Re: humidity/temp problems?
Hi,
Yes the buzzing is normal - though your ears must be waaaay better than mine as I had to hold mine up to my ear to hear it (Granpa sez what? :P ).
I'm not sure what to advise on the lamp really as I put all of mine actually inside the viv's.
As long as you put a decent gap between the element and the mesh it shouldn't really be a problem - especially with a bulb as opposed to a ceramic element.
Ceramics really become more of a problem with on/off or pulse thermostats as well - the ceramic elements I use can get up to a surface temp of 700f if unregulated so I always use them on pulse at least and dimming if I can. In the viviarium using the pulse proportional thermostat the heat has begun to damage the roof of the viv where the hot air rises past the edge of the heat reflector so they definately need carefull watching. The mesh however is a good couple of inches past from that spot and, while it's annoying the ****ens out of me, it isn't actually posing any risk to the snake at the moment.
I also learned those little plastic corner blocks you buy at b&q are fine for holding gaurds on with bulbs but have a tendency to melt and distort with ceramics - even on dimming t/stats. You can see them in some of the following pics of the interior mounted bulbs and ceramics and I'm slowly changing everything over to the ceramic blocks but they are a devil to find and the shop never seems to have more than 2 by the time I get there.:mad:
Here are the pics showing the gaps I leave between bulb and mesh;
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ramicgaurd.JPG
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...rtankgaurd.JPG
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...urdfixings.JPG
Hope some of this can be of use to you.
dr del
Re: humidity/temp problems?
thanks again for such a great response.
i have just ordered the smallest (5.5") exo terra glow light, a 75watt heat glo bulb and a pulse proportional habistat thermostat to use on the heat mat which means i can use the dimming one for the lamp. should do the trick nicely.
where my viv is small, i think i will cut a great big hole (about 5") in the top of the viv and mount the lip of the dome to the edge of the hole.
i think i'll get one of those zoo med domed cages to create a safe gap between bulb and snake but will think of other possibilities and choose the best one. will keep you posted on that when it all arrives.
kind regards, Mike...
