I am currently having difficulty maintaining optimal night temps in my apartment with the coming of winter. Being Canada, it is already -15C/5F overnight which is giving me minimum nightly temps of 18C/65F(ish). While 50 gallons of rock/sand substrate is holding temperatures reasonably well, I need to increase nightly temps as the temperature is not going to get any better for about four monthes. How far can I expect the heat from an undertank source to penetrate through sand and rock? Right now the main burrow/sleep spot is 4in from the bottom of the tank with secondary hide spots 6in from the bottom. Being an apartment dweller, I do not pay for power. Also, I am currently using 250watt commercial clear glass infared heat lamps in conjunction with an active UV heat bulb. Any ideas for more effective daytime heating of a 30in tall enclosure?
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Effectiveness of undertank heaters with thick substrate?
Replies (2)
I don't think the under tank heater would do much in that situation... though I do not use them so I may be mistaken.
Do you heat the cage at night with anything? I leave a ceramic heat emitter on 24/7 to maintain the appropriate base temperature, then run additional lighting during the day for basking spots, and raising the tank to "daytime temps".
Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin
In Rocky's cage I keep the UT heater on all the time, mainly because of how long it takes to heat up, and I think that Rocky is used to it (when I don't put it on, there's more days where he doesn't come out). My thought is that if you have a deep substrate, though the heater may not be heating on the upper surface, the uro will most likely be digging in his hides (all mine have) and therefore they can dig down to the heat that they feel most comfortable for the night. In the wild they dig deep into the ground to maintain "warmth" at night, even though it's not the amount of warmth we provide. JMHO
-Jim
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2.1 - Rocky, Runako, and RoxyIII (my care sheets)
