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Night time heating

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  • 01-09-2012, 11:55 PM
    SeeTheCityLights
    Night time heating
    I have the lamp and under tank heater on right now. The bulb is 75 watt, and the UTH is zoo med's small size for tanks 10-15 gallons. (My tank is 10 gallons).

    The temperature is at 86 degrees F right now. If I turn the lamp off for night time, will the UTH be enough to heat it? My substrate is also about 3 inches deep, and I know I need to take some out because it's pretty deep, but that will have to wait until tomorrow because I need to go home and the BP is living at my boyfriend's house until saturday. The substrate is eco earth coconut fiber if that makes any difference.

    I really think the light should be off at night to make a night time setting for the snake (and my boyfriend :P ), but will the temperature drop too much?
  • 01-10-2012, 12:04 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Get an infra-red heat bulb. They give off much less visible light. And no a UTH will not be able to heat through 3" of Eco-Earth. If you reduce the thickness of the layer of substrate be sure that you have the UTH regulated by a thermostat or else your snake could get burns that could be life-threatening.
  • 01-10-2012, 12:04 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    So I think that your boyfriend will just have to deal with the lamp tonight. One night won't kill either of them.
  • 01-10-2012, 12:08 AM
    k8nkane
    What kind of light is it? You can get bulbs that give off a red or purple light which doesn't disturb the snake.
  • 01-10-2012, 12:19 AM
    xFenrir
    What kind of bulb do you have in the lamp? Infared, white light, etc? Bright white lights are stressful to snakes, so if that's what you have and you need a light, I'd suggest switching. I have both a UTH and a light, since my BP girl is in a 40 gal. breeder. I usually use a 150W infared, but recently I switched to a 150W blacklight bulb, which looks really cool and has very low visible light. :)

    There should be an overall of 80 and a hot spot of 90; it sounds like your tank has an overall of 86 degrees, it might mean that your UTH might be even hotter than 90, especially if you don't have a thermostat.

    In a 10 gal you MIGHT not need anything other than the UTH, I'm not sure though.
  • 01-10-2012, 12:23 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    You can use just a heat lamp or just a UTH but it depends on the room temperature, and in the case of the UTH how much substrate you have. But as I said before, a UTH needs to be regulated by a thermostat because they get far too hot (I've seen some hit 110+)
  • 01-10-2012, 12:40 AM
    SeeTheCityLights
    Re: Night time heating
    This is the bulb I have:
    http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752644

    Should I use a different day bulb?
    Exactly what night bulb should I use, if the UTH isn't enough to heat it over night?
  • 01-10-2012, 01:11 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Do not use that bulb it is designed for reptiles that need much higher temperatures.

    Use this bulb 24/7

    http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193
  • 01-10-2012, 01:15 AM
    RichsBallPythons
    How are you measuring your temps and controlling the temps.

    Should have a 88-90 warm side and 78-80 cool side temps that are constant 24/7
  • 01-10-2012, 01:19 AM
    Twiegs
    Would this bulb work? Any idea of it can be dimmed on a lamp dimmer?

    http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...s/df58312c.jpg
  • 01-10-2012, 01:23 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Twiegs View Post
    Would this bulb work? Any idea of it can be dimmed on a lamp dimmer?

    http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...s/df58312c.jpg

    Yes and yes it can be used with a dimmer. But Red Lights are better than Blue
  • 01-10-2012, 01:27 AM
    RichsBallPythons
    All incandescent bulbs can be dimmed. But without a proper way to read temps can be dangerous.
  • 01-10-2012, 01:34 AM
    Twiegs
    Re: Night time heating
    Thanks for the info. Just curious.... Why is red better then blue? What about black?


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant View Post
    Yes and yes it can be used with a dimmer. But Red Lights are better than Blue

  • 01-10-2012, 01:40 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Red light is the least visible color of light to the night vision receptors in eyes. Black lights don't put out nearly as much heat and also put out UV radiation. While many reptiles need UV light Snakes do not.

    Blue light is far closer to daylight than moonlight
  • 01-10-2012, 01:42 AM
    WifeOfSlasher
    In my experience... we actually get better temps with a 50 watt red light than we do with a 75 watt white light.
  • 01-10-2012, 01:51 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by WifeOfSlasher View Post
    In my experience... we actually get better temps with a 50 watt red light than we do with a 75 watt white light.

    thats because Infra Red light/radiation is more efficient at transferring energy than most other bandwidths of light in the visible/near-visible spectrum (sorry Engineering/Physics major in college :rolleye2: )
  • 01-10-2012, 01:59 AM
    SeeTheCityLights
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant View Post
    Do not use that bulb it is designed for reptiles that need much higher temperatures.

    Use this bulb 24/7

    http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

    Should I use it with the UTH, or no? Would keeping the light on 24/7 all the time have a fire hazard?



