Re: Min. distance of CHE from snake?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
polychromator
I'm soon to step up a wooden viv; it was previously fitted with an red IR bulb, but I'd actually like to switch it out for a CHE. However, it's not the tallest viv in the world - only 1 1/2 foot tall. The bulb guard was 6 inches tall, but ceramic guards normally sit closer to 8/9 inches.
My snake is at 850g so he won't be likely to do mad climbing, but as it hangs so far he could still get close to the guard if he wanted to - that worries me.
Is there a minimum height that a CHE (or a bulb, for that matter) should be away from the floor of the viv?
I think I'd rather stay away from heat mats inside the viv given how heavy he is, but if that's what everyone would suggest, then I'll go for it!
My 4' 1630g ball python girl would disagree with your not climbing like mad. She LOVES to climb when given the chance. And my 6.5' and 5' boa loves to climb as well. Most snakes will climb if given stuff to climb and adventure on.
As for heat mats, I use flexwatt in 3 of my AP cages and a RHP is 1 cage which I wish I would have used flexwatt on but i'll be ditching the cage out soon anyways. And my flexwatt is on the 6.5' boa and 5' boa and my 4' SD retic. Again, its just a myth about not using belly heat on a heavy bodied snake. As long as you have a good T-stat running the stuff, it is fine.
As for how far a CHE should be from the cage floor, a lot of factors there. Is it regulated(god I hope so), can the snake reach it(god I hope not). I have a CHE for my JCP and it is about 6" from her highest perch but I also got a Herpstat t-stat probe zip tied between the CHE and her perch. I then set the Herpstat to 92F which gives me about a 90F spot on her perch. I do have a screen between the perch and the CHE so there is no way she can get even close to the CHE.
And like others have said, I in no way would ever put a CHE inside the cage even with a guard. They get insanely hot and I would be worried. If your room is 75F+, heat tape should be plenty.
Re: Min. distance of CHE from snake?
I use CHE in a few of my wooden vivs. The guard does a good enough job. I can touch the guard and it's not as hot as you would think. However buying the right guard for the right bulb has a lot to do with it. A couple of inches clearance between guard and heater is needed. Also the top of the viv gets quite hot so I don't stand anything on top of vivs with CHE. I have a chameleon that climbs around on the heater guard and no harm has ever come to it or any of my boas who are all set up. It's a lot easier maintains Temps and humidity here in the UK as you can regulate ambient Temps and basking spots a lot easier.
