Black Light??

[SYNNDAKAT]

Hello... Ive been lurking for a while now and finally took the plunge into membership!!

I have a BP (got him in August) and he's in a 55gal glass tank. Ive been having difficulties with the temperature and humidity...

Tomorrow is extensive work on the tank day.... painting the back black and lining with foil and foam-board for insulation... also building a fountain

I have a UTH and rheostat on order and arriving shortly...

My boy uses both sides of the tank like clock-work....

My question is this....

Would a black light that mimicks moonlight be beneficial for a bit more added warmth during the night??? And if so, which side should it be located on?

Thank You!!

[Argentra]

Well, first off I'm going to say what many here will: a 55g tank is way too tall and a bit too big for any but an adult female BP.

That said, you should make sure you have the screen top treated with either foil or thick plastic to hold in heat and humidity.
Lamps can be used for ambient temp boosts, and the best bulbs IMO are the moonlight blue since red gets hotter and brighter and black turns the whole room purple...but make sure the lamp is raised at least 8-12" above the top of the tank and that you're using no more than a 60w bulb. Any higher and you'll be baking the moisture right out.
Try to locate the lamp centrally, but a bit closer to the warm side to preserve the gradient.

[simplechamp]

the best bulbs IMO are the moonlight blue since red gets hotter and brighter and black turns the whole room purple

I purchased an exo-terra "blue moonlight" bulb and, to me at least, can't tell any difference between it and a regular purple-ish blacklight. Anyone know of a blue moonlight that is actually blue? I took the exo-terra one back because it it cost way more than a regular blacklight and seems to be exactly the same thing.

What are you using for heat right now while you are waiting for a UTH and dimmer? Lights or CHE? What do the temps go to at night with no supplementary blacklight for heat? I put my red nightlight at an angle with most light over the hide and angled so some also goes over the rest of the enclosure.

[PythonWallace]

I know there are blue, 25w "party bulbs that are really blue, and not purple, but 25w wouldn't do much for a 55g tank.

[SYNNDAKAT]

I purchased an exo-terra "blue moonlight" bulb and, to me at least, can't tell any difference between it and a regular purple-ish blacklight.

What are you using for heat right now while you are waiting for a UTH and dimmer? Lights or CHE? What do the temps go to at night with no supplementary blacklight for heat?

Thank you for your response!! (Sorry for all of the noobness & ???'s )

I am using a light dome with clear bulb 100 watt and the black (I guess it really is "blue") light is the Exo-Terra 75watt Moonlight bulb. I got up around 3:00am to check on him and he stayed under the blue light, which is abnormal becuase he usually goes to his hide and foilage at night.

(I know are way too low) Temps are running an average of 70-75 at night and 75-80 during the day. Humidity is averaging 55-60

He just finished his first shed and I did have to give a few baths to remove the rest of the skin.... I bought Sphagnum moss today to put in and near his hide. (I read Im supposed to microwave it first to kill any mites... if this is true how long do I nuke it for?)


Also have a ?? regarding the outside lining. If I paint the glass black can I put aluminum and then the foam-board on the outside of it for additional insulation?

[uafgrad]

His high temp is 80?

[SYNNDAKAT]

His high temp is 80?

Yes... As I said in the other post, I know this is too LOW....

Working on getting it corrected!!

[Somed00d]

I got up around 3:00am to check on him and he stayed under the blue light, which is abnormal becuase he usually goes to his hide and foilage at night.

i would say its because he needs the heat. your temps are too low. you need to increase it asap before he gets a respiratory infection.. Is the top of the tank covered or is it just a screen lid? Too much heat is escaping.

Richard

[ride_gnu]

I just bought a 48 gal long that sits 17" tall. I am working on slowly moving my BP into that as well. To keep up your temps try the following

1) make the lid out of plexglass, and cut holes for you heat lamps to fit in preventing as little heat escape as possible, make sure you put wire mesh under the lamps to prevent burns

2) A UTH should keep your temperature high enough, make sure you are taking your temperatures inside the dens, as the temperature inside a den on top of a UTH can be more up to 10 degrees hotter than outside.

3) I have 2 red lights heating a 48 gal. long right now, one 75 and one 100 I think, and they both work failry well to maintin daytime temperatures at 81 and 85 outside the hides give or take 3 degrees, and inside the hide on the hot side 93 give or take 3 degrees.

4) Another trick is if you 55 Gal. is not a long tank (in other words failry tall + 17") when you do work to it, give home 3-4 dens, place two dens, part way up the tank on say a second floor, this will put him clooser to the heat lamps.

Also, you mentioned a water fall, ive been trygin to thikn of different ways to do this, and I was wonderig hwat your plan is?

[ERP]

so is it actually bad to have a small b.p in a big tank???????
since someone said a 55 gall is too big....
too me thats like saying a mansion is too big for one person, maybe so, but is it detrimental to his health??