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Heat |
| This is what our member has to say: Roxy is 7 1/2 feet. Her tank is approximately 4' x 4' x 3'. I have 2 heating pads under indoor carpeting on one ... |
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#1
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Heat
Roxy is 7 1/2 feet. Her tank is approximately 4' x 4' x 3'. I have 2 heating pads under indoor carpeting on one side of the tank. Above that area I have a heat lamp. She has an flourescant light that is enclosed along the length of the tank for light. My problem is that I can't seem to get enough heat into the tank. The average temperature is about 73-78. She spends quite amount of time on the cooler side of the tank so she may be comfortable and she can climb up closer to the lamp or stay on the one heating pad, which is always on high. Should I get more thermometers? I have a hot rock, which I am hestitant to use as I have read mixed reviews on their use and possible burning. Please advise. Thank you.
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#2
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Re: Heat
Dont use the heat rock, there only useful for two things, cutting the cord off and using it as a rock decoration, or throwing it at whoever makes those things. (sorry, bad joke)
I would have at least two digital thermometers it the enclosure, i like 3 myself though. (one on cool end, one on warm end and one under the basking spot) I've seen up to 5 on one enclosure though. If shes spending alot of time on the cooler side it may be that the surface is too hot, the way you have the UTT heaters mounted (under carpet) there is a chance the floors too warm, even if the airs not. Or maybe she's just comfortable there. Maybe the warm side is too dry, its not completely unhead of for a snake to pick the right humidity over the right temperature, especially if she's anywhere near a shed. I would suggest looking into radient heat panels, or maybe the mega ray 60 watt heat emitters. ill let those with more snake experience chime in.
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"Nobody can do Everything, but Everybody can do Something." |
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#3
03-11-2008, 11:35 PM
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Re: Heat
What are you using to measure the temperature?
What wattage and type of heat lamp are you using? What is the tank made of and how is it constructed? What is the normal ambient temperature of the room?
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Merlin, What's Life Without A Little Magic! |
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#4
03-12-2008, 09:37 AM
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Re: Heat
I'll also chime in with a "no heat rock". They are way too prone to overheating, and often short out, causing one portion to get extremely hot and another to be cold. This all contributes to burning the reptile laying directly on top of it. And placing a sock over it really doesn't help either. (A common solution for the overheating problem.)
I'd suggest simply cutting the cord off your heat rock and using it for decoration. I have several that have ended up that way. ![]() You really should always have a couple of heat gauges so that you can accurately tell what the temperatures are and adjust them accordingly. If she's spending all her time on the cool side, I'd say you might have it a little too warm in there. It's difficult to tell without the actual temps, though.
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"Let's eat, Grandpa!" "Let's eat Grandpa!" Punctuation. It saves lives. |
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#5
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Re: Heat
Thank you, All. I'm definitely in need of more thermometers. I haven't been able to find any that I want. I had a good one in the middle of the tank that velcroed to the side but that crapped out. The one I am using now is a digital with a cord that runs about 6" and that is cord is what is actually gauging the temp. I don't like that and I'll be off to another pet store as soon as possible. The heat lamp I use at night is an Exo-Terra 120 v/100W ceramic heat emitter. I try to run a different one for about 10 hours a day which is supposed to raise the ambiant temperature and gives her a lot of light. That one is on now and is a (I have to let the spots disappear. You'd think I'd know better than to look directly at the bulb when it's on) Zoo-Med 120v/150W. Her tank is made of pressed wood on the top, bottom, sides and back. The front is plexiglass that opens all the way to get in and clean. The heat rock will look nice in my flower bed.
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#6
03-13-2008, 10:04 AM
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Re: Heat
Definitely a plus.
![]() The other thing I just noticed is that you have two heat pads on the inside of the tank on one side, and she spends all her time on the other side. I've never tried a heat pad on the inside of a tank, but maybe that is what it bothering her. Perhaps she just doesn't much like the sensation of sitting on them. Can you try them out under the tank? Or try out an Under Tank Heater, which is a little pad that sticks to the bottom of the tank. Although someone else may want to chime in on how safe they are to use on wood.
__________________
"Let's eat, Grandpa!" "Let's eat Grandpa!" Punctuation. It saves lives. |
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#7
03-13-2008, 11:07 AM
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Re: Heat
What do you have for ventilation? If it is too large or placed poorly it may be part of the problem.
However I would be concerned about the possibility that your thermometer is giving you a bad reading! Sounds like you may actually have too much heat! I heat my 4x2x18 enclosure with one 150 watt Ceramic Heat Emitter! It has no problem keeping things in a 95/75 degree temperature gradient. And thats in a room that routinely drops into the 60's at night. The digital with the cord is actually the way you should go. Its the very end of the probe that measures the temp so it is great to be able to move it around to check out place to place. Instead of the pet shop get your thermometer at Lowes or Walmart in the garden section. Cost you about 15 bucks! They have the remote probe which measures the temperature but the readout unit will as well. This lets you monitor 2 areas with one unit. It also has a minimum maximum memory so you can tell what has been going on in the tank all the time. I would suggest getting a thermostat and hooking up the Ceramic Heat Emitter to it and just leaving it running. This may eleminate the use of the spot lamp. Boas don't need a whole lot of light. The lighting in mine is simply an 18 inch flourescent fixture.
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Merlin, What's Life Without A Little Magic! |
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#8
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Re: Heat
There are 3 ventilation holes. One on each end of the tank that is each 13"X6" and one on top that is slightly smaller. That is what I place the heat lamps on. I will try the garden sections this Saturday. That is a great idea. I trust the pet store I use because it is not a franchise and they have more snakes, turtles, lizards, etc. They also do not even deal with kittens or puppies. In fact, not much but food supply has fur there.
With the two heating pads, I usually keep the one closest to the right end of the tank on high and turn the second one (located next to it on the left) on low, if at all. |
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#9
03-13-2008, 05:36 PM
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Re: Heat
I would try reducing the size of the vent holes. You are losing a lot of heat there. My enclosure has a 3" circular vent at each end and there is a small air space around the front door. This actually supplies plenty of ventilation.
__________________
Merlin, What's Life Without A Little Magic! |
| The Following User Says Thank You to Merlin For This Useful Post: | ||
kcftlaud08 (03-17-2008) | ||
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#10
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Re: Heat
I've added 2 more thermometers. One on each end of the tank. The one under her heat lamp is reading 80, the one in the middle is reading 74.6 and the one on the coooling end is reading around 75. I'll check on them again and see if they are consistent. I have the most faith in the thermometer I liked the least.
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