Need help with heating options
I’m currently preparing to purchase a new, larger tank for my bp. I haven’t bought it yet because I was trying to figure out what sort of heating I should get for it.
This is the one I’m looking at: https://dubiaroaches.com/products/co...42116809719999
The current tank I use now is glass but this one is pvc. Should I use a heating pad? If so, would it go inside the enclosure or stick to the bottom/be placed below it? Or do I use overhead heating, if so what type? Or do I use both?
Thank you for any help!
Re: Need help with heating options
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Theo Pythagorean
I’m currently preparing to purchase a new, larger tank for my bp. I haven’t bought it yet because I was trying to figure out what sort of heating I should get for it.
This is the one I’m looking at:
https://dubiaroaches.com/products/co...42116809719999
The current tank I use now is glass but this one is pvc. Should I use a heating pad? If so, would it go inside the enclosure or stick to the bottom/be placed below it? Or do I use overhead heating, if so what type? Or do I use both?
Thank you for any help!
Heating pads for reptiles are generally referred to as "UTH" (under tank heating) & they never go in any enclosure- they go underneath. Safety depends on correct installation (they need a small air gap to prevent overheating; also you don't want anything resting on the power cords). UTH will not usually be enough heat, especially for a large enclosure, unless your room/home is kept very warm (like 77*) year-round, because BPs need about 90* at one end of their home, 24/7. (or just under 90*) The larger the enclosure, the harder they are to heat adequately- especially for snakes like BPs.
It's generally impossible for any of us to tell you exactly what you'll need to heat a new enclosure. Why? Because it depends on how warm or cold your room (or house) is allowed to get- and it depends on what kind of heat sources you're using too. Insulation on a tank can only do so much. A larger tank or PVC enclosure will likely need more heat- likely 2 heat sources.
Many here use a combination of a UTH (aka "heat tape") and overhead heat source- usually an RHP (radiant heat panel). You can look at various options here https://www.reptilebasics.com/heating & other sources/brands, that's just an example of one source for reptile products. Here's another: https://beanfarm.com/collections/hea...EaAu6MEALw_wcB
No matter what you use, please (!) set it up for at least a week to test out all your equipment BEFORE you put in a living pet. It can take a while for UTH & other heat sources to heat up all the substrate & all the other furnishings, so if you take temp. readings too soon, you'll likely get it wrong, & it can be very unsafe for your snake (the heat will keep rising gradually). Also, it's essential to control every heat device with a quality thermostat, & stay vigilant- take temp. readings.
Re: Need help with heating options
Pay the extra $10 and get 6 more inches of height. You'll be glad you did. I hear working in a 12 inch enclosure is awkward and frustrating. I'd heat with an RHP and heat tape.
https://dubiaroaches.com/products/48...tile-enclosure
Re: Need help with heating options
Re: Need help with heating options
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Homebody
Ugh! Just noticed that it has a screen top. I hate screen tops for ball pythons. Lets all the heat and humidity out. If you go with this enclosure, be sure to note the following advice from Dubia's assembly notes:
To increase humidity in the enclosure, you can purchase a 1/8” or 3/16” sheet of acrylic or PVC from your local hardware store to set on top of the screen. However, we don't recommend interfering with your enclosure's built-in ventilation system. Instead, mist more frequently and/or add a reptile fogger to maintain humidity.
Re: Need help with heating options
Yeah, I think those PVC enclosure from Dubia all have screen tops, which is unfortunate because they seem fairly decent for the price otherwise. They are definitely better for BPs than tanks/aquariums, but OP if I were you I would put that money towards saving up and look at buying a higher quality one without a screen top elsewhere.
