Ceramic Emitter

[Jo060]

Hey, I'm going to buy a Ceramic Heat Emitter for my BP. What wattage should I get 60 or 100?
Thanks.

I have a 20 gal. tank:w

[Jeff_Favelle]

Neither. Get an UTH. And you better not have a screen on that aquarium.

[David Kwok]

Get an undertank heater.... I would use the ones you get at the pharmacy that they use for humans. Maybe while you are at it get yourself a nice rubbermaid for you snake instead of an aquarium.... they should be left for fish.

[mango]

I have a 20 gal reptile terrarium and I use a uth. I have one from the pet store and I also have a pillow warmer made for humans. They both work great. I was told never to use hot rocks on bp's they can burn their bellies badly. You can get a ceramic bulb element that goes in a lamp but it'll dry your tank out. :D

[Jeff_Favelle]

Mango, that's great advice!! Man, you're coming along nicely!! Great to see!! :D

[Jo060]

But, I was told that you are supposed to have 2 sources of heat. What do you guys use for heating?

[Jeff_Favelle]

But, I was told that you are supposed to have 2 sources of heat.


Really? Ummm......who told you that gem of information.

[Jo060]

On some BP care site I read. So? What should I do. I do have a UTH is that all the heat source I need. Do I need light for him? There is light in the room he is in too.

[sSNAKESs.com]

Get yourself a small flourescent fixture instead of that ceramic to give him some light... The flourescent lighting wont emit very much heat if any at all and keep using the UTH... :)

[Jeff_Favelle]

I do have a UTH is that all the heat source I need.

Well that all depends.... You don't need a light for heat, that's for sure. But if your cage is 75F warm end and 65F cold end, then no, your UTH is NOT enough. Nobody can tell you if its enough because they don't have snakes in your house. Every house and every room and every part of a room is different. That's why there is a standard set of temperatures for Ball Pythons. Do whatever it takes to get to them. Light a damn fire in the middle of the room if you have to (kidding). It doesn't matter how you do it (sort of), just do it. 90-94F warm end/spot an 78-82F cool end (during the day). Just do it.

But don't do it with lights or ceramic heat emitters etc etc Lights are cool for displaying your animal (during the day), but don't use the light as a sole heat source (they are ok, sort of, for increasing cage ambient in a cool room).

[mango]

I was also told that bp's don't demand the uvb and uva and all that, they get it from their food. I was told that as long as the cage is warm enough the ambient light from the room is enough for a bp. My girl's tank is next to a window and she gets some light that way. :D

[sapphire_moon]

On both my tanks I have a UTH and a light. The light not only warms their tanks to the proper temps ( 90-95 degree basking, 75-79 cool spot) but it lets me see them. I turn the lights off at night, dropping the temps to 80-85 warm side, 70-75 cool side......But I've heard bad things about ceramic heat emmiters. It will dry out the cage....

[mango]

Yes. It has been stressed to me that the humidity is more important than light. Especially with babies and in shed cycles. I started out with a uth and an overtank light and the cage was bone dry and there was nothing I could do about it lol. I tried everything. :D