Lamp Guard getting too hot

I have a three foot vivarium which is 25 inches high. Here a googled picture but the dimensions (lamp inside the guard) looks right ish compared to my setup :

http://i29.tinypic.com/2mci0qb.jpg

The lamp I am using :

http://i30.tinypic.com/2l9jgjm.jpg

The probe of the pulse stat is in the middle ish of the viv. WHen I set it so the temperature just above the hide is 85F I am even unable to touch the guard its so hot (110+)

For now I lowered the temps to around 80 and moved a king snake in which is fine, but for a royal I obviously need higher temperatures so before I finish up the stack part of the viv for the royal I'd love to know what the best cause of action is here ...

It seems that it is impossible to get wider guards and most shields I found seem quite wide so I am not sure if that will all work ...

I am tempted to get someone to build me a custom guard which is a lot wider (I THINK I have about an inch and a half on the sides between bulp and guard) but I thought I rather ask ...

What wattage is your CHE? Maybe you should consider UTHs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jfreels

what wattage is your che? Maybe you should consider uths.

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100w ... Uth?

Undertank heater. They are more recommended for royals. Since, they don't need a basking spot. I'm not sure if you are using this for your hot side, or cool side. The cool side only needs to be around 80-82. The hot side needs 90-92.

Even if you get a bigger guard how will it not get so hot? I think an undertank heater is the best way to go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stratus_020202

Undertank heater. They are more recommended for royals. Since, they don't need a basking spot. I'm not sure if you are using this for your hot side, or cool side. The cool side only needs to be around 80-82. The hot side needs 90-92.

Even if you get a bigger guard how will it not get so hot? I think an undertank heater is the best way to go.

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Can't use an undertank heater in that viv stack ....

Hi,

You can it just may be a pain to set up. :P

Some pics of the stack and such might help with advice on it.

How about a radiant heat panel?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/rbi-radiant-heat_panels/


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

You can it just may be a pain to set up. :P

Some pics of the stack and such might help with advice on it.

How about a radiant heat panel?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/rbi-radiant-heat_panels/


dr del

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I suppose I could just add a heatmat underneath the hide like I do in those plastic tubs ..

Here a picture of the stack in question .. The top part was meant to be used for a royal - now home of a kingsnake .. bottom part was meant to be used for a pinstripe CB09 ..

http://i27.tinypic.com/2i7y6qa.jpg

http://i29.tinypic.com/33duyz5.jpg

This is a custom built stack .. I also ordered a 4 foot viv but it won't be a stack .. just a single one but that will be for my big royal so I will be sitting in the same boat with that one ..

Where do you attach those panels to ? Is that also a heater from the top or from the bottom ?

Hi,

They heat from the top - basically a straight replacement for your ceramic. Just connect them to the thermostat and you should be safe.

The main problem with the setup is the height as it means there is a lot of air to heatbefore any of it gets down to the animals.

I would be tempted to try moving the RHP to the center of the viv ceiling and use it to provide the ambients and then use a UTH ( again on a thermostat or other control device ) to provide the warm spot.


dr del

I would just get something much smaller and use belly heat. I know they're custom, but they're probably going to be difficult. And that's a lot of space your ball will probably not feel comfortable or safe in.

I really wouldn't expect anything different from a heat bulb. Surround it with metal, that metal's going to get hot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

They heat from the top - basically a straight replacement for your ceramic. Just connect them to the thermostat and you should be safe.

The main problem with the setup is the height as it means there is a lot of air to heatbefore any of it gets down to the animals.

I would be tempted to try moving the RHP to the center of the viv ceiling and use it to provide the ambients and then use a UTH ( again on a thermostat or other control device ) to provide the warm spot.


dr del

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How would you secure the UTH ? Assuming you use heatmats, the problem is that she is very active and as a result keeps even digging into substrate when moving so clearly I need to avoid having the heatmat directly under the substrate - would a thin sheet of wood work ?!?

I need to try to make those vivs work - they weren't cheap and I don't have enough room to add even more vivs and use them for different snakes or something ...:please: