CHE on grill

I'm setting up my new AP cage - belly heat one side, a CHE on top of the wire grill to keep ambient temps up. The problem is that the CHE can make the metal grill really pretty hot. With the current warm weather and the thermostat set appropriately it is not really a problem but I am worried that come winter when it will need to output more heat that the grill may be dangerously hot for the snake. I'm currently using a 100w CHE but am wondering if a 60w CHE or probably best of all a red spot light would be safer?

ooo, whats a CHE? oh duh N/M. Have you tried insulating the cage to keep up the ambient instead? I dont know what an Ap cage looks like or if its even possible to do that with.

i dont think it should be a problem. most ppl who use tanks place the heat lamp directly on top of the screen cover. i used to do that and i never had a problem with burns or anything like that.

che's can get really hot even with a stat!


i used 40 watt che's on my arboreal setups, they worked fine. i would use the lowest wattage you can get away with. less chance of cooking and less power usage.

radiant heat panels are a good option too.

vaughn