This last weekend, I added some T8 fixtures into my AP T8 cages. Running the heat tape as the only intended heat source. Each T8 has 2 18" T8 fixtures, rated for 15 watt bulbs. They came with 3000K florescent bulbs, but I've replaced a few with LED 5000K bulbs.

Fixtures:


Anyway, temperatures in the room are typically 77-80 in the summer with A/C (hello, Texas weather & triple digits outside). What I'm finding is that the cages without A/C are around 83-84 on the floor across the cage with the farthest corner of the cool side going down only a degree or so lower than that. Not too terribly awful for a BP, but I also have one divided with a corn snake and a milksnake. That one has the LED bulbs, but I'm still seeing temperatures up to 82 or 83 on the end of the cold side near the lights and barely down to 80 at the farthest edge. Hot spot is around 84-86 on the floor, but it doesn't get as cool as it should.

Everyone ate yesterday, so they're all using the hot sides now, but I need to get them cool sides to go lower. Clearly the LED T8 bulb isn't putting out much less heat than the florescent, so switching those won't make much difference.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

The cages hold humidity around 60% easy with just water bowls and dry reptile prime, so maybe more ventilation is a good solution here. Especially if there is a way to add some that can be sealed off more easily for winter when it is quite dry.

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