    Quote:

    Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons View Post
    How are you measuring your temps and controlling the temps.

    Should have a 88-90 warm side and 78-80 cool side temps that are constant 24/7

    I currently have 1 temperature gauge. (This one: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...8&lmdn=Heating ) It is positioned on the back glass on the warm side.
    Should I get another one to put on the cool side, or should I buy a temp gun, or should I get one of those indoor/outdoor digital thermometers with the wire and probe thingy?







    Also, should I get a dimmer for the light? and what thermostat should I buy? Needs to be cheap. Under $20.
  • 01-10-2012, 02:02 AM
    Twiegs
    Re: Night time heating
    Would this bulb be good? Thanks!
    http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...s/24b5b541.jpg


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant View Post
    Red light is the least visible color of light to the night vision receptors in eyes. Black lights don't put out nearly as much heat and also put out UV radiation. While many reptiles need UV light Snakes do not.

    Blue light is far closer to daylight than moonlight

  • 01-10-2012, 02:03 AM
    WifeOfSlasher
    We plan on using a UTH on a thermostat for extra protection and our light on a dimmer so we can dial our temps in. Our ambient room temps are low so we need the added heat from the light.

    I don't think there are thermostats under $20 that are reliable.
  • 01-10-2012, 02:04 AM
    WifeOfSlasher
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Twiegs View Post

    That's the type we use
  • 01-10-2012, 02:08 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SeeTheCityLights View Post
    Should I use it with the UTH, or no? Would keeping the light on 24/7 all the time have a fire hazard?




    I currently have 1 temperature gauge. (This one: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...8&lmdn=Heating ) It is positioned on the back glass on the warm side.
    Should I get another one to put on the cool side, or should I buy a temp gun, or should I get one of those indoor/outdoor digital thermometers with the wire and probe thingy?







    Also, should I get a dimmer for the light? and what thermostat should I buy? Needs to be cheap. Under $20.

    I've run those red bulbs for a few months straight now with out any issue. Wether or not you need the UTH all depends on the temperature of the room and the humidity levels that you can keep. Heat bulbs suck the humidity out of the air. It also depends if you have the UTH regulated by a thermostat or not. If you do not I wouldn't use the UTH as it can and will give your snake severe burns.

    The best way to check your temperatures is to get a indoor/outdoor digital thermometers with a probe. put the probe on the hot side and stick the thermometer itself on the cool side. Some even measure humidity as well. I got mine at Wall*Mart for $12. here is what it looks like:

    http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...ant/photo3.jpg

    Thermostats do not come cheap. The Cheapest ones I've seen are $40, and I think that they don't work well. A decent thermostat will run at least $70 and and good one will be $100 +. I use the Herpstat thermostats by Spyder Robotics. A dimmer would be good for your light. If you don't want to/ can't get a thermostat a heat lamp can be sufficient, as long as you get one with enough power. I would get the 75Watt version.
  • 01-10-2012, 02:10 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Twiegs View Post

    those will work, but I like these better: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

    (they actually put out Infra-Red light/radiation vs. white light passing through red glass)
  • 01-10-2012, 02:11 AM
    SeeTheCityLights
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Thermostats do not come cheap. the Cheapest ones I've seen are $40, and I think that they don't work well. A decent thermostat will run at least $70 and and good one will be $100 +. I use the Herpstat thermostats by Spyder Robotics. A dimmer would be good for your light. If you don't want to/ can't get a thermostat a heat lamp can be sufficient, as long as you get one with enough power. I would get the 75Watt version.
    Thank you for all that info!
    Okay, so if I don't get a thermostat for the UTH, then I can just use the heat lamp alone with a 75 watt bulb? Is that what you're saying? The red bulb, right?
    Sorry, just trying to understand it all :P
  • 01-10-2012, 02:15 AM
    SeeTheCityLights
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant View Post
    those will work, but I like these better: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

    (they actually put out Infra-Red light/radiation vs. white light passing through red glass)

    But wouldn't the radiation be bad for the snake? Or the people? I have really high chances of getting cancer because of my genes, and the snake cage will be on my bedside shelves next to my head, I don't want to get radiation poisoning haha
  • 01-10-2012, 02:15 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SeeTheCityLights View Post
    Thank you for all that info!
    Okay, so if I don't get a thermostat for the UTH, then I can just use the heat lamp alone with a 75 watt bulb? Is that what you're saying? The red bulb, right?
    Sorry, just trying to understand it all :P

    Yes that is correct. If you plan on using a dimmer with the heat lamp you might want to get the 100 Watt bulb and just dial it down into the right zone.

