Custom viv advise needed

[Mike Beaulieu]

Hello everyone, this is going to be my first bp, although I am not new to reptiles or snakes.

This enclosure was built for my beardy originally and i wanted to re-use it for a bp. It's an ackward 37x19x12 interior because it was built with backward leftovers. So ya, not so pretty but whatever. 4 layers of polyurethane to seal it, 1 plug hole on the left side and 2 lamp holes with screens on top.

For a desert reptiles it works great but as I have started to test heating methods for the future bp, I am hitting roadblocks. Obviously it was intended to heat from above but, after my test tonight i am at 30% humidity. Granted the cypress bedding isn't in the enclosure yet but still, i am worried my CHE and light combo will dry out the environment too much.

I was thinking maybe uee cfl bulbs for lighting and i could stick a UTH under a big ceramic tile inside the inclosure to have some sort of homemade "hot rock" on my thermostat. My bottom flooring is a big piece of non glued vinyl flooring with silicon around the edges. Will it melt it if I use the little bumpers to create an air space between the vinyl flooring and the tile ? I could put the main hide on that heated tile ?

Other ideas welcomed.



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[TechnoCheese]

You may try using a deep heat projector instead of a CHE. From what I’ve heard, they aren’t as drying, and their heat is able to better penetrate the skin and muscle of the reptile.
Here’s a 12$ one from amazon-
https://www.amazon.com/Sparkzoo-Infr...06&sr=8-21

Be sure that you fully treat the inside of the enclosure to keep it from molding. Good luck!


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[WhompingWillow]

I would not use a UTH or heat tape under ceramic, as my understanding is that both need to be able to breathe a little bit in order for trapped heat to escape. Hopefully someone will chime in to correct me if I am wrong. You also don't want to put the UTH's thermostat probe/cord inside the enclosure.

Have you tried just the lamp or just the CHE? CHE needs to be on a thermostat. I personally use dimmers with my lamps, but many advocate for thermostats for lamps as well.

CHEs and lamps do dry things out. A substrate that retains water can help, but I have to mist my enclosures that use lamps, and I also invested in a room humidifier.

[Mike Beaulieu]

Ya I have a thermostat so whatever heat source i use will be on it.

To be clear, there would be an air space between the tile and the floor. I would use the plastic bumps sticky plastic legs that come with most heat pads to lift the tile off the ground by about 1/2". Why would the probe inside the viv be a problem ?

No worries, the inside and outside was coated with 4 layers of water based polyurethane last week so its sealed!

I won't have the bp before.end.of february so...plenty of time to air out and dry.

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[wnateg]

Ya I have a thermostat so whatever heat source i use will be on it.

To be clear, there would be an air space between the tile and the floor. I would use the plastic bumps sticky plastic legs that come with most heat pads to lift the tile off the ground by about 1/2". Why would the probe inside the viv be a problem ?

No worries, the inside and outside was coated with 4 layers of water based polyurethane last week so its sealed!

I won't have the bp before.end.of february so...plenty of time to air out and dry.

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Pee / moisture could get on the probe and cause the thermostat to heat to a higher / lower temperature.

[Mike Beaulieu]

You may try using a deep heat projector instead of a CHE. From what I’ve heard, they aren’t as drying, and their heat is able to better penetrate the skin and muscle of the reptile.
Here’s a 12$ one from amazon-
https://www.amazon.com/Sparkzoo-Infr...06&sr=8-21

Be sure that you fully treat the inside of the enclosure to keep it from molding. Good luck!


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Thanks I will look into that. Although it looks very similar to the che.

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[Mike Beaulieu]

Pee / moisture could get on the probe and cause the thermostat to heat to a higher / lower temperature.

Makes sens! What if i tape the probe under the tile, on the underside of the heating tape?


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[wnateg]

I would try a RHP, they don't dry out as much as the CHE, I've heard.

[Mike Beaulieu]

I would try a RHP, they don't dry out as much as the CHE, I've heard.

I have seen that in my research, problem is, I have also seen many people say the are not very durable. Anyone have experience with reliable rhp ?

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[wnateg]

I have seen that in my research, problem is, I have also seen many people say the are not very durable. Anyone have experience with reliable rhp ?

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People use them here all the time. I haven't used them myself yet, but I have two coming from pro products. Pro products (have to email to order) and reptile basics are the recommended.