light bulb wattage

[daftperception]

OK Ive been using a 60 watt red glass bulb for sages 10 gallon tank but now i got a 40 gallon tank should i raise the wattage on the bulb.

I say ditch the bulbs and get a human heating pad.

[s6g2p]

will the human heating pad crack the bottom of the tank...or is heating tape better

[Smynx]

Human heat pads are less likely to crack the bottom of a glass tank than anything that adheres to the tank. Just make sure the pad doesn't cover the entire bottom of the tank, and prop your tank up off whatever surface it is on a little bit. I use the little rubber pegs they sell to put on the bottom of electronic equipment. Experiment with the settings to see which one gives you the proper gradient.

[daftperception]

i have a heating pad and a bulb but its not a human heating pad

[Smulkin]

Heating pad will be LESS likely to crack than the more expensive adhesive backed products. Just jack the tank up a tad to allow a little breathing room under the tank.

[Smynx]

The heat pads they sell specifically for reptile use are fine too. They're just more expensive. Sometimes you find you have to use a bulb too to maintain the proper temperature gradient.

[Marla]

That's funny ... Smynx and Smulkin said the same thing at the same time. Do you finish each other's sentences too?

[Smulkin]

She's the coherent one so she usually either finishes them or translates my babble

[Smynx]

She's the coherent one so she usually either finishes them or translates my babble

Which isn't always easy, and sometimes he loses even me.