Why heat with lights??

[ravensgait]

This is something I've wondered about for a long time but the recent thread about the snake getting into the light cover and getting burned prompted me to ask. Why do so many use lights to heat their cages with??

[boa]

That is something I have asked for many years. I still have one bank of cages that uses low wattage bulbs but in everything else I use heat mats, cords or heat panels and low voltage downlights for lighting.

[Fennwick]

i think its because people prefer to simulate the natural radiant, downwards heat that the sun produces.

[boa]

I tend to think it's because it's cheap and easy

[amazonian]

Originally Posted by boa

I tend to think it's because it's cheap and easy

Yep, along with all the old writings from the Herp vetrans recommending light globes in their publishings.

[mungus]

Originally Posted by boa

I tend to think it's because it's cheap and easy

Nothing wrong with cheap and easy....................

[mysnakesau]

Originally Posted by mungus

Nothing wrong with cheap and easy....................

Yeah except light bulbs blow and need replacing more often than a heatmat would.

I use lights in the lizards enclosures but all my snakes have heatmats.

[JasonL]

Can't beat low wattage cord these days.... but such products were a bit slower getting over here than the rest of the world, rack systems are really just starting to take off now, and I'm sure in a few years all will be different.

[Chimera]

I've got globes that have been running for over a year on a Microclimate Dimming Stat.

I do feel that the physiology of reptiles is more amenable to absorbing heat from above, for large species I would be inclined to use both to provide supplemental heating. For small terrestrial species such as Anteresia I think floor heating is enough. Red globes are pervasive in Australian reptile keeping because they are available everywhere and easy to get your hands on, heat panels are difficult to get in Australia and I think this is the main reason for them not being frequently used.

[junglepython2]

They are cheap and easily sourced plus they light the cage for you as well.

Try heating large enclosures down south with cord and matts and you don't get very far.

[cris]

One advantage is that light helps you see stuff.

[Chimera]

Originally Posted by cris

One advantage is that light helps you see stuff.

So does the funny little white switch mounted on the wall

[natrix]

As long as the animal's got sufficient heat & isn't in danger of burning itself , I don't see what it matters .
Well guarded ceramics work well for me .

[ravensgait]

Thanks for the replies was wondering why so many used them.. Randy

[gman78]

Cheap and easy works for me.
Only low wattage and only for my smaller pythons