Another horror story about heat lights....

[Invictus]

Originally posted by Shad0w
Oh.. and they do not dry out the air in the cage like a lightbulb does [/B]

Light bulbs do not dry out the air. This is the worst myth of cage building. I use bulbs to CREATE humidity. If your light bulbs dry out the air, it's because you're not setting up the cage right, and not replenishing the humidity at the same rate you're depleting it. Put a water source near the light, problem solved.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Light bulbs totally dry out the air. Not a myth.

[Shad0w]

LOL Invictus,

I dont care what anyone says.. but do ya think that a hot bulb near a water source is wise?

Respectfully, I dont think so...
A splash of water on a hot bulb "COULD" make it explode... not good.

You can safely get a RHP wet.

As far as Im concerned...

1. heat panels
2. heat pads

Id never consider hot bulbs for heat... I know they work but bro.. its asking for trouble.

I think its time we move away from the cheaper solutions to the better ways..

There is allot more at stake here than herps... Id hate to see a newbie's house burn down based on my suggestion of using bulbs.

Cost should not be an issue when it comes to safety. We are talking about peoples lives.

RHP's are safer, last longer (20+ years are typical), use less power, will not injure yer herps... whats not to love!

Anywho.. this is just my opinion... I know we all do it differently

[Invictus]

IS a myth. Unless I'm using some kind of "magical" light bulbs with "magical" water that evaporates causing the cage to become humid to the tune of 80-100%. I mean, damn, all those pathetic grade 5 science teachers who are teaching kids that heat causes water to evaporate, and that water vapor in the air causes humidity..... damn, why don't they just listen to the self-proclaimed experts of the herp community? I weep for our children!

Jeff, I'm not getting into this debate with you again. Bait me all you want, but until you can prove me wrong (which you CAN'T), the bottom line is, you are wrong, simply because I have proven repeatedly that my method DOES cause 80-100% humidity. So until you can prove me wrong, keep your OPINION to yourself, and I'll stick to the facts, thanks.

And Shadow, putting a water source underneath a light bulb that is caged and 18" above the water is no less safe than having heat tape wired anywhere near a cage.

[Paleosuchus]

Glad everything turned out alright, about a month ago i had a lamp fall and burn the carpet, ever since then i built a wire mesh caging around the outside of where the lamp sits so there is no way it could fall.
One question though, Invictus, i noticed you put an exclamation mark next to -Not wire mesh. As if thats a bad choice? Just wandering because if it is, il have to change it.
thanks, jason

[Invictus]

Jason, wire mesh can melt quite easily, and it retains a great deal of heat as well - enough that the reptile can burn themselves on it if they come in contact with it. I've never had that problem with hardware cloth.

[Shad0w]

Invictus,

Can you give me one benefit of a bulb for heat over a RHP?

Whats the risk worth?

If you wanna be irresponsible and take those risks, esp around water, fine, but I sure hope no one follows your lead...

If people use light bulbs becuase they are cheaper than a RHP, I will respectfully say thