I’d like to firstly point out.
I use to use red bulbs. I changed as I was getting sick and tired of them constantly blowing. While there cheap I wanted something that would last longer.
- there’s only one bulb used in this tank. The rest are UVB bulbs that are cool to the touch.
- as soon as I first turned it on and could feel the heat, I immediately turned it off. As removed it. And I’m now purchasing a new red bulb which will be considerably better as it reflects the heat downwards.
I didn’t come here to get abused and judged about it being inappropriate, I came here for advice as I had never before used such a bulb and wasn’t sure on how to use them. The tank was built by a furniture builder local to me, out of Australian hardwood. I designed it wanting something to hide all the electrical and lights and to be more spacious for my snake.
Hi Miffy,
I'm new here myself so I can understand how some of the direct feedback can sometimes
I’d like to firstly point out.
I use to use red bulbs. I changed as I was getting sick and tired of them constantly blowing. While there cheap I wanted something that would last longer.
- there’s only one bulb used in this tank. The rest are UVB bulbs that are cool to the touch.
- as soon as I first turned it on and could feel the heat, I immediately turned it off. As removed it. And I’m now purchasing a new red bulb which will be considerably better as it reflects the heat downwards.
I didn’t come here to get abused and judged about it being inappropriate, I came here for advice as I had never before used such a bulb and wasn’t sure on how to use them. The tank was built by a furniture builder local to me, out of Australian hardwood. I designed it wanting something to hide all the electrical and lights and to be more spacious for my snake.
Hi Miffy,
I am new here myself so I understand how some of the direct feedback can sometimes seem intimidating or too forceful but I think it wasnt the case in this instance.
Herpt and Benno were both just concerned about the increased risk you were facing of a "vivarium meltdown" and of course the resultant loss of specimen and potential for greater damage in the household. Putting that aside...
Mate I am also doing away with the Red Lamps as they don't last. But Ceramic Heat Emitters dont "shoot heat downwards" like the red lamps so the original design of tank wasnt built to handle their type of heat; it will (as you have observed) concentrate in the dish which will make it hot as, too hot for timber.
I have seen people either
A) put the Heat Emitter in the tank with the appropriate cage and ceramic holder
B) provide extra ventilation or other physical gap between the shroud and the timber (
C) switch to heat cord or mat for effieciency reasons
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Sorry, using my phone and the screen has issues
For option B) listed above see pythonguys posts. And you may want to have extra vents for the "heat/cable containment area" of your setup.
For option A) use an appropriately sized cage setup with ceramic globe holder, this would of course be inside the tank area. And the heat would stay in the tank and a well positioned thermostat probe would keep a good gradient
Option C) also requires good thermostat probe positioning but will have less visual impact; however due to the nature of heat mat or cord, the way it places heat etc., usually leads to a need to "remap" your heat gradient management.
I would switch back to Red Globes (as the original design was based on) for now; then select your next path but make the required changes to the system to avoid it becoming hazardous.
Hope I have helped
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Geez Sorry,
I meant : option B) check out Harpo's work