Heat Lamp color question

I was doing some research and realized I had a question that I could not think of a better place to post it than here, so hopefully you all can answer this question for me! I use a heat lamp, typically it has been the red "night" version. Thinking a little on IR light, wouldn't a red lamp be possibly in their visual spectrum? If they see more into the IR than a red lamp light would be arguably more noticeable than a "daytime" blue? Would blue or red be arguably better, as I am currently still using an overhead heat lamp, much as I have planned on rehousing my BP, this has not yet happened, so she stays in her 40 gallon long. If anyone has any links or can explain one way or another, I would greatly appreciate it!

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Originally Posted by e_nigma

I was doing some research and realized I had a question that I could not think of a better place to post it than here, so hopefully you all can answer this question for me! I use a heat lamp, typically it has been the red "night" version. Thinking a little on IR light, wouldn't a red lamp be possibly in their visual spectrum? If they see more into the IR than a red lamp light would be arguably more noticeable than a "daytime" blue? Would blue or red be arguably better, as I am currently still using an overhead heat lamp, much as I have planned on rehousing my BP, this has not yet happened, so she stays in her 40 gallon long. If anyone has any links or can explain one way or another, I would greatly appreciate it!

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Typically BPS don’t need light at all. Just a CHE ceramic heat emitter on a dimmer or thermostat, light stresses them out, the nature light is all they need

I will immediately look into it! Any idea on a size or wattage I should be looking for? Appreciate your response, thank you!

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Originally Posted by e_nigma

I will immediately look into it! Any idea on a size or wattage I should be looking for? Appreciate your response, thank you!

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I have a 40 gallon as well and use a 150 watt, thinking about getting a 100 watt instead but if you get the Flukers 8.5 dome with a dimmer on amazon it helps control the temperature of the 150 watt one, it gets up to like 100 degrees but the dimmer helps keep it around 88-90!! Also make sure you have a digital thermometer, or an AcuRite to properly measure temps


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While I don't currently keep BPs, some of my other snakes enjoy heat lamps overhead, dimmed down so they can bask comfortably at night, & I see no difference, much
less any negative effects, from using either a red or black bulb this way. Just remember that my 'lights' are dimmed, not the only heat source, & my snakes don't need
as much heat as a BP does...& remember that heat rises (so this is an inefficient way of heating) & if you're running these lights near full-power to give more warmth to
a BP, that amount of light might very well be a stressor to your snake...not so much because it's red, but for how many watts you're running.

The reason I don't use CHE's is that I've heard they tend to burn out fairly fast (& they cost a lot more than incandescent bulbs), especially when they are dimmed. Hopefully, if yours are connected to the right kind of thermostat, they'll be OK.

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Originally Posted by sophia_carguillo

I have a 40 gallon as well and use a 150 watt, thinking about getting a 100 watt instead but if you get the Flukers 8.5 dome with a dimmer on amazon it helps control the temperature of the 150 watt one, it gets up to like 100 degrees but the dimmer helps keep it around 88-90!! Also make sure you have a digital thermometer, or an AcuRite to properly measure temps


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I have her tank fairly dialed in, but the source of heat has been a constant thorn in my side, currently she has 4 hides, large water dish, two branches and a fair bit of foliage wrapped around or creating some clutter, and a large half log tube she traverses, and most importantly a hygrometer/thermometer at both ends of the tank! I have been wanting to upgrade her tank, I initially picked her up with 1 hide and 1 small water dish with this enclosure. Is there a dimmer you would suggest? If I can sort it out, I will pick up these supplies ASAP and it will give me a fair bit of peace of mind too, I really appreciate that advice on the size dome, and perhaps I will pick a bulb of each wattage, test what works best with my setup!

