Heating carpet tubs

[icygirl]

I'm on the edge of deciding on my next purchase. I have been drawn to carpets for some time now and am looking into possibly an IJ or a jungle, but have not yet completely decided.

I was wondering about heating a tub for a carpet. I've got an extra piece of flexwatt ready to go for a possible new addition. So say I got an appropriate tub that had some height to it for climbing. My question is: To get the proper temp gradient would I put the flexwatt on the side or the bottom? Or would I need a heat lamp or CHE on the top?

[Colin Vestrand]

i put the tape on the bottom... heat rises, as long as the top is solid you should be fine. i think putting it on the back or top would be pretty inefficient unless its in a hatchling rack or something very small.

[Schlyne]

I put mine on the bottom. I find that only one of my IJ's uses the perch extensively, but she still spends time on the bottom.

[MelissaFlipski]

We have a red heat bulb on the top/side and, normally, a heating pad underneath on low. But right now, the black rat we are rehabbing is borrowing the heating pad. Both is optimal, but probably not necessary, IMHO.

[icygirl]

We have a red heat bulb on the top/side and, normally, a heating pad underneath on low. But right now, the black rat we are rehabbing is borrowing the heating pad. Both is optimal, but probably not necessary, IMHO.

Melissa, I remember seeing your setup awhile back when you posted pictures. I was wondering about the heat lamp or CHE on top of the tub. I have a bunch of extra wire screen mesh that I could use, and I thought maybe if I cut a small hole on the top just big enough for the lamp and put the mesh over it, then I could heat via a heat lamp and not lose too much humidity. What are your experiences with heat lamps/CHE's and humidity with carpets and/or taller tubs? Also, do you think it would melt the plastic if I did this?

I am considering this because in my experience, when I use flexwatt, ground temps and air temps are always quite different. This is not too much of a problem for my ball and my corn as they are always on the ground, but I was thinking I would have more trouble with a taller tank.

[MelissaFlipski]

Icygirl, I worried about melting the plastic, too, that's why I put the red heat bulb on the side of the tub. Here is the link to my setup again:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=59515

He had a CHE lamp to the right of the tub (now a red heat light bulb b/c we stole the CHE for our Rosy Boa). We put holes in the tub there so the heat could get in - the lamp never needs to touch the tub for it to easily get to 90 on his branch near the bulb. The heat pad underneath was for some belly heat and heat to spread out over the floor as well.

Some say to create a heat gradient vertically so that they can move up and down to the spot with the desired temperature. But I prefer giveing them a horizontal temperature gradient like for GTP's - AND creating a vertical one as much as possible, as well.

I'll shoot some detailed pictures of what I mean and post them later.

Good luck!

[MelissaFlipski]

Icygirl, here's my set up. Though he needs to be upgraded to a larger enclosure - probably to his permanent one. We plan to build it - probably about 4' wide by 1.5' deep by 2.5' - 3' high. It will have a wood frame and plexiglass sides. Not sure on heat plan yet. I imagine it will be a work in progress at first.

Here is our JCP's tub now:
1) from the front, heat lamp on right


2) from the right side with the heat lamp moved over so you can see the ventilation/heat holes. Not sure you can see the temp., but it's a nice 90 where the thermom. is.


3) from the top showing the holes on the left side for ventilation and to encourage airflow from left (heat) to right


4) from the left side showing some more ventilation/air flow holes


5) from the rear to show a few more ventilation holes


See if you can spot Zeelow in any of the pictures!

Have fun with your set up. Jungle Carpets ROCK!!