Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have found heating big vision cages a task.Not only heat but humidity as well.Now the temp in the snake room is around 74 to 76 degrees always and have been heating the vision with regular light bulbs and heat lights.However it seems to me that the light bulbs take up all the humidiity.Now i know this dont happen to everyone but it does to me..So im switching heating options.Now i know i can heat with heat tape as i have some access to the big heat tape(24 inches wide) and know this will help ALOT!!! But i was also wondering about getting big helix heat panel......Im wondering if they suck up the humidity like light bulbs...........I can heat a big vision with big heat tape for about half the cost of a big heat panel,but i dont care,i want the best for heat and humidity..........Let me know what all have experianced!!!

Heat panels provide radiant heat just like heat lamps and ceramic bulbs, so the effect on humidity will be the same. However, a humid hide box is one solution for this problem.

If your background temp is already in the mid 70s, then a basking spot via heat tape should work just fine. It is cheaper, it doesn't burn out (unless you don't use a thermostat and it gets way too hot) and is probably the safest all around heater. Thing is, it will dry out the substrate that is over the heat tape, so your humidity issues remain. A soak once a week or a humid hide will do wonders. I know - I have the same humidity problems where I live. Soak once a week or more keeps my boa's skin nice and supple.

I only use heat panels (Pro Products) and I use them in various size cages ranging from BARR'S 24 x 12 x 12, to the 67 x 30 x 18 custom Neodesha cage, and sizes in between. My room temperature is around 70 - 73 so I really need to warm the cage air as well as provide a good basking area. (In the big cage I use an 18 x 24 heat panel.)

One thing that zaps humidity is cage ventilation. I have a couple of cages with big vents (especially basking light vents) that I had to close up to keep the desired humidity levels. But it's a fine line between humidity loss and sufficient air flow, as humid air has a different pressure than dry air and if the cage is over-ventilated the humid cage air will eventually equalize with the room air. Add a heat bulb or panel and you will really dry the cage out.

Anyway, I've had good results since I closed off most of the cage vents (they were the biggest problem), or at least parts of them. Also, I dump a bit of water on the substrate once in a while.

Regards,

Bill