Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you use an UTH should you also use a heat lamp? i have been told to use one or the other. just curious

It depends on the spices and the size and type of cage . But for Balls a UTH is the best thing to use and the only thing you need and the only thing I recommend . As lights will suck the humidity out of the air and cause shedding problems and even dehydration . David

Truth is generally the best vindication against slander
Abraham Lincoln.

yes i have definatly had shedding issues. they never seem to shed correctly. and how do you keep the water in their dish from getting so cold?

You can put it over part of were the UTH is located or near it , plus if the heat from the UTH is evaporating the water faster then normal it will increase the humidity in the cage . But you need to make sure you have the right size UYH for your enclosure and when not sure of the right size go with a bigger size rather than a smaller as it is better to be able to turn down your temp controller and under use the heat sores than to have to run it full blast just to gain required temps . David

Truth is generally the best vindication against slander
Abraham Lincoln.

so its ok to put the dish over the UTH? i was told that would cause bacteria to grow and could harm the snakes in the long run?

That mite be , if you don’t change the water and clean the bowl as it should be done . But with normal cleaning it won’t happen . I have been doing it like that for 35 years and have never had a illness that was related to bacteria from there water . David

"I would rather be precisely wrong than approximately right"
Marion "Doc" Ford