Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Oh man I'm real upset I just typed a big post and my internet went to hell and deleted it, so I'm going to have to make it short. Do any of you prefer lighting as your heat source or undertank heat? Currently all my herps have lighting on timers to simulate day/night, but now that its winter and they all live in the basement I'm a little worried about night temps. I recently have been installing undertank heating for all my young snakes, but I'm not sure what to use for my bigger herps in plastic cages. What exactly do you use that is safe with plastic? Is a 247 underbelly heat source OK? Any specific info would be helpful! Thanks.

I use under tank heating pads only for all my constrictors in Vision and Barrs cages and feel that for constrictors belly heat is more important than ambient air temps. I prefer to control the macro air temp in the room and have all the pads set with rheostats with a hot spot of 90-92 degrees F. Use a temp gun to measure temps through out the cages. I place the pad under the cage at one end attached with aluminum foil tape along the pad's edges on plastic cages and leave the adhesive backing paper intact. This way you can easily move the pad if you want. This gives a good thermal gradient and the snake can move where it is comfortable. When the snakes choose to lay over the pad area their bodies get nice and warm. Overhead lighting can create warm air at different levels and is good for a day/night cycle but the substrate that actually contacts the snake can be too cool. Also under tank heating sources can aid in humidity where as overhead lights can rob humidity. Much cheaper to run than lights also. I use the Exoterra Heat Wave pads exclusively-safe, thin, well made and nicely priced-never heard of one burning out. This is just my opinion on this and it has worked very well for me. I have 30 happy and healthy constrictors including BCCs, carpets, bloods, retics, burms, and anacondas. Take care-Bill.

Don't know about other herps but for my burm I use a RHP. It's perfect for contstant temps. In the day time I have a light that heats the baskng spot to around 93 so I get a good night drop. All my cages are 3/4 ply so undertank heating hasn't sunk into my head yet on how. Any suggestions? My undertank hide stays under 75 and I want it at least to hit 82.
-----
DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

1.0.0 Burm, Moses
0.0.2 Ball, Chico & Chewy (rescue, many scars)
0.2.0 Cats, Merideth & Hannah
1.0.0 Black Chow, Pivo RIP Oct 23
1.0.0 Blue Chow Puppy, pick up 18 Dec
1.4.0 Rats
0.2.0 Humans (a little obnoxious though)

I am currently using all three heating methods mentioned (one for each cage) for experimental purposes. Here were my observations: with the UTH or heat pad, I found that while it provides belly heat and doesnt dry out the air too much, the heat it provides is too localized. While its warm directly on the heat pad, inches away its cold. It does not warm the air nor keep a smooth temp gradient across the cage. As far as lighting, I wouldnt use a bulb, but rather a ceramic heat emitter (lasts longer, wont disrupt photoperiod). The ceramic heat emitter does a great job in warming the air and surface, while providing a great temperature gradient from hot to cooler across the cage. Their drawback is energy consumption but more importantly it dries the air out too much even with a water source close under. The final heating source that I have implemented in my collection is the much endorsed (on this forum) radiant heat panel. This is my preferred method of heating. It mounts to the top and heats a larger area than a heat emitter, while consuming somewhat less wattage. Good luck, hope this helps.

>>Oh man I'm real upset I just typed a big post and my internet went to hell and deleted it, so I'm going to have to make it short. Do any of you prefer lighting as your heat source or undertank heat? Currently all my herps have lighting on timers to simulate day/night, but now that its winter and they all live in the basement I'm a little worried about night temps. I recently have been installing undertank heating for all my young snakes, but I'm not sure what to use for my bigger herps in plastic cages. What exactly do you use that is safe with plastic? Is a 247 underbelly heat source OK? Any specific info would be helpful! Thanks.

In my opinion...I keep temps constant 24/7....i have a uth that covers 1/3 of the cage that keeps it at like 90-95 then the rest of the cage is in the high 70's i do not make night drops......moatly i dont do this for the fact that my snake is in the basement and its too cold ...