    Otherwise I have found that unless the lamp is more than 15 inches away anything above a 75 Watt bulb gets too hot.
  • 01-10-2012, 02:18 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SeeTheCityLights View Post
    But wouldn't the radiation be bad for the snake? Or the people? I have really high chances of getting cancer because of my genes, and the snake cage will be on my bedside shelves next to my head, I don't want to get radiation poisoning haha

    This isn't radiation like from a nuclear power plant. All light is a form of radiation. Infra-Red radiation has a very low bandwidth so it cannot pass through things like X-Rays can. UV lights aka black lights are far more dangerous.

    All in All a Infra-Red light isn't any more dangerous than a regular bulb. (Your body is giving off Infra-Red radiation right now, everybody's does)
  • 01-10-2012, 02:19 AM
    Twiegs
    Re: Night time heating
    Thank you!


    QUOTE=The Serpent Merchant;1736102]those will work, but I like these better: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

    (they actually put out Infra-Red light/radiation vs. white light passing through red glass)[/QUOTE]
  • 01-10-2012, 02:21 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Twiegs View Post
    Thank you!


    QUOTE=The Serpent Merchant;1736102]those will work, but I like these better: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

    (they actually put out Infra-Red light/radiation vs. white light passing through red glass)

    [/QUOTE]

    No Problem
  • 01-10-2012, 02:26 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Something I just thought of. Make sure that the reflector Dome that you use with the 75 or 100 Watt bulb has a ceramic socket. If it doesn't, and has a plastic one, it might melt. The ceramic ones are much safer
  • 01-10-2012, 11:03 AM
    SeeTheCityLights
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant View Post
    Something I just thought of. Make sure that the reflector Dome that you use with the 75 or 100 Watt bulb has a ceramic socket. If it doesn't, and has a plastic one, it might melt. The ceramic ones are much safer

    How can I tell? I didn't buy it new, it's my boyfriends that he had left over from his herps. It feels like it's ceramic... or plastic made to feel like ceramic... haha damn. I'll keep an eye on it.
    Oh ok, that makes sense about the radiation... I feel dumb now lol.
  • 01-10-2012, 11:09 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Usually the ceramic sockets are white. If you tap on it with your finger you should be able to tell if it is plastic or not.
  • 01-10-2012, 11:11 AM
    Twiegs
    Would it be ok to use a red CFL bulb that you can buy at Home Depot? I know they don't throw off a lot of heat, but I don't need a whole lot. The CFL also won't suck out a lot of the humidity. My only concern is would it hurt the snakes eyes at all since it is not a reptile specific bulb.

    Thanks.
  • 01-10-2012, 11:23 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    Re: Night time heating
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Twiegs View Post
    Would it be ok to use a red CFL bulb that you can buy at Home Depot? I know they don't throw off a lot of heat, but I don't need a whole lot. The CFL also won't suck out a lot of the humidity. My only concern is would it hurt the snakes eyes at all since it is not a reptile specific bulb.

    Thanks.

    Are you using another heat source? Ball pythons need one side of their enclosure to be between 88 and 92 degrees. I find it hard to believe that a CFL could achieve those temperatures.
  • 01-10-2012, 11:24 AM
    West Coast Jungle
    Re: Night time heating
    I would never use a light bulb to heat a ball python. First of all they Hate light! They live in dark burrows under ground and can be very stressed by bright light. The second thing is they suck all the humidity out of the air so keeping that controlled is almost impossible. I would use two under tank heaters one set to 82 and to 92 on thermostats. This will end up costing alot less than a trip to the vet with a sick snake.

    I would also recommend an oil filled heater to heat up the room the snakes are in. I keep one in my snake room on a thermostat.

    Light bulbs are pet store crap advice so they can sell you more stuff. No Ball python breeder puts light bulbs on there snake, maybe just for pictures.
  • 01-10-2012, 11:30 AM
    Twiegs
    Re: Night time heating
    Yes, I use a uth on the hot side and keep that right at 90. The problem is the cool/ambient temps. My house gets pretty cold over night so the ambient temp drops to 65-68. But the hot stays at 90 on a thermostat. I've read mixed opinions. Some say it's ok as long as there is a hot side and others say its way to cold. So not sure....


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant View Post
    Are you using another heat source? Ball pythons need one side of their enclosure to be between 88 and 92 degrees. I find it hard to believe that a CFL could achieve those temperatures.

  • 01-10-2012, 11:42 AM
    The Serpent Merchant
    I don't think that a CFL make any noticeable change in the ambiant air temperature. A 50-75watt bulb on a dimmer would probably be enough.
  • 01-10-2012, 11:50 AM
    Twiegs
    Re: Night time heating
    Sounds good, thanks again!


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant View Post
    I don't think that a CFL make any noticeable change in the ambiant air temperature. A 50-75watt bulb on a dimmer would probably be enough.

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