question about compact hoods

[heh1987]

right now I have a clamp lamp on my balls cage but its a pain to switch out the light all the time. I know I could buy another dome, but they are kind of expensive and if I'm going to spend the money I'd rather spend it on something I really want. I have been looking at some of the compact hoods.

something like this from zoo med

http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/En...lnaHRpbmciO30=

or this from zilla

http://www.petco.com/product/109794/...pAmpFC_Heating

my question is, has anyone used these and how do you like them. secondly, its seems like this light would sort of shine in the middle of the cage and you wouldn't really get a cool and a hot side. It seems like it would be hot in the middle and cooler on the sides. am I just being picky? or maybe I don't realize how these hoods are supposed to go on because I have never seen one in person.

also I was wondering. If I get two heating pads, one for cool and one for hot and then keep the regulated with a thermostat do I even need a heat lamp? I would prefer not to use it because it sucks my humidity.

I just really need some help with the ideal heating situation.

[singingtothewheat]

Don't do a light at all. It sucks out humidity and dries em out like mad. Go with under cage heat

[heh1987]

ok so if I was just doing UTH is this how I would set it up. she is going to be in a 29 gallon aquariuim. what size of heat pad do i need. will the middle get to cold? also please excuse my artistic ability

[IMG][/IMG]

if the red is my hot side and yellow my cool is this right. will it keep the ambient air warm enough? those numbers would be the temps I would set it to

[Kaorte]

It depends. If you room temperature is around 75* then the ambient temps will be fine.

Keep in mind that if you use UTHs you absolutely need a reptile thermostat to control them. If you are going to use the thermostat for a hot and cool side then you need a dimmer as well to go between the UTH and the thermostat so you can dial down the cool side temperature.

Chances are the two UTHs will keep the temperatures fine.

[heh1987]

my house is always cold. especially in the winter because I am pretty cheap. It is usually about 65 to 70 in my house. so even with thermostat I still need the lamp dimmer on the cool side?

[Kaorte]

my house is always cold. especially in the winter because I am pretty cheap. It is usually about 65 to 70 in my house. so even with thermostat I still need the lamp dimmer on the cool side?

The lamp dimmer is to provide a heat gradient. The hot side UTH will be 92* and the cool side UTH will be 82*