Learned a lesson today: Hides and Heat Lamps

[Artemille]

So, I recently acquired my coworkers big normal male (like 1800+g and 4.5' in the summer) since she couldn't keep him at her parent's house anymore. She had him in a 20L with a red lamp and no hide when I got him. I got him a wood half log since it was the only thing I could find on short notice, and he was very appreciative. It gets about 100 degrees on the very top if right above it , so I keep it off to the side and it hits part of the floor lower down (I also added a spare clip I had to it to lift it up and lower the surface temp). The inside is a cozy 90. Luckily, in a few weeks, I'm getting a rack to keep him and my albino in.

In preparation for the rack, I got some reptile basics hides today in the mail. I put two in my albino's big exo terra (that I'm selling after two months of usage to switch to v70's). I put the third in the normal's tank. It was a bit big, but he figured out how to get into it. Then I went to dinner.

Two hours later I come home and he's on the opposite end hugging his water bowl. I touch the hide; its kinda ...really hot. Get out the heat gun... 130+ degrees on top. NOPE.

Checked him out, and his skin is still healthy and clean as can be; luckily. Back to the wood log for now.

Lesson learned and a warning. Plastic hides or furniture and heat lamps don't mix well (even if regulated or elevated).

[martin82531]

So, I recently acquired my coworkers big normal male (like 1800+g and 4.5' in the summer) since she couldn't keep him at her parent's house anymore. She had him in a 20L with a red lamp and no hide when I got him. I got him a wood half log since it was the only thing I could find on short notice, and he was very appreciative. It gets about 100 degrees on the very top if right above it , so I keep it off to the side and it hits part of the floor lower down (I also added a spare clip I had to it to lift it up and lower the surface temp). The inside is a cozy 90. Luckily, in a few weeks, I'm getting a rack to keep him and my albino in.

In preparation for the rack, I got some reptile basics hides today in the mail. I put two in my albino's big exo terra (that I'm selling after two months of usage to switch to v70's). I put the third in the normal's tank. It was a bit big, but he figured out how to get into it. Then I went to dinner.

Two hours later I come home and he's on the opposite end hugging his water bowl. I touch the hide; its kinda ...really hot. Get out the heat gun... 130+ degrees on top. NOPE.

Checked him out, and his skin is still healthy and clean as can be; luckily. Back to the wood log for now.

Lesson learned and a warning. Plastic hides or furniture and heat lamps don't mix well (even if regulated or elevated).

If you lamp was regulated there would be no way it could get to that temperature. Put it on a dimmer or thermostat please.


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[Artemille]

I know that. That was the set up my friend had. I'm ditching the lamp all together. Elevating it an extra six inches and switching back to wood fixed the problem for now.

The point was that the black plastic retained heat a whole lot more than the wood, even at the same distance with the same lamp.

[martin82531]

I know that. That was the set up my friend had. I'm ditching the lamp all together. Elevating it an extra six inches and switching back to wood fixed the problem for now.

The point was that the black plastic retained heat a whole lot more than the wood, even at the same distance with the same lamp.

The point is you had an unregulated heat source and regardless of the furniture you could have killed your new addition.


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[martin82531]

Wood at 100 degrees is still too hot.


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[Artemille]

That was the state I got him at; what he was left at my house with. It's now at 94 at the highest. I corrected it immediately both when I noticed the heat that was being given off, and when I noticed the heat difference between the two hides.

A regular dimmer wouldn't change the heat retention difference between wood and plastic if kept at the same strength for each. A probed thermostat would.

The plastic got significantly warmer than the wood when next to an equal heat source. I figured someone may find that informative. I understand the chances of worse outcomes to obtain that lesson. Luckily, it was corrected in a two hour time span.

[martin82531]

I'm glad your getting the temps correct. I was only trying to point out that it sounded like you got your new addition home and at whim, set up his enclosure.

Wither it be a probed thermostat or thermometer, more time spent looking at what your setup was providing heat wise could have avoided the temps your python was experiencing, even for a brief amount of time.


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[martin82531]

The plastic got significantly warmer than the wood when next to an equal heat source. I figured someone may find that informative. I understand the chances of worse outcomes to obtain that lesson. Luckily, it was corrected in a two hour time span.

This to me, sounds more like the hypothesis of a science experiment, something your ball should never be the subject to.




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[Artemille]

Nope. A big snake in a little tank was left in my house when a coworker got kicked out by her parents. I switched his hide for something darker, and bad things happened shortly after.

Now I just wait for the mailman to give me my AP rack, and everyone will be happy and comfy in a much more reliable way.

[Artemille]

This to me, sounds more like the hypothesis of a science experiment, something your ball should never be the subject to.




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I didn't do this for science. Science just happened.

Next time I'll make sure to google "does 3" tall plastic hide get hotter than 6" tall wood hide when placed X" below heat?" Now when someone feels the urge to google that sentence, my honest mistakes will be there for them to learn from.