heating advice

[snakeman879]

Hi will be geting a new viv soon ether a 4x4x2 or a 5x2x2 what would be best for a female bci and what wattage would be needed to get the corect heat thanx in advance

[Jendee]

Where are you and whats available too you?? I use flexxwatt exclusively but Ive heard that some countries dont have it

[Lankyrob]

Personally i would go for a rhp if you can afford to, if not a 150w CHE is what i use in my 4x2x2 vivs and they provide temp gradients quite well.

[snakeman879]

Hi was thinking 150 what heat bulb on a dimmer stat would that be ok ? Thank u for the info

[Mikoh4792]

Hi was thinking 150 what heat bulb on a dimmer stat would that be ok ? Thank u for the info

radiant heat panel would be better. It would last you longer and it wouldn't dry out the cage so much.

A heat bulb is doable, just not as ideal as the other choices out there.

By dimmer stat do you mean a rheostat?

[Corey209]

Personally i would go for a rhp if you can afford to, if not a 150w CHE is what i use in my 4x2x2 vivs and they provide temp gradients quite well.

I was considering using my 150w but when reading my temp gun it'll get surface temps around 97-102. What do you use to manage the heat?

[snakeman879]

Hi at the moment beth the boa is in a 4x2x1 and I control the heat with a 100 watt bulb on an on off stat has been fine the past year. Keeps temps at 29c and 31c

[smy_749]

I'd go with the 4 x 4 x 2 , more space is always the better option

[snakeman879]

That is what I was thinking plus a lot better fore branshes and plants get a nice back ground in the viv would put pics ov my boa up but havent eny idea how lol

[Lankyrob]

I was considering using my 150w but when reading my temp gun it'll get surface temps around 97-102. What do you use to manage the heat?

A thermostat???

[snakeman879]

Hi its an on off thermostat that I got at the moment.

[Corey209]

A thermostat???

Well I know that but what kind do you use? The thermostats I have turn off when the heat gets too hot then turns back on when it's too cold and I heard that is bad for the bulb but I could be wrong.

[snakeman879]

Haha sorry ye thats what my one is cuts off the bulb when it gets to the set temp and turns it on when it gets below the set temp. And no it aint that good on the bulbs puting new ones in atleast evry 5 months .

[Mikoh4792]

Haha sorry ye thats what my one is cuts off the bulb when it gets to the set temp and turns it on when it gets below the set temp. And no it aint that good on the bulbs puting new ones in atleast evry 5 months .

Paying more for a proportional(more money upfront) will save you money in the long run(having to replace less bulbs)

[snakeman879]

Thats what im going to do thank u . Will I have to replace my. Curent heating bulb and lamp for a new one as the lamp I have will only hold a 100 watt bulb would the one I hav be ok to heat the 4x4x2 or will I need a 150 watt bulb and new lamp? Thank u in advance ov eny reply

[Lankyrob]

Well I know that but what kind do you use? The thermostats I have turn off when the heat gets too hot then turns back on when it's too cold and I heard that is bad for the bulb but I could be wrong.

I use proportional stats with ceramic heat emitters. They have been running 24/7 for three and a half years and never had to replace a bulb.

[Corey209]

I use proportional stats with ceramic heat emitters. They have been running 24/7 for three and a half years and never had to replace a bulb.

I think I'm going to try out a proportional stat instead, if I could just use CHE's that'd be awesome. Do you put the probe directly under the bulb?

[Lankyrob]

I think I'm going to try out a proportional stat instead, if I could just use CHE's that'd be awesome. Do you put the probe directly under the bulb?

Yes, the bulb is inside the enclosure but also inside a metal cage so that the snskes cant get near it. The probe lies on top of the substrate directly under e bulb.