Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK i jsut got a used melamine cage off somebody . Now i cant get the damn thing to heat up, i got like 350 watts on it and its not even close to the temps i need. Its 4'x2'x2', has 2 vents, one on each side and a 4 inche vent that runs across the top. My main idea is that the heat lamp inside is position in a way that alot of heat is lost. It faces the glass instead of downward. Would that make a big difference?

right now i got a 150 watt bulb in that socket, a heat lamp with a 100 watt ceramic heat emitter on the same side and a 100 watt normal bulb on the other end and on the warm side i read about 80 degrees and the basking is about 90, the cool side is like 70, its crazy.

also i was wonderin how many crickets i could maintain in 2 18 gallon rubbermaid containers?

You might want to try another thermometer... that's a lot of wattage to be at that low of a temp. I have a 4x3x3 that's heated with 1-160 watt merc. vapor bulb (hangs down inside).

I think your main idea for heat loss is your problem. I have the same type cages 4x2x2 melamine with large 14 x 8 vents on each side wall, but have the ceramic fixtures on the top so the bulb faces down. I installed 2 fixtures, but never needed the second bulb ever. Anything higher then 100 watts and I loose the proper gradients in the cage and my hot spot goes too high and has to be on the floor of the cage. I was very surprised actually just how well these hold in the heat, and usually only use one 75 watt bulb and lift the basking spot off the ground a bit and get a nice 105 basking surface and temps around room temp 73 on the far side close to the wall. I use a fluorescent fixture for lighting up the length of the cage. I'm sure if you switched out that sideways fixture for a regular ceramic one from home depot 3 bucks and have it facing down. You would get temps up to were they should be with less bulbs/wattage.
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Mystical Dragons webshots pictures
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I agree with Mattman and the other poster. Lights need to point down. I also think you want to get a type of bulb that directs all light (light is heat) down. I like phillips or GE halogens from home depot or walmart. Don't think you will need over a 90 watt bulb if you do it that way. Also think your temp measuring apparatus is off 350 watts should almost be cooking the cage. Seriously a room heat is 1500 watts and you can up a room temp to 85-90 with that. Get a digital indoor outdoor thermometer. I personally like temp guns (www.proexotics.com) they are invaluable tools and are not expensive at all. I lost mine over christmas and was lost without it. And for the crickets it depends on the size of crickets if you are talking 3/4 - adults then I would say 1000 for 1/4-1/2 i keep 2000. Hope this helps.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com