The number of people adding a pet reptile to their family has drastically increased over the last couple of years and it is steadily increasing with each year that goes by.
Although lizards are a very popular reptile with the bearded dragon being the most commonly kept pet reptile in the world, we have seen more and more people adding a pet snake to their family.
Although many people initially thought that snake racks were cruel, more and more people are starting to realize the benefits that they offer so it is becoming increasingly popular to keep a pet snake in a plastic tub rather than a traditional vivarium.
This has caused a number of people to reach out and ask various questions about how they can go about heating plastic tubs for snakes and the number of people asking this is only increasing.
Due to so many people asking, we wanted to publish this article on the topic but before we go any further, we want to clarify that there is no one size fits all solution for heating a plastic tub for a pet snake.
Both heat mats and heat lamps can work with one often being better than the other for different setups due to both heating options having their own advantages and disadvantages.
Still, the advice offered below should be able to help a number of our readers who are keeping their pet snake in a suitable plastic tub.
Is It Safe to Heat A Plastic Snake Tub?
The first question that we often get asked is whether it is even safe to heat a plastic tub for a pet snake and the answer to this question is not as straight forward as you might think.
On the one hand, if the temperatures inside of the plastic tub are too high, then this can cause the plastic to warp which could potentially injure or even kill your pet snake.
On the other hand, if the temperatures inside of the plastic tub are too low, then your pet snake is likely to become stressed which can have a whole host of negative impacts on their health and wellbeing.
The good news is that as long as you take care to monitor the temperature inside of the plastic tub and make sure that it stays within a suitable range, then there is no reason why you can’t safely heat a plastic tub for your pet snake.
Most commercial plastic tubs should easily be able to withstand the required temperatures be it from a heat mat or a heat lamp for a snake to live comfortably without the plastic melting or having problems.
Always research the number inside the plastic triangle symbol on your plastic tub though as some may not be able to take high temperatures.
How Do You Heat A Plastic Snake Tub?
There are two main ways that you can go about heating a plastic tub for snakes and these are with either a heat mat or a heat lamp.
As we briefly touched on above, both of these methods have their own advantages and disadvantages which is why it is so important that you understand the pros and cons of each before making your decision.
Can You Use A Heat Pad On A Plastic Snake Tub?
The first method that we are going to look at is using a heat mat to heat a plastic tub for snakes.
A heat mat is a device that uses electricity to generate heat which is then transferred to the surface that it is placed on.
One of the biggest advantages of using a heat mat to heat a plastic tub for snakes is that they are very easy to use as all you need to do is plug them in and place them underneath the tub or to the side of the tub depending on the design of the heat mat.
Another advantage of heat mats is that they are very affordable which makes them a great option for those who are on a budget.
The biggest disadvantage of using a heat mat to heat a plastic tub for snakes is that they can be quite tricky to get the temperature right.
This is because the heat generated by the heat mat will rise and this can often result in the temperatures inside of the plastic tub being too high which can be dangerous for your pet snake.
Another disadvantage of heat mats is that they can dry out the air inside of the tub which can also be detrimental to your pet snake’s health.
Will A Heat Lamp Melt A Plastic Snake Tub?
The second method that you can use to heat a plastic tub for snakes is with a heat lamp.
A heat lamp is a device that uses electricity to generate heat which is then emitted in the form of light.
One of the biggest advantages of using a heat lamp to heat a plastic tub for snakes is that they are very effective at heating the air inside of the tub.
Another advantage of heat lamps is that they are very easy to control which means that you can easily adjust the temperature inside of the tub to ensure that it is safe for your pet snake.
The biggest disadvantage of using a heat lamp to heat a plastic tub for snakes is that they can be quite dangerous if they are not used correctly.
This is because the heat generated by the heat lamp can easily melt the plastic if it is placed too close to the heat source.
Another disadvantage of heat lamps is that they can be quite expensive to purchase and run.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, everything that you need to know about heating a plastic tub for snakes.
As you can see, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using both heat mats and heat lamps so it is important that you take the time to understand both before making your final decision.
If you have any questions or concerns then please do not hesitate to contact us.
