as both a thermostat and regulates humidity as well?

Thanks a lot for your help I appreciate the advice.

[ladybug15057]

First, I would like to warn to be careful as to which site you choose to order from. Some do have reputable reputations for filling orders in a timely manner, and some do not and have also been known to change their store names as well due to a bad reputation of taking a customers money and not sending out the merchandise they ordered. A little reading:

store

As for the UTH, I would suggest this one:

http://www.petdiscounters.com/c14/c8/c1 ... p1347.html

not this brand, it even states it reaches extreme hot temps like the desert... not safe: (reminds me of the heat rock)

http://www.petdiscounters.com/c14/c8/c1 ... p1345.html

If you look at the link above for PetsDiscounters, you will see the different sizes that ZooMed makes. One does not want to buy an UTH that covers more than the outside bottom of the tanks floor. Even with a thermostat it will not permit for the variable in substrate temps that hermies must have to remain healthy. Due to being cold blooded creatures they must have a cooler side of 71-73* F and a warmer side of 78-80* F to regulate their body heat.
Now what can be misleading sometimes is the tank gallon size so one needs to know the measurements of their tanks floors length and width. Example: There are 2 types of 20 gal tanks sold, but I will use 2 of them.
A 20 gal tank has a floor measurement of 12 inches by 24 inches so the UTH rated for the 10-20 gal size tank will work because it is approximately 6" x 8". However, a 20 gallon long tanks floor measurements are 12 inches by 30 inches so the one rated for the 10-20 gal tank in reality is too small, so the one rated for the 30-40 gal tank approximately 8" x 12" would need to be bought.
This may not cover quite 1/2 the floor of the tank, but it will work. Look closely at the wattage sizes of the UTH's, the larger the UTH is rated for the wattage does go up.
For when you do get your larger tank, (not knowing what size you're wanting to get) you can buy a waterfall, use bubbler pools if needed. For my 40 gal breeder tanks and our 55 gal tanks I use the votive candles with marbles in the center of where the UTH's are located and it works fine here.

[newsboys]

It's okay - I don't plan on ordering from *that* site, anyways Thanks for the heads up.

I definitely didn't plan on buying the desert model. If I were going to buy exo terra, I would be getting this rainforest model: http://www.petdiscounters.com/Heat-Wave ... p6947.html

Would you still recommend Repti-therm over that one?

Like I said, I only have a 10 gallon tank, but I plan to upgrade within a year. It is 10x20 inches, so if I went with the rainforest heater, they have a 10x11" that would work well, however, if I went with the Repti-therm, can I get away with using the 8x12" mat? It would cover just over half the tank lengthwise, but has a little slack on the back obviously, so it takes up less than 50% of the floor area of the tank..

P.S. Is it taboo at this site to mention products/sites by name? I didn't read it in the rules...

Thanks again

[newsboys]

Alright - So I went and ordered the Repti-therm UTH over the internet, as the pet store didn't carry them, and no one could say whether the rainforest model of the other brand would be any good. Anyways, before installing it, I was reading the instructions, and it says not to install it under sand if the sand is more than 1.5", which mine is, of course, so the crabs have room to bury. It also says that water on the glass over the heater may cause stress cracks in the glass, and although I don't have water over it, I do have moist sand.
I also realize that these UTH instructions are also usually for reptiles, and not crabs, so my question is: is it better to mount the heater under the tank, beneath the sand even if the sand is too deep, or should I mount it at the back of my tank (which also happens to have a thin layer of coconut fiber sheeting against the back for the crabs to climb on)?

Thanks for the help!