Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a BP in a 40 gal terrarium (36" by 16" by 16", I believe). My current heating is done with two 12" pieces of heat tape under the tank. One on the hot side about 92 degrees, and the other is the cool side but only heats up to about 70-73 degrees. Both are pressed against the glass on the underside with insulating foam. The problem is that with this setup my ambients are only about 70-75 degrees. I do have a mostly covered screen top which I cover more/less to keep humidity about 60%.

Any suggestions on how to get the ambients around 80? I'm going to Del Mar this weekend and could pick up whatever is necessary.

Would replacing the heat tape on the cool side with a RHP work, or are they not made for that? Any other suggestions? I would prefer to keep all the heating underneath the tank so that it looks clean (although if not possible I am open to other ideas)Thanks in advance.

I know you said you prefer to stick with only UTH, but UTH will not usually raise the ambiant too much in a big tank like that; although it gives a good belly temp.

I had a few display 40 Gal breeders years ago, and in the northeast my apartment(at the time) was kept at about 65-68 in the cooler months.

the only way I could get the ambiant temps up was to supplement with a 50/75 watt bulb.
I think I used the zoomed infrared heat bulbs at that time, running 24/7.

I also covered a good portion of the top with plexi-glas, and it worked out quite well.

Maybe you can find another alterative, but this is what worked for me.

What are your room temps??

TomChambers

I estimate that my room temps are as low as 63 at night, 73 in the day.

yeah with those lower temps. I never found a way to get the ambiant up without bulbs.

I placed the water bowl under the bulb, and with the plexi-glas covering about 2/3 of the top, it held great humidity though.

sorry thats the only advice I got.

good luck

TomChambers