We're Following All The Advice And Going With Ultratherms

[Motörcrab]

With the temperatures dropping here in central Pennsylvania in the last few weeks currently 23 as I write this. Week by week it has been getting tougher and tougher to regulate the Humidity and Temperature at a safe level. To raise the temperature from 69-73 back into the 80's we have been using a 75 watt heat bulb on right, front of the tanks along with a Zoo Meds UTH on the lower, center back of each tank. When we use the lights the humidity drops to roughly 62/65%, even with misting before we turn the lights on. We have both gauges at top, center, back of each tank, so i'm sure my readings are off a bit from where the crabs spend most of their time. We also use plastic wrap and just added some aluminum foil above the plastic to help a little more with insulation for warmth. I would say 3/4's of the top is covered. My place generally stays around 68 in the winter. our two tanks are 10 and 20 Tall. (still trying to find a place so we can set up the 55G we bought several months ago)

Yesterday we had to move the crabbies back to Xenocrabs place since I will be away for work for then next few weeks. Her place is a bit colder 65 then mine, also lowering the tanks temperature a few degrees more. After reading all the reviews for months we decided to purchase Ultratherms. Today we ordered two from The Bean Farm, 11X23 for the 20 Tall and 11x17 for the 10 gallon. After reading the PDF about the Ultratherms it says they will raise the tank 20-25 degrees compared to the room temperature. Hopefully we will be able to maintain 85+ degree inside each tank and also keep our humidity around 80 as well. I will try and have Xenomorph keep everyone updated on our luck once they arrive. Today at a quick stop at Pet Smart we priced Zoo Meds 50-60 gallon for $42, on sale. Even with the $14.45 shipping from The Bean Farm both were still $12 cheaper not including sales tax!

Sorry for the low profile the last month or two, my computer crapped out, have been super busy at work with deadlines, and have also been volunteering at local haunted house setting things up, scaring people, then tearing down.

[hermitharbor]

Good luck! Winter prepping can be a chore, but the UTHs really are handy!


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[Motörcrab]

Just a quick update on our Ultratherm experience so far. They work great. At Xenocrabs house we had a tough time keeping the temperature up since here place is so cold. Once the crabs got back to my place the tanks would range anywhere from 78-90 degrees, mainly maintaining in the low to mid 80's. The humidity held rather well in the 20 gallon with a glass top and a towel on top.We would generally mist it once a day to get it back up into the 80's from upper 60's to mid 70's. The humidity was a bit more of an effort on the 10 gallon since the heater covers the entire back and goes below the substrate level drying it out along the heater. We would need to mist that tank twice a day to maintain the 80-85% and on occasion adding a 16oz bottle of purified water to the substrate . That may also be due to having a screen top covered with saran wrap and some humidity escaping. This tank would maintain a higher temperature mid 80's to low 90's. When the temperature would spike I would unplug the heater for an hour or two to lower it. In all we are happy with how they worked out for us.

I think for our next Ultratherm purchase we will get the next size down for a 10 gallon to help with the drying out of the substrate. Possibly also look into purchasing a heat regulator as well. In all we think they were well worth the price compared to other UTH's.

[wodesorel]

You can buy a lamp dimmer (rheostat) for about $10 which limits how hot the pad can get. Find the right setting and no need to unplug it anymore! A thermostat for reptiles is not much more. That's the nice thing about going a little big, it's easier to bring the temp down than try to add more.

[GotButterflies]

I have a thermostat for mine. If it gets 86 degrees in the tank, my UTH shuts off.