Glass aquariums are not the best choice for housing reptiles, especially larger ones. Glass conducts heat and therefore will conduct the heat you are trying to put in right back out of the cage. Also, with only ventilation from the top, carbon dioxide, being heavier than air, will collect on the bottom of the cage where a reptile will typically reside. This lack of air exchange and cool temps can lead to bacterial and fungal problems and respiratory infections that I have seen many times over the years of working in the retail reptile trade. If you must keep that aquarium in use, I would recommend that you glue or tape some styrofoam sheets to the bottom, back and sides of the cage. But that still doesn't solve the air exchange issue. For the price of a 75 gallon aquarium, you can buy or build a VERY nice and more spacious cage for your reptile.

Also, on a side note, how are you measuring these temps? with a non contact infrared thermometer? a digital thermometer with a wired sensor? or one of those thermometer you put on the glass like a sticker?

If you had a cage made of plastic or wood, all you would probably need is that 100w light bulb to do the job.

Good luck.



-Yasser
SR


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