... More questions on heating/temperature.

[jevou]

So taken from my last thread, I went out bought a 40 gallon terrarium (has a mesh top though). Lol the tub wasn't really working for me.

From my last run around with the tub, I still have a Zilla Heat mat, in size medium (16 watts). I was wondering, if instead of having a heat lamp, could I go with two UTH's?

The mat goes to around 87°f, so would that be too hot for a cool side? That seems too hot to me. I could always get a dimmer, but I would like some more opinions first.

Also, I'm really worried that if I use a heat lamp, all the humidity will be sucked right out of the terrarium.

How do you keep your tank/terrarium warm?

Thanks in advance!

[michaelt]

The UTH whether you use 1 or 2 both need to be controlled by thermostat.. No matter the size. You can use CHE or red bulbs to heat ambient temps. UTHs also don't affect ambient temps very much

edit I don't use glass enclosures anymore due to humidity problems but my pvc enclosure has been working great

[jevou]

The UTH whether you use 1 or 2 both need to be controlled by thermostat.. No matter the size. You can use CHE or red bulbs to heat ambient temps. UTHs also don't affect ambient temps very much

edit I don't use glass enclosures anymore due to humidity problems but my pvc enclosure has been working great

I have a thermostat ^^. I guess that defeats the purpose of a dimmer haha. Humidity is one of my main worries. That's the reason I was trying to stay away from heat lamps, as they suck humidity.

[lunasjy]

Yea, I have a 100w lamp on my boa in a 4ft wooden enclosure and have no humidity problems. I also use cypress mulch which works well for holding in humidity. I have always had issues with glass aquariums and mesh tops... whether it had a lamp or not.

You might want to keep the tub, just in case.

If it is the ambient temps you are worried about, a lamp is your best bet. In that case you can place a damp towel over the mesh that the lamp is not resting on and spray the cage daily for humidity.

[michaelt]

Yup they do I'm not sure how Che's are with humidity I have no expirence with them but when I did have my 20g and used a light bulb I had most of the top covered and didn't have to many problems with humidy using Eco earth and cypress mulch only had to mist few times a day and had perfect sheds in there

[Daigga]

Heat lamps tend to dry out enclosures pretty quick, not totally sure about CHE's. The trick that I ended up using was to cover most of the screen top in aluminum foil.

[AnnaK231]

Have you thought about covering the screen top with aluminum foil or plexiglass (with holes drilled into it)? From what I've read, UTH don't help keep the tanks very warm.

Right now we've got a red light and a daylight bulb that run on timers and foil on the top of the screen. I just recently had issues with humidity due to (I think)having to use a space heater in the room. I'm going to get some plants and sphagnum moss to help with that so I don't have to mist so much.

Have you checked out the tank set up link example on here? http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-With-Pictures!

[jevou]

Have you thought about covering the screen top with aluminum foil or plexiglass (with holes drilled into it)? From what I've read, UTH don't help keep the tanks very warm.

Right now we've got a red light and a daylight bulb that run on timers and foil on the top of the screen. I just recently had issues with humidity due to (I think)having to use a space heater in the room. I'm going to get some plants and sphagnum moss to help with that so I don't have to mist so much.

Have you checked out the tank set up link example on here? http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-With-Pictures!

After looking that guide, I'm going to try using a infrared light so I can heat my terrarium up, with the foil too. Fingers crossed it works!

[SnakeBalls]

Substrate is the key to humidity. Air flow is the variable. When my subtrate is at peak moistisity, the cardboard wrapped in foil on the top gets pulled back further so more air can exchange. When the substrate drys up, the cardboard wrapped foil on the top covers more of the screen, trapping the humidty.