Need some serious help with regards to regulating temperature.

Okay so I recently purchased a male 2010 pastel BP (from a breeder) and the whole enclosure sha-bang a couple of weeks ago. I kept him in an exo terra screen top (36"x18"x18") terrarium. I had the temperatures and humidity somewhat figured out within a couple of days. However, I found it annoying and unsightly that I had to keep a towel on top of the cage in order to keep in the humidity + I'm not sure if he enjoyed having 3 transparent sides to his cage. Today I sold that enclosure and moved him to a new one- a white PVC (48x24"x12"). It looks real snazzy and matches the living room (and no towels, yay!). The set-up is very basic. Two identical hides on either side of the enclosure (for the hot side and cool side). Large water dish in the middle. Paper towel substrate, at least for now.

On one end is an Exo Terra heat pad (11"x17") regulated by a dimmer switch. Over the pad is his hot hide. According to the digital thermometer it is a nice 90-93 degrees Ferinheight inside the hot hide.

I also use a 150W red heat lamp. The heat lamp is being moved and pointed around in order to raise the ambient air temperature inside the PVC enclosure. The problem is that I must point it inside the cage THROUGH the transparent doors in order to get somewhat of a noticeable amount of heat inside it.

Keep in mind that with ONLY the heat pad (no heat lamp), the section of the enclosure not covered by the pad is approximately 70-73 degrees F-- freezing for a BP.

When I add the heat lamp. ambient air temperatures rise to 75-78 degrees on the cooler side (both in and outside of the cool hide) and on the hot side rise to about 80. The temperature of the hot hide seems unaffected by the use of the heat lamp.

What should/can I do? The way I have currently placed my heat lamp is not a long-term option either. See the photos. Raising the temperature of the room itself is not really an available option either :(

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I very quickly switched to tubs, so I don't have much experience here... but couldn't you just put another head pad and dimmer on the cold side, regulated to ~80 degrees?

- Get it off the floor. That is where the coldest air is.

-As was said, add a second UTH to the cool side, Or, go with a Radient Heat Panel..

When I used a Cage just like that - I used an 80 watt rhp from reptile basics and everything worked out great with 90 hot side, 80 cool side, and humidity at 60 percent

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

- Get it off the floor. That is where the coldest air is.

-As was said, add a second UTH to the cool side, Or, go with a Radient Heat Panel..

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x2

Definitely try to find something to put it on to get it off of the floor. You would be surprised at how cold it gets right on top of the floor boards. That's probably your main problem.

And then adding another UTH or a RHP would be the best idea to keep your cool side temp up without the lamp.

Very nice cage though!! :gj:

I had a very similiar setup. I used a uth on the cool side, but it still didn't help with my ambient temp at all.

I ended up scrapping the 2nd uth, and getting a radiant heat panel from Reptile Basics. It worked great. It didn't effect the humidity, my warm side was at 90 degrees with the uth, and the heat panel kept the ambiant right at 80.

If you have any other ?'s shoot me a pm -- and if by chance you live close by I may be able to help you out with the heat panel. I still have mine and it has less than 6 months use as I eventually switched to a rack system.

Good luck!

hey thanks guys. i live in toronto canada, i'll try seeing if i can pick up a radient heat panel at the expo coming up.

Easy fix, use a radiant heat panel. I use the 80 watt ones from Reptile Basics in my 4x2x1 cages. The RHPs heat the hot spot and the ambient temp in the entire enclosure. My hot spots are around ten degrees hotter than the cool side, which is about perfect.

It's like Deja Vu!!!

yup i use 40 watt RHP from pro-products in my 36x30x14 cages, works great