I have two of my 08 kingsnakes in an unheated basement, I have the zoomed under tank heaters but what else can I use to raise the temps if it gets too cold?
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heat sources
wbcrows
Oct 14, 2008 12:19 PM
Replies (4)
markg
Oct 14, 2008 06:44 PM
How cold do you expect it to get in the basement?
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Mark
wbcrows
Oct 14, 2008 08:32 PM
Worst case scenario I figure 40 -45 if it gets brutal outside
markg
Oct 15, 2008 11:59 AM
>>Worst case scenario I figure 40 -45 if it gets brutal outside
OK, well I guess that is cold enough to warrant more heating.
For baby kings, the easiest method I have found is to build a simple plywood box with air vents on the sides or back wall. Then put in some heat cable or a heat pad for their cages and set the cages and heater inside the plywood box.
Of course use a temperature controller. The ambient temp in the box will be higher than the room temp.
One easy way to control the temperature is to use a dimmer on the undertank heater and then an ON/OFF controller after that. Put the ON/OFF controller sensor to sense the air temp in the box and turn off power to the heat cable/pad if the air in the box gets too warm. This is a simple way to provide very good protection for the undercage heat and the air temp with only one somewhat pricey controller (the ON/OFF) and one inexpensive controller (the dimmer.) A good ON/OFF is Ranco or Johnson. Mine have been used and abused for years.
This method is much more efficient than heating an entire basement, unless your entire basement is full of snake cages.
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Mark
54podge
Oct 15, 2008 08:50 AM
I am struggling with this as well. I am considering putting my critters in my basement when I am done finishing it (a month or so), but am concerned with temperatures. While mine will probably dip into the 60's at worse, will a UTH be sufficient heat? My other concern is that there is no ambient light in that room, therefore I'd have to use my ceiling lights all day. Does that provide them the proper light, and is there a type of bulb that would work best?
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