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Light, Camara, Action

Misss_misssy

Misss_misssy

thats miss missy to you
I got a light from the pet store it said reptile light its purple and i am afraid it is not putting enough heat off for my little one so i installed a heating pad still not warm enough so i was woundering if a regular light bulb would do anybetter at this point because i feel as if i am running out of options and its getting cooler...
 
A regular bulb will put off heat, but can't be used at night when temps are the coolest. A red bulb should be enough to do the job. Just make sure you get a high enough wattage for your tank size. You can probably find go wattages by doing a search, as I don't use lights so I can't reccomend anything specific. Also, I'm not sure what tank size and UTH size you are using, but most UTH's get way too hot.

Also, forgot to ask, are you using a thermometer? It is much easier to measure the temps then to guesstimate if they are in the right ranges.
 
I don't really like the purple/blue bulbs for reptiles. The red ones work better, and at night the snake can't see the red, so it doesn't disturb them thinking that there's still light outside. The red ones also seem to put out more heat for the buck. For a typical 10-20 gallon aquarium, I don't generally go over a 40watt.

One thing to mention, if you can feel the heat on top of the substrate from the light or UTH, its too warm. Optimal temp is 82-84, which is well below your body temp. You can only feel temps above your body temp, really.

You need to turn the light and UTH out, get a thermometer and lay it on the bare glass of the tank for 30 mins and record the temp. Do the same for on top of the substrate, record that temp. Then turn on the light and re-measure both. Same for the UTH. Then measure with both the light and UTH on. Anything above 85 is really too warm.

Some of the newer UTH's don't seem to get as hot as the older models. But most of my corns burrow, especially the young ones, and the glass under the substrate can get quite hot.

Another way that works really good for keeping the bottom from getting hot if you don't have a thermostat or rheostat, is to stick the UTH to a ceramic tile, elevate the tank, and just set it on the table. That way it warms up the bottom, but not to the high temps that you get when its directly mounted on the tank.
 
I have a ten gallon tank. I have a thermeter and it get to about well right now it says 76 that is not warm enough is it? and thats with the light on and the heat pad.......
 
What kind of thermometer do you have? If you have one that just sticks to the glass, that is definately not an accurate temp reading you are getting. What works really well is the thermometer with the probe that you can lay directly on the glass below the substrate.
 
well in that case i have a feeling its below 70... i have one you stick on the glass... HELP I DONT WANT MY SNAKE TO DIE .. :cry:
 
Calm down. Your snake isn't going to die. People commonly brumate corns at the lower 50's with no ill effect. =P

The stick-on ones aren't the best, but they work in a pinch. If you don't have access to a digital probe one, then a regular ole mercury or alcohol one (red liquid) for oral use would be just as good. Lay it on the place and see what it says.

Try a regular 60watt incandescent bulb and re-test the temps with the UTH off and see how that goes.
 
You can also take the stick on kind and lay it on the substrate under the hide and see what it registers. That would give you a pretty close idea.
 
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