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Originally Posted by e_nigma

I have her tank fairly dialed in, but the source of heat has been a constant thorn in my side, currently she has 4 hides, large water dish, two branches and a fair bit of foliage wrapped around or creating some clutter, and a large half log tube she traverses, and most importantly a hygrometer/thermometer at both ends of the tank! I have been wanting to upgrade her tank, I initially picked her up with 1 hide and 1 small water dish with this enclosure. Is there a dimmer you would suggest? If I can sort it out, I will pick up these supplies ASAP and it will give me a fair bit of peace of mind too, I really appreciate that advice on the size dome, and perhaps I will pick a bulb of each wattage, test what works best with my setup!

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That dome comes with a dimmer! That’s why I love it and it’s only like 12$ on Amazon(:


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Originally Posted by sophia_carguillo

That dome comes with a dimmer! That’s why I love it and it’s only like 12$ on Amazon(:


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Well, I will look into this immediately! Thank you.

Sidenote, original question still stands, ha! In the interim would blue or red be less bright, or seeming like daylight?

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Originally Posted by e_nigma

Well, I will look into this immediately! Thank you.

Sidenote, original question still stands, ha! In the interim would blue or red be less bright, or seeming like daylight?

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that is a good question, I’m not sure which would be better, I used to use red lights until I learned that no lights is better, I say the red


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Originally Posted by sophia_carguillo

that is a good question, I’m not sure which would be better, I used to use red lights until I learned that no lights is better, I say the red


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Okay, but if they see farther into IR than they do into UV, wouldn't a blue lamp leaning farther towards UV be less visible than the IR red lamp, which is much more likely within their visible spectrum? I am not sure I entirely understand it, or maybe misread what their visibility spectrum was, granted I am also not an expert or a biologist haha! I have ordered a CHE and a variety of wattages in order to see what fits my setup best, I look forward to figuring out what works best!

I think that blue light would theoretically be better, but many many people use red bulbs and find that it works perfectly fine.

I started reading into it as well, and had just decided to use a night time bulb that minimizes the amount of light coming off of it, almost looks like it’s off during the day. I’m sure my bp can still see it, but I’m assuming it’ll be less harsh for her overall. I’ve yet to try a red heat bulb so I couldn’t tell you if there are significant differences/similarities, but a blacked out night time bulb is what I use.

I’ve been using infrared bulbs on dimmers for years. Not only do they zap less humidity and run cooler then CHE’s. Using a little higher wattage then necessary and adjusting with a dimmer switch results in the bulbs lasting incredibly longer. Just for reference two of my boys from 2014 are well over 1700 plus grams. I use no UTH either. My two boys from 2016 are 1300 and 1500 grams. As a bonus, they’re are all mousers. And all appear to be extremely healthy. Peace

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Originally Posted by Faith.luu

I think that blue light would theoretically be better, but many many people use red bulbs and find that it works perfectly fine.

I started reading into it as well, and had just decided to use a night time bulb that minimizes the amount of light coming off of it, almost looks like it’s off during the day. I’m sure my bp can still see it, but I’m assuming it’ll be less harsh for her overall. I’ve yet to try a red heat bulb so I couldn’t tell you if there are significant differences/similarities, but a blacked out night time bulb is what I use.

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Thank you for the response, as a test, I swapped the blue light in, no immediate changes and she seems to have taken to it easily enough! Just fed her, she poked about fed perfectly and continued on. I will use the blue light for now, unless someone can prove otherwise! CHE on the way, but figured this was the right place to ask!

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

I’ve been using infrared bulbs on dimmers for years. Not only do they zap less humidity and run cooler then CHE’s. Using a little higher wattage then necessary and adjusting with a dimmer switch results in the bulbs lasting incredibly longer. Just for reference two of my boys from 2014 are well over 1700 plus grams. I use no UTH either. My two boys from 2016 are 1300 and 1500 grams. As a bonus, they’re are all mousers. And all appear to be extremely healthy. Peace

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Sounds like you have their setups dialed in! I will try the blue light for a bit, have ordered a CHE, as I am now working from home, I will constantly monitor temps with the CHE, but I am also finding the blue light has not created any change in behavior, she fed today no issue, almost too easy, ha!

I appreciate the response!

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