Question about screening off a bulb

[jphealy]

I'm not a snake owner quite yet but will be getting a bp quite soon and am trying to get my viv setup sorted out.

There is an enclosure I'm looking at that has a fitting for a bulb inside but no screen to protect the snake from it. Can anyone give me an idea what exactly I can use to screen off the bulb inside the enclosure?

[daniel1983]

I use wire mesh or metal screen...works just fine...all you need to assemble is some pullties and snips

[jphealy]

I guess that sounds pretty do-able. Must get down to my local hardware store. Does wire mesh not get too hot from the bulb? Or is it ok as long as there's an inch or two between it and the bulb?

Thanks!

[daniel1983]

The main point of the screening off the bulb is to prevent your snake from coming into direct contact w/ the heat element or worse...curling around the bulb. I would put a 1"-2" buffer zone between the bulb, just to keep your snake at a good distance from the bulb.

[jphealy]

I love this forum - every question answered.

Thanks again.

[frankykeno]

Just a thought. I happened to notice some of those big heavy wire square suet feeders in the hardware store the other day. Wouldn't they make a fine frame? If the openings are too big you could just fine mesh around it but with the door that opens to put the suet in, I was thinking it's a kinda handy thing to maybe make into a light guard.


~~Joanna~~

[Adam_Wysocki]

I've never been a big fan of the wire cage around the bulb trick ... I've seen too many snakes "figure out" ways around it and still get burned.

If you can swing it, radiant heat panels are a much safer way to go.

-adam