Pothos and enclosure question

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

What kind of fixture do I need for that bulb? Or does it not matter?

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You should use a heat lamp dome with a ceramic top, stay as far away form the plastic ones as possible.

I use these personally: http://www.petco.com/product/111478/...p-Fixture.aspx

I saw those but I was worried they were too small, would just one work when it's an adult?

Does that fixture emit light outside of the tank, because I will be housing in my room?

I also wasn't sure what size heating pad to get , Didn't realize they came in a bunch of different sizes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

I saw those but I was worried they were too small, would just one work when it's an adult?

This depends on how big the snake's adult cage is and how cold the room the cage is in is.

The heat bulbs are designed to project heat, and the aluminum reflector domes are designed to spread the heat.

Does that fixture emit light outside of the tank, because I will be housing in my room?

The infrared lights will put some light out, but very little, and the red light produced doesn't interfere with our night vision or appear bright. (basically it will produce a red glow around the cage

I also wasn't sure what size heating pad to get , Didn't realize they came in a bunch of different sizes

This depends on what size cage you are using. Generally speaking you want a UTH that covers 1/3 - 1/2 of the bottom of the cage

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I considered doing the live plant thing, but decided against it. Damp soil seemed like a good way to harbour bacteria and molds. It could also attract and harbour other bugs, etc that I'd just rather not have in an enclosure, and sterilizing a plant the same way you'd sterilize a hide or a water dish during a complete clean-out seemed trouble-some, and likely bad for the plant.

Pothos can be grown in water without soil though.

Not saying you shouldn't, just saying it seemed like more trouble than it would be worth for me.

I have tried live plants they were ok the snake kept knocking them over. Personally I would try it you will like it or not. Before I tried a heat lamp I would suggest a Fluorescent tube first they give off quite a lot of heat (surface hits just over 100ºF) this means they are fairly safe inside an enclosure and unable to melt burn anything but still manage to raise air temps dramatically. I get 10-15ºF from mine in a fairly well insulated enclosure. I use a deep blue led over night to hold air temps it also is shockingly hot in the mid to high 90s. (although anything below 98ºF feels cool to us). If these do not do enough a heat lamp can always be added led and FL fixtures with tubes are cheap and if you have a plant you will need one anyway.

So right now I have a 10 and a 15 gallon tank.

I assume I should go with the 15 and upgrade, but at what point?

The general rule (which is more of a lose guideline) is 1 square foot of floor space per foot of snake. A hatchling BP will be somewhere between 1-2 feet long so a 10-20 gallon long tank will work really well. Cage height really doesn't mater for BP's as they are ground dwelling snakes. My adult BP cages are only 12 inches high and that's more than enough.

After that it just depends how fast your BP grows.