Heat Lamp Guard

[Pollard89]

Ok guys, so my situation is that, at the moment I have my Black Pastel male in a faunarium within my 3ft viv while he is growing to size, before introducing him into the larger environment. The heat source I'm using at the moment is the Lucky Reptile Thermo Socket Plus Reflector, that is set up within the viv, so my question is, is it necesary to have a guard cage around the reflector which already has a guard on the bottom of it to prevent direct contact with the bulb, or will it be ok without? If not can anyone recomend where to get custom size ones made if this is possible?

[tsy72001]

No belly heat?


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[Pollard89]

Nope no belly heat for me, the advice and research I did plus advice from my local shop and fellow keepers allowed me to conclude that belly heat can be as much detremental as it can be beneficial! Plus my heat source provides a good temperature gradient and I've had no problems with my little guy so far !

[tsy72001]

From all that I have learned you must have belly heat. Oh well best of luck!


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[Domepiece]

Belly heat is not detrimental and that is all I use and mine are fine, you just need to have a thermostat hooked up to it to prevent it from getting too hot. Also NO heat rocks they will most likely burn your snakes belly. I have found that heat lamps are insufficient especially when the ventilation is 100%. I'd look into an UTH if I was you, they are more efficient and better in my opinion. Good Luck. Side note, I'd be careful about listening to your local petstore, they usually arent as knowledgeable as they like to pretend they are.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Yes you need a guard on your lamp. In fact it SHOULD NOT be inside the enclosure at all. The metal reflector will get hot enough to burn your snake let alone the lamp itself.

[kitedemon]

It is not necessary to have belly heat that is a myth. Thermal gradient is all that matters how you get it is not important. Yes you need a guard I agree I don't like the snake being able to contact anything that is over 100ºF I don't know what your temp on the lamp is but I suspect it is much hotter than this. I might suggest a wire screen over the whole top part sectioning off the heat source.

[Domepiece]

It is not necessary to have belly heat that is a myth. Thermal gradient is all that matters how you get it is not important. Yes you need a guard I agree I don't like the snake being able to contact anything that is over 100ºF I don't know what your temp on the lamp is but I suspect it is much hotter than this. I might suggest a wire screen over the whole top part sectioning off the heat source.

Belly Heat isnt necessary but I had a talk with my snakes and told me they like it.

[Pollard89]

Thanks to everyone to your replies, Domepiece thank you for your advice I did look into belly heat but suprisingly found that I was able to achieve a better gradient with the lamp in my viv, my viv is wooden with two vent panels at the top so its quite good at maintaining temp and of course its hooked up to a thermostat as it should be, as for the belly heat I can imagine the little guys do quite enjoy it, I meant no disrespect by saying they were detremental I may have been over exagerating to support my argument!
As for the guard I shall be sure to put something in place so no need to worry, however I can hold the reflector with my hand withought burning myself.
kitedemon a whole wire screen was something I'd thought of but am not sure how I'd achieve that securely, any reconmendations? Also I no people have had custom sized guards made do you know where any of these would be available?

[The Serpent Merchant]

Thanks to everyone to your replies, Domepiece thank you for your advice I did look into belly heat but suprisingly found that I was able to achieve a better gradient with the lamp in my viv, my viv is wooden with two vent panels at the top so its quite good at maintaining temp and of course its hooked up to a thermostat as it should be, as for the belly heat I can imagine the little guys do quite enjoy it, I meant no disrespect by saying they were detremental I may have been over exagerating to support my argument!
As for the guard I shall be sure to put something in place so no need to worry, however I can hold the reflector with my hand withought burning myself.
kitedemon a whole wire screen was something I'd thought of but am not sure how I'd achieve that securely, any reconmendations? Also I no people have had custom sized guards made do you know where any of these would be available?

To put a screen in a wood cage I would just use a staple gun.