Heat lamps or heat pads

Skits · 01-21-14, 09:44 PM

This may be an odd question, but is there a general rule for heat pads or heat lamps for certain species, or is it just a matter of preference? Example like corns and milks usually have heat pads, or heavy bodied snakes having lamps, etc

poison123 · 01-21-14, 09:51 PM

I prefer to use a low wattage heat bulb for most species. Helps with ambient temps and allows me to provide different basking temps for my snakes to choose from. Down side is that they dry out the air. Using low wattage bulbs wont dry out the air as much. Radiant heat panels seem popular too.

Skits · 01-21-14, 10:16 PM

I'm just always confused as to which snakes need heat mats over heat lamps. I use heat lamp for my carpet python, heat pads for my royal python, milksnake, ratsnake..

poison123 · 01-21-14, 10:23 PM

Either one can work for any species depending on how you use it. Some prefer to use one more then the other

CosmicOwl · 01-21-14, 10:35 PM

You also have to consider what is the most efficient and economical for the snake's needs. A lot of temperate colubrids will spend most of the time on the cool side, so a vast and precise heating system might be over doing it in some cases.

Skits · 01-22-14, 12:00 AM

Yeah definitely. I noticed my CP loves basking on his stick in front of his light so he has a lamp. My colubrids love either chilling on the warm or hot side so they have heat pads.

Mikoh4792 · 01-22-14, 05:00 AM

Heat lamps need to be removed from snake husbandry for most species. It dries out an enclosure and the bulbs need frequent replacement. Radiant heat panels are the best heat source for snakes that like to perch.

Donnie · 01-22-14, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

Heat lamps need to be removed from snake husbandry for most species. It dries out an enclosure and the bulbs need frequent replacement. Radiant heat panels are the best heat source for snakes that like to perch.

It would be great if we had a selection of RHP's over here but they are almost non existent. I use a ceramic for all my carpets without any shedding issues and I never mist or do anything to increase the humidity. My only reason to get away from a CHE and go to a RHP would be so I don't have to look at a bulb and guard all the time

Mikoh4792 · 01-22-14, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie

It would be great if we had a selection of RHP's over here but they are almost non existent. I use a ceramic for all my carpets without any shedding issues and I never mist or do anything to increase the humidity. My only reason to get away from a CHE and go to a RHP would be so I don't have to look at a bulb and guard all the time

Man I wish I had the pm, but a member here(I forgot) makes his own RHP's using common materials that work just as good.

Donnie · 01-22-14, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

Man I wish I had the pm, but a member here(I forgot) makes his own RHP's using common materials that work just as good.

When I'm ready (and have the cash) to move mine into plastic vivs then I am going to do some serious research into getting hold of some. I know of a place in Germany that sells them but they are not cheap at all. It may even be cheaper shipping them over from the states.

Terranaut · 01-22-14, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

Man I wish I had the pm, but a member here(I forgot) makes his own RHP's using common materials that work just as good.

Larry makes them.

Mikoh4792 · 01-22-14, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Larry makes them.

Ah right it was him. Shouldn't have deleted the message, I was going to try to make one using his guideline.

Lankyrob · 01-23-14, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

Heat lamps need to be removed from snake husbandry for most species. It dries out an enclosure and the bulbs need frequent replacement. Radiant heat panels are the best heat source for snakes that like to perch.

What do you call frequent replacemennt? My CHE's have been running for almost four years without being replaced. Have also used them in high humidity vivs where i only needed to spray once or twice a week so drying out wasnt an issue.

(i will say that i originally had my high humidity snake in a viv that wasnt well sealed and needed spraying once a day but once it was in a "proper" viv there were no issues)

Mikoh4792 · 01-23-14, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

What do you call frequent replacemennt? My CHE's have been running for almost four years without being replaced. Have also used them in high humidity vivs where i only needed to spray once or twice a week so drying out wasnt an issue.

(i will say that i originally had my high humidity snake in a viv that wasnt well sealed and needed spraying once a day but once it was in a "proper" viv there were no issues)

Right I said that without putting che's into consideration.

But even if I had to choose between a CHE and a RHP I'd always choose an RHP for most snake species. They just don't get as hot and heat the enclosure equally well.(Since most snake species don't need hotspots over 90F)

Mikoh4792 · 01-22-14, 05:01 AM

To answer your question it depends on the snakes needs. If a snake like to hide and bask at the same time, it depends on how the heat pad heats the enclosure. Does it only create a hotspot? Or does it also heat the rest of the enclosure? If it's not enough to create a good thermal gradiant you will need to supplement that with an overhead heat source.