Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i'm having almost the same problem with an exo-terro heat wave large uth. i plugged it into a thermostat that i had on another cage and it never heated up. i plugged it directly into the outlet and its only just warm now. i just got a new boa in a spur of the moment deal that i could not pass up. i'm keeping her in a 55 gallon glass tank, its all i got for now. i do plan on an enclosure but need to use the glass tank just for a little while. should i get a heat lamp instead of the uth. i've had a snake in this tank years ago but it was not a boa, any advise would be great.

I use overhead heat by using a black light bulb as it gives off very little light (I noticed my snakes would hide 24/7 with red light but NOT with black light). I use tanks with screen lids so overhead heat is great.
It heats the air and directly below. Even in a small tank like a 10 gallon I am able to keep temp directly under light at mid 80s and other side of tank high around 70s so not a bad gradient for a small tank kept in a 68 degree room. I use 75 watt ESU bulbs set at only half strength.
I think overhead heat is great as it heats the air in a cool room while UTH heats the bottom not the air. There is now a new bulb that someone here sells that gives no light is 60 watts and heats upto think 100 watts or more and bulb itself doesnt get hot.
It looks pretty good . Boas need warm air so go with overhead heat. I have never kept boas but saw plenty in Panama and even in the hottest part of the day I would see them in the trees granted shaded areas but still hot.

Luis

it looks like i'll be going with the heat lamp. what wattage bulb would be best recommended to keep temp at about 87-89. also would i need a thermostat with the heat lamp?
any advise would be great. thanks for your time

I personally like dimmers on lighting.. You will need a thermostat on that UTH though..
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www.MGReptiles.com
Professional Reptile Heating Supplies

I prefer a dimmer they sell lamp dimmers which are great just plug into outlet than plug your light into that.
If you prefer ZOO MED and ESU have dimmers to but lamp dimmers I find actually better .
I keep a stick on thermometer in the hot area just to watch the temp but since room stays at 68 once you adjust the light intitially its easy to keep same temp.
You can also lay tin foil on half of screen top as I do to retain heat . It works FANTASTIC . My snakes come out at night and here and there during day with the black light but they didnt with the red light .
I dont buy into that snakes can not see red light. Black light they seem not to notice at all.
I use ESU black light 75 watts and at half power they keep warm area at low 80s . The exo black light bulbs blew out right away .Better off going higher watt and not needing it than lower watt . They are same price anyway.
I also use a pearlco ceramic heat emitter for my lizards but its a drying type heat I prefer incandescent for snakes.
I imagine I know less about snakes than most here but over the yrs I have become a bigger fan of overhead heat directed in one corner of enclosure than UTH for heat as they do not heat the air at all.
Granted they run cheaper but my "collection" is only 3 milks and 3 kings few lizards .

What kind of blacklights are you referring to? As in the "psychedelic" ones that make stuff glow? If not, what kind of light do they emit, in terms of visibility?
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The reptile type black lights they are sold in all reptile type sites,pet stores (not to be confused with night light which are usually red light these bulbs say BLACK light). I have no idea if same as the black lights your talking about .
I have used 2 types Exo black light great light but both bulbs blew out and I am not the only one who has said this .
ESU black light darker very black but lasts long time.
Chromalaux makes black light to but I have never used it.