Too hot!!

[reptilez]

I have a wooden enclosure and i cant lower the heat. im using a regualar light bulb for heat. the cool side of the enclosure is 90F, the basking spot is about 105F. what can help lower the heat??
-Reptilez
(im housing BD's)

[Shane Tesser]

How about ditching the bulb approach and going with something that you can regulate...like heat tape? Or if its an animal that needs uvb or to bask...why not add some vents to the enclosure...or again..if its too small...make or get a new one!!! ;)

[Mike177]

how many wats is the light bulb?

[rattekonigin]

What's the wattage of the light bulb? If it's, like, 100W you could try changing it to a 60W...I think they make bulbs even lower than 60 too...I think...

Post Script: Ha! Sorry Mike, simultaneous post...

[Edwin]

Like all the others have suggested, you can lower the wattage of your light bulb, or get a CHE and a dimmer switch.

How does your enclosure open? If it is top opening and your herps cannot escape, you could partially leave your cage top open to let in some ventilation.

Another option, if it is feasible is to get a small battery powered clip on fan. Just be sure that it is out of reach of your herp(s).

Maybe herpers in hot arid areas can give more advice on this..

[reptilez]

The bulb is a sixty watt and the UVB bulb i have in there is a Repti-Glo 8.0, 24" 20w bulb. there a 2 vents, 1 on each side.

My enclosure opens from the front(sliding Glass).

[Edwin]

You could stick a computer fan on the vent on the hot side of your enclosure to draw out excess hot air.

Something else I thought of would be to lower the ambient temps in your herp room, or move your enclosure to a cooler place in your home.

Another idea, although I am not not sure how feasible it is would be to place a few ice cubes in your beardie's water bowl?

Hope this helps.

[Bryce Masuk]

how big is the enclosure? where is the bulb on top of the cage or in it if its in it cut a hole put hardware cloth on top of the hole and sit the fixture on it that should solve the problem if its on top i have no clue how the temps could be that high what kind of thermometer are you using? what is the room temp?

[Lisa]

Switch to florecent lighting if you can. these will give off far less heat.

[reptilez]

Originally posted by Edwin
You could stick a computer fan on the vent on the hot side of your enclosure to draw out excess hot air.

I like this idea!! Where would i find this fan?

[Edwin]

Any computer store would carry them, just tell them you need a computer case fan. You will also need a computer power supply to hook it up to, and you can find it here:

http://www.mptcomputers.com/
older style 200W CSA power supply, non-standard shape, $7

Newer computer power supplies will not work because it needs to be plugged into a motherboard before it will power up. Older AT power supplies do not have this safety feature.

If you use helix thermostats, you could get this too, but it is really pricey for the same funcitonality.
http://www.helixcontrols.com/prod_cooling_fan.htm

Another option would be to hit Home Depot/Walmart, they should have similar fans that you can simply plug into an electrical outlet.

Hope this helps.

[reptilez]

Are there any batterey powered ones??

[J_Riley]

do NOT put ice cubes in the water! This is a terrible system shock for a reptile, their biology is not like ours.

I'm guessing you live in an abode without a/c? What are the ambient room temperatures like?

[Trace]

I would still opt for changing your bulb, over buying a fan. I would hate to see your beardies getting to close to the rotating blades! You can buy 25watt and 40watt regular household bulbs at Home Depot and Crappy Tire for a few dollars a box.

Or... is there a way you can move your existing 60watt bulb a little further away from the basking area?

Trace

[ReneeB]

I currently use a white household bulb that's 25watts and get great temps.. the lamp is about 8-18 inches away from their basking rocks which are piled to give them the option of diff basking temps. they range from 75 [the bottom of the pile] to 90 [the top] I also have a long "bright stick" plant growing florescent in there.

Is it possible to vent the top if the lower watt bulb doesn't help? a vent in the top will let alot of heat escape.

[Dom]

DImers .. simply put it on a dimmer.. and lower the wattge as much as you'd like.... Its simple effective .. cheap and easy to control....

[reptilez]

How low do the wattages go??

[ReneeB]

you can get household bulbs in 15 watts.. not sure if you can get lower wattage with the same fixture? [sorry blanked on the word for what you screw the bulb into]

[Edwin]

Originally posted by J_Riley
do NOT put ice cubes in the water! This is a terrible system shock for a reptile, their biology is not like ours.


J_Riley, thanks for clearing that up, I didnt feel comfortable with that suggestion either. :)

Reptilez, if you are looking for battery powered, then just get a clip on fan or portable fan. You can find them at most shopping malls.

[reptilez]

I'll probalby just try a lower wattage bulb, if i can find one....
Thanx for your help,
-Reptilez