Red night light: how much is too much?
I'm putting together a 32"x18"x12" wood-and-glass enclosure for my BP. For daytime lighting, I have a 13-watt fluorescent light. I'm thinking of putting a red LED light for nighttime lighting and I'm wondering how much is acceptable and how much is too much?? I'm planning to use 1-watt bare LED bulbs (no reflector). One bulb should be enough to illuminate shapes but that's about it. Two, of course, would be better from a viewing standpoint but I'm wondering if it'll be too much for the BP's welfare.
Any opinions??
Re: Red night light: how much is too much?
Call me dumb, but I don't even know what you mean by an LED light (not one the would be used in a snake cage at least).
If possible... I'd reccommend using a black night light. I've been using one in a small 10 gallon, but when I get a new 36x24x12 cage I'm going to stick with this lighting. It supplies plenty of "dull/dark" allowing for easy viewing without bothering the snake (it's similar to moon light).
You can buy them at most reptile supply sites, just make sure the actual bulb can't be touched by your snake b/c they can get pretty hot.
Re: Red night light: how much is too much?
Just as a heads up when using any bulb for heat your going to take a hit humidity wise... Make sure all bulbs are ouside of the tank too... Crazy curious snakes will go anywhere including hot bulbs.... I suggested to another poster that if you need to provide some extra heat from above... Go with a CHE... they provide no light at all and do a decent job not killing the humidity... Ive worked with both and I think your better off going with a CHE... either way ALL heat sources need to be on a thermostat.
Re: Red night light: how much is too much?
haha and led will not affect anything.
The red light should be fine. Mine is in his hide anyway and doesnt seem to care what light is in the tank.
If you plan to just use the leds for viewing and when there is no one there you turn it off?
Either way. The red wont bother your snake.. BUT I would take sand paper and ruffin up the end of the led heavely to disperse the light (no direct spot light effect)
That is.. If you are using a a actual led. If you mean those led lights you can buy. thats a different story :)
Re: Red night light: how much is too much?
just a thought. i was told to use the bluelight insted of the red. blue night lights are much more natueral and give a kind of moon glow effect. red is not in nature unless you live on mars. i used to use red but i knoticed that my snakes would not come out of there hides all night. then i switched to a blue and they came right out and are still varry easy to see
Re: Red night light: how much is too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MATT FISHER REPTILES
just a thought. i was told to use the bluelight insted of the red. blue night lights are much more natueral and give a kind of moon glow effect. red is not in nature unless you live on mars. i used to use red but i knoticed that my snakes would not come out of there hides all night. then i switched to a blue and they came right out and are still varry easy to see
Agree 100%, the red lamps make it look like my snake is living in Hell. He loves the Black/Blue light, and comes out as soon as it's on. If you've even been in a club or fun house that used black lights you'd know how they illuminate anything that is white. This actually makes the snake look really cool and very visible.
As mentioned... I don't think the LED will suck up humidity, but I don't think it will provide much light either (although you will know the LED's capabilities better than me). If you used a low watt black night light it wouldn't give you humidty problems, but it would provide a nice romantic moonlight atmosphere;)
Re: Red night light: how much is too much?
I use the moonglo bulbs to illuminate my two corn snakes tanks at night. It also simulates moonlight and they both cruise around their tanks at night. My ghost corn is bright with that light, but my bloodred glows flourescent under that light. He's kewl to watch at night. And they dont give off much heat, although they get hot to the touch (yes they are outside of the tank, no snakey burns here :D ).
Re: Red night light: how much is too much?
Yea, I'm phasing out my red heat lamps. I don't think my snakes like them. The other night one of them burned out and the snake came out right away. I'm thinking of getting moonglo bulbs, too. I just have to get the heat aspect sorted out.
Re: Red night light: how much is too much?
I also use the moon glo bulbs. They give off just enough heat to keep my cool side temps up where they need to be. I was using the red bulbs at night but the tank is in my room and the red bulbs made it kind of hard to sleep at night. The red really didnt seem to bother the snake any the moon glo is more of a personal preferance of myself. The moon glo is definitetly give a more natural look.
Re: Red night light: how much is too much?
I went ahead and got blue LEDs as suggested.
The LEDs and the fluorescent light will both be out of the BP's reach . I tried the LED bulbs last night and they really don't radiate any appreciable heat. I guess I'll just have to experiment using one or two bulbs to see what'll work better.
