Flex Watt or another heating source?

[Roundabout136]

Well i've had enough with heat lamps, mine is doing fine during the day but at night i need a better source of heat, other then my heat pad i have on at night time in her warm side.

Flex watt, where can i get this and how exactly does it work?

Are there any bulbs i can use at night time which makes enough heat to creat a sufficient night time temperature, but aren't bright and whatnot for my snake.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[tigerlily]

Flexwatt is just another type of under the tank heating. If you are looking to increase temps at night, why not try a space heater. If you are using a tank, try insulating three sides of it. It will help a bit too.

You can use the infra red bulbs at night or 24/7. Don't buy a red party bulb, but look for a reptile one. They sell them at almost all pet store.

[Topher]

I use a ESU Reptile 150 Watt Black Spot Bulb on a lamp dimmer. You can get them in lower wattages if you want, but by using the higher wattage and a dimmer you more than double the life of the bulb. This bulb puts out almost no visible light, and I use this for both day and night heat since Ball Pythons don't have light requirements. Flexwatt works like a heat pad, but you will also need to put it on a dimmer or thermostat.

[Roundabout136]

How much is that lamp? My heatlamp is kinnda messing up my humidity, so i was leaning away from the heat lamp, i have to put a towel which i re-wet every 2 days for the humidity to stay at around 55, but during the night it sky rockets to like 65-70. The heat lamp is pissing me off.

[tigerlily]

I also forgot to mention a ceramic heating element (CHE). Those have a higher upfront cost, but last longer than normal bulbs.

Watch out for that damp towel. You will have mold central in no time, with the high temps and moist environment. Try using contact paper or a piece of plexiglass in it's place.

[kenatk]

I've thought about using flexwatt myself, and I will defer to flexwatt once I order my new cages from Animal Plastics. In the meantime, I'm using 75 watt red bulbs from Zoo Med to heat my tanks.

I've had a difficult time adjusting to using bulbs (I tend not to like them) but I've had better luck with bulbs than with heating pads. The cool thing about the red bulbs is you can leave them on 24/7. I get temperatures during the day of 91 - 92 on the hot side, 80 on the cool side of both terrariums with the bulbs, and at night the temperature drops to around 85 - 87 on the hot side.

I'm definitely switching to flexwatt though once I get my new cages.

[Roundabout136]

So the red bulb will do alot better for me?

If i leave it on all day won't the temperature stay the same...that's common sense.

[tigerlily]

The bulbs, if left on should remain about the same. You have to take into consideration the drop in the room temps too. (especially for those that keep their houses cool) Night drops are not necessary and not recommend, except for those breeding. Temps should never drop below 80, on a normal basis. Otherwise you are just asking for a respiratory infection. The other thing with bulbs, is that they suck out the humidity. They're terrible on your humidity. It's a matter of seeing what works for you, and remember if you decide on a bulb ALWAYS have a spare.

[Roundabout136]

OK well its definately falling below 80 at night. What bulb do you reccomend i get that emits little light but definately gets the job done.

[tigerlily]

What wattage do you use now, during the day?