diff --git a/src/hipscat/catalog/catalog.py b/src/hipscat/catalog/catalog.py
index 2d1c18b9..423f1373 100644
--- a/src/hipscat/catalog/catalog.py
+++ b/src/hipscat/catalog/catalog.py
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@
     filter_pixels_by_polygon,
 )
 from hipscat.pixel_math.validators import (
+    validate_box_search,
     validate_declination_values,
     validate_polygon,
-    validate_radec_search,
     validate_radius,
 )
 
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def filter_by_box(
         Returns:
             A new catalog with only the pixels that overlap with the specified region
         """
-        validate_radec_search(ra, dec)
+        validate_box_search(ra, dec)
         ra, dec = transform_radec(ra, dec)
         if ra is not None and dec is not None:
             vertices = form_polygon(ra, dec)
diff --git a/src/hipscat/pixel_math/box_filter.py b/src/hipscat/pixel_math/box_filter.py
index 70e5a34a..4dfa8a21 100644
--- a/src/hipscat/pixel_math/box_filter.py
+++ b/src/hipscat/pixel_math/box_filter.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from hipscat.pixel_math import HealpixPixel
 from hipscat.pixel_math.filter import get_filtered_pixel_list
 from hipscat.pixel_math.polygon_filter import SphericalCoordinates
-from hipscat.pixel_math.validators import validate_radec_search
+from hipscat.pixel_math.validators import validate_box_search
 from hipscat.pixel_tree.pixel_tree import PixelTree
 from hipscat.pixel_tree.pixel_tree_builder import PixelTreeBuilder
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def filter_pixels_by_box(
         List of HealpixPixels representing only the pixels that overlap with the right
         ascension or the declination region.
     """
-    validate_radec_search(ra, dec)
+    validate_box_search(ra, dec)
     max_order = pixel_tree.get_max_depth()
     search_tree = (
         _generate_ra_strip_pixel_tree(ra, max_order)
@@ -41,12 +41,12 @@ def filter_pixels_by_box(
     return get_filtered_pixel_list(pixel_tree, search_tree)
 
 
-def transform_radec(ra, dec) -> Tuple[List[float] | None, List[float] | None]:
+def transform_radec(ra, dec) -> Tuple[Tuple[float, float] | None, Tuple[float, float] | None]:
     """Transforms ra and dec values before performing the search.
     Wraps right ascension values to the [0,360] degree range and
     sorts declination values by ascending order."""
     if ra is not None:
-        ra = wrap_angles(ra)
+        ra = tuple(wrap_angles(ra))
     if dec is not None:
         dec = list(np.sort(dec))
     return ra, dec
diff --git a/src/hipscat/pixel_math/validators.py b/src/hipscat/pixel_math/validators.py
index 44263052..98f2b8ad 100644
--- a/src/hipscat/pixel_math/validators.py
+++ b/src/hipscat/pixel_math/validators.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def is_polygon_degenerate(vertices: np.ndarray) -> bool:
     return bool(np.isclose(center_distance, 0))
 
 
-def validate_radec_search(ra, dec):
+def validate_box_search(ra, dec):
     """Checks if ra and dec values are valid for the box search.
     They must be pairs (of minimum and maximum value)."""
     values_provided = False