Overhead heat lamps

Wanted to know something. Was reading a lot of temp/humidity threads on here. If a lot of people say you need to use an overhead heat lamp to maintain temps. Ok I get that. What I don't get is then how are the people with snake racks doing it then. Never see overhead lamps on them. Just curious is all.

I'm not a huge expert on the specifics of this topic but from what research I've done and things I've seen most of them have built in heaters of some sort


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I thought most people with racks used heat mats/tape?

That's what I thought. But what's the difference between heat tape and an UTH. Because if there is none or not much. Then the people that say they can't live with UTH's only, are all wrong then. Wouldn't it?

If the ambient room temps allow the enclosure's ambient temps to remain in the 84-86 range then yes, a UTH alone will be fine.

I think that rack systems retain heat better than tanks. If you are using a tank in a room at less than 80 degrees, then an overhead heat lamp is useful along with an under tank heater, to keep ambient temps up. :)

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Originally Posted by SPIDERBALL

That's what I thought. But what's the difference between heat tape and an UTH. Because if there is none or not much. Then the people that say they can't live with UTH's only, are all wrong then. Wouldn't it?

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You make it sound like an all-or-nothing situation, but really, whether or not overhead heat is necessary depends on a number of factors. The ambient temp in the room is a big one. As long as it's over 75 you're probably good, but if it gets lower then supplemental heat may be needed.

I have both glass enclosures and racks. My racks are enclosed, so they retain both heat and humidity better than tanks and terrariums. I have heating and A/C all throughout my apartment, so the temps stay relatively steady, but there is still some fluctuation with the seasons. My room is a bit drafty. Typically, even if the temp in my room drops a few degrees in the winter the coolest temp in my racks won't go under 75 degrees, but the terrariums are a different story. A few of them are near a window, where it can get down into the mid-60s. So I have CHEs for my terrariums that I use during the winter to keep the ambient temps up. Not necessary in the summer.

So insulation is important too. A melamine or pvc enclosure would hold heat better than a glass terrarium, and a closed rack system typically holds heat better than an open one. Of all the enclosures you can keep a BP in, tanks need the most work, because they're not made specifically for BPs. Plastic tubs and specialized caging work better. Racks too.