Bad to use a heatlamp?!

[EmiLee]

So after talking with the breeder where I am getting my BP from she told me not to use a headlamp at all and that it is very bad and will dry out my BP. She told me the way to do it is to keep my BP in a separate room where I have a constant temperature of 78-80 ambient temperature. In all my research I have never heard about that! What are your thoughts on heat lamps?

[Jmarshall]

Heat lamps are fine as long as it’s controlled by thermostat and you can keep humidity in a good range. It can be difficult to keep humidity up with a heat lamp tho. As long as temps and humidity stay in a good range, any heating source is fine.

[bcr229]

Heat lamps are probably the worst option for heat sources. Your snake doesn't need the light, the lamps do tend to dry out the enclosure, they are expensive to purchase and run, and they tend to burn out at the worst possible time so you should always have several spares on hand.

With an ambient room temp of 78-80*F your snake will only need an under-tank heater controlled by a thermostat to provide a basking spot of 90-92*F.

[Bogertophis]

And besides all that, heat lamps (along with space heaters) can sometimes get knocked over, or something gets left too close, & that can be a fire hazard.
It's not that you cannot make that "work" but it's not the best option, nor the safest, & I agree, BPs & most snakes do not like that much light (though you
could use a red or black bulb, or a CHE).

So after talking with the breeder where I am getting my BP from she told me not to use a headlamp at all and that it is very bad and will dry out my BP. She told me the way to do it is to keep my BP in a separate room where I have a constant temperature of 78-80 ambient temperature. In all my research I have never heard about that! What are your thoughts on heat lamps?

So she was saying you don't need any heat besides a room that's 78-80*? That's too chilly for their best health & digestion.

[Danger noodles]

Ok I’ll tell my side! As I keep my house at 68* all the time. Texas heat makes me love a cold house. Anyways, I use a heat pad controlled by a thermostat which is a must. Not opinion. Then I use a small heat lamp, the 25 watt ones, for the ambient temp controlled by a thermostat as well. I keep a towel that I cut over 3/4 of the tank, is a ecoterra so it has like 4 corners. And the humidity is way easier to control. Hope this helps

[Danger noodles]

And besides all that, heat lamps (along with space heaters) can sometimes get knocked over, or something gets left too close, & that can be a fire hazard.

I’ve started 2 accidentally fires when I was younger with the big 200w lamps for my torts! Not cool!!!

[EmiLee]

Well yes. I live in a colder climate so would be very expensive to keep my house at a temp of 78-80 at all times. In the summer time yes. Could potentially clean out the walk in closet to make room to keep snake in there to just heat a small space however was hoping to keep him in a room where there is some natural daylight.
What about a ceramic heat emitter on a controller?

And the light I got is a 25w infrared bulb so not that hot.

[EmiLee]

To correct: She told me to have a UTH which I already have for the basking spot.

[Bogertophis]

First, if you are keeping him in a glass tank (or even if you're using a professionally-produced plastic enclosure) you can insulate it using a variety of inexpensive
materials (foam board, cork tiles or on a roll, poster board with foam core, corrugated cardboard, peel & stick carpet tiles, & so on!) That will help you keep the
heat IN the cage where the snake needs it. You'd want to cover (tape securely to) the back, sides, maybe the bottom few inches in front (-leaving a big "picture
window") and underneath the bottom (leave some breathing room if using UTH for safety so it doesn't over-heat- we can explain further if you need more info).

[Danger noodles]

To correct: She told me to have a UTH which I already have for the basking spot.

Uth is perfect if u have a thermostat not thermometer. Or u will burn ur snake!!!! They get way to hot! I was curious a few months ago when I bought a new uth so I plugged it in and it got up to 120* within 45 min. And that was measuring with a laser gun. So plz get one if u don’t have one