Keeping IJ enclosure warm in cold apartment

[IJCarpet]

So I recently moved into a loft apartment that has utilities included and therefore no control over what the temperature for the building is set at. At night, due to the high ceilings and large windows it gets into the low 60s. I haven't had any reptiles since I was a teenager because I've been moving around the country for college and the army. However I'm settled for now and the local pet store has a beautiful baby IJ carpet that I'm obsessed with. I haven't bought him yet since I'm not quite sure how I should go about providing proper heat for him though in such a cold apartment. I was thinking I'd put a space heater in the area the enclosure will be and using a radiant heat panel or a ceramic heat emitter for a heat source. While he's small he'll most likely be in a 10 gallon tank I have or a 12x12x18 exo terra...leaning toward the 10 gal since I already have it. When he gets big enough he'd be put in a 3'x2'x3' exo however at that point I probably won't be in this apartment anymore.Anyone have any other ideas/experience keeping carpets in cold houses/apartments?

[bcr229]

If you have an area or room for the enclosure, such as a walk-in closet or your bedroom, that you can heat independently of the building HVAC then using a space heater in that space will work.

[EL-Ziggy]

I'd go with a UTH and a RHP if the room was that cold. You can go with the RHP only and warm the room with an oil filled heater.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...ll%2Caps%2C136

[Prognathodon]

Remembering the loft apartment we were in once upon a time (2-3 small closets and a bathroom were the only things with doors), I'd go with a RHP for ambient temps.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[IJCarpet]

Prog, my loft only has a bedroom door and a bathroom door. The closet has folding slatted doors but the bedroom wall doesn't go all the way to the ceiling and the same goes for the closet. I emailed Reptile Basics this morning and within 10 minutes got a phone call back. Their smallest panel won't fit in either a 10 gal or 12x12 exo terra so I think I may go with the 18x18x18 exo with the 40 watt panel. However I'm not sure if this will provide enough of a temp gradient. I know there will be a warm enough hot spot though.

[Gio]

You should look at some plastic enclosures VS glass. They hold heat better and are far more friendly for mounting RHP units.

In situations like yours, I'd insulate the back, top and bottom of any type of cage with Reflectix insulation.



Looks like this. Easy to work with too.


Pro-Products makes a wonderful RHP, and I have not heard many negatives about Reptile Basics either.

Carpets can endure some low temps. They are fairly hardy that way, but as mentioned a space heater will help, and you could add a UTH for extra floor/belly heat.

I'll bet there are some decent, used smaller plastic enclosures around.

I see the initial post said "baby" IJ so you could probably get away with a nice, small unit to start with. No matter what, get a high quality thermostat for your ambient temps and belly temps. Herpstat II is a great option.

60's in the room over night are not bad if the cage can still maintain low to mid 70's at night but you will want the hot spot much warmer.

For a baby in this situation, I'd look at smaller caging like you are, and focus on the husbandry.

4 items I'd say you will want to improve your success are: UTH for belly heat, RHP for ambient temps, space heater for warmer room temps, and thermostat (thermostats) to run the heat sources in the cage.

Side items like Reflectix will help keep heat in and cold out.

In a larger cage a properly regulated RHP will keep ambient temps well, and also maintain a hot spot. This is not going to work the same with a smaller cage though.