Reflecting heat from CHE?

[gplegend11]

I am saving up for a exoterra cage for my guy, but in the meantime I am obviously having a hard time keeping heat in my glass aquarium. Hot spot over UTh is fine at 88-92.

I know there is a similar thread about this but I do have a few specific questions.

i have a 100 watt CHE on full power in a wire fixture sitting right in the middle of my 20 gallon, directly on the mesh lid. The CHE itself is about 3 inches away from the mesh because it is a large fixture. My house temps stay between 72-75. I can barely get the ambient temp above 76 on either side.

Does aluminum foil reflect the heat emmited or does is conduct. In other words, if I was to wrap the top half of the wire fixture would it reflect heat downward into the cage or would it suck the heat up?

i also have aluminum wrapped around three sides of the glass tank because I thought it would help reflect heat back in, but if it conducts, then all I am doing is pulling out more heat.

i have 75% of the mesh lid covered with foil which maintains humidity very well for me.

i point the shiny side of the foil into the cage when wrapped around the outside of the glass.

in summary, should I wrap my wire fixture to reflect heat downward or would that not work. Should I not wrap foil around the outside of the glass to keep heat in and what could I use that's better. And is it okay to put my CHE inside an inclosed reflective large dome instead of the wire fixture as long as it has a ceramic screw in, and just make sure the CHE stays on its dimmer and adjusted until I get the right ambient heat?

because right now this dang 100 watt CHe measures just under 600 degrees at full power when I temp gun it but it's not putting any heat into my cage almost at all, or it is just escaping right away. Even when I temp gun the ground it is very low readings if not over my UTH, which tells me the heat from the CHe isn't reaching the ground.

any ideas? Or should I just go back to using my dome fixture with infrared heat bulb? I've just heard so many good things about CHE's but it ain't working for meh. What am I doing wrong?.... besides using the glass aquarium lol. Remember I will be getting a high end exoterra terrarium as soon as I can.

[Craiga 01453]

I don't have any direct experience with the wire style fixture, but my best guess would be that the heat being emitted by it is rising and escaping into the air above your enclosure.

As for the aluminum foil, I can only relate it to cooking (that's what I do for a living) and guess that it would direct the heat downward into the enclosure.
I would probably use a dome if you have one that supports the CHE rather than wrap it in foil, though.

You're not doing anything wrong, you're just getting through the dialing-it-in phase. Once you get it all figured out all you need to do is monitor it daily and you have less stress for you and your snake. It takes a little time, trial and error, but you'll get it. Many people, myself included, aren't properly prepared before taking our first snake home and kinda have to learn on the fly. It's a learning experience. that I went through once upon a time. I now make sure my enclosure is dialed in and my husbandry is solid for prior to bringing any animals home. Live and learn.

I wish I had a more definitive answer for your current question, but I figured my two cents wouldn't hurt. Hopefully you'll get an answer from somebody with direct knowledge on the topic soon.
Good luck!

[Lizardlicks]

It should reflect some and conduct some, but will do a better job keeping the head in than an open screen! Heat rises, and will go right out the top of the tank if not redirected. Keep an eye on the temps if you block part of the screen. You may find with a CHE on full blast, once the heat has less places to leave through, the temps might jump. I would get a dimmer ($10 at a big box chain hardware store) and plug it in then check back and adjust frequently.

[GoingPostal]

It's gotta be the open dome and being a few inches away, why not get a smaller enclosed one that you can place directly on the screen. I've got the same wattage running in my large open iguana cage over a perch and it heats the whole enclosure a few degrees plus makes a 90f hot spot with 80 ambient below it. I also don't see how switching from a glass aquarium to a glass enclosure is going to help your situation any, why not get a pvc cage with a radiant heat panel?

[gplegend11]

It's gotta be the open dome and being a few inches away, why not get a smaller enclosed one that you can place directly on the screen. I've got the same wattage running in my large open iguana cage over a perch and it heats the whole enclosure a few degrees plus makes a 90f hot spot with 80 ambient below it. I also don't see how switching from a glass aquarium to a glass enclosure is going to help your situation any, why not get a pvc cage with a radiant heat panel?

I am not really familiar or educated when it comes to pvc caging or how they really work to be honest. I will do some research, because I do want a nice collection some day of different types of pythons and boas. Any info you do have about them would be nice though. The benefits and set up and what not. I assume they are top quality and very spendy? I am willing to invest in top quality though.

also, from what you said it seems you are saying it is okay to put a CHE into an enclosed dome? Everything I have read has said that they get too hot for enclosed domes but I realize this may just be for liability reasons?

[Lizardlicks]

The usual hindrance to PVC caging is cost, but if you have the budget for it, they work great and look great. All the nice features of a tub and a tank combined.

[kevall1]

Can you post a photo of the enclosed dome you plan to use?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[gplegend11]

Can you post a photo of the enclosed dome you plan to use?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

I wouldn't want to use this one, I would go buy a new new. this one is a 5.5 inch small dome, so I was thinking of a 8 or 10 inch so it doesn't heat up too much. A classic, reflective, ceramic screw in dome.

i wrapped the wired fixture with some foil just a bit ago so I will watch and see what happens

[GoingPostal]

PVC cages are nice because they are already enclosed on all sides but the front for security, nice and light, not breakable and hold heat/humidity excellent. There's tons of options, Vision, Monster Cages, the Animal Plastics t8 seems to be very popular for ball pythons, I have boaphile cages myself but lots of companies making them with various styles and options. Instead of heat lamps which are kind of dangerous, not so controllable and suck humidity you can use under tank heating if your room is warm or in a cooler spot a radiant heat panel works great. I spend about $300 per 3 foot cage and $400/4, but that's with both types of heating, upgraded locks, bells and whistles lol and seems pretty reasonable to me for a great looking cage that will last my snake for life.



- - - Updated - - -

Also yes you can use CHE in an enclosed fixture, just buy one that specifies it's safe for ceramic. I've been using them over a decade always in enclosed domes.

[gplegend11]

PVC cages are nice because they are already enclosed on all sides but the front for security, nice and light, not breakable and hold heat/humidity excellent. There's tons of options, Vision, Monster Cages, the Animal Plastics t8 seems to be very popular for ball pythons, I have boaphile cages myself but lots of companies making them with various styles and options. Instead of heat lamps which are kind of dangerous, not so controllable and suck humidity you can use under tank heating if your room is warm or in a cooler spot a radiant heat panel works great. I spend about $300 per 3 foot cage and $400/4, but that's with both types of heating, upgraded locks, bells and whistles lol and seems pretty reasonable to me for a great looking cage that will last my snake for life.



- - - Updated - - -

Also yes you can use CHE in an enclosed fixture, just buy one that specifies it's safe for ceramic. I've been using them over a decade always in enclosed domes.

wow that is exactly what I want. Very nice. Is that your set up? I made a deal with my wife that when we buy our house she can have her girly room that I won't go into and I will have my reptile/gaming man cave lol. I want all sorts of pythons and boas though, so some of my enclosures will have to be tall or larger for those that need to climb or get very large. It may be a while but I will start saving for a set up like that one. I don't have any hobbies in my life except my career( I'm lucky enough to love my job that much). I find I need some other form of mental stimulation and am finding myself beyond intrigued by large snakes( and animals in general), and I am wanting to turn this into a serious hobby and even breed one day.

i will look into an Inclosed fixture, but the good news is that for now the tin foil wrapping trick has seemed to be working around the wire fixture. I have a probe inside my cool hide now measuring at 80 and an ambient temp at 83.7. I'm just watching the tin foil closely and constantly checking on it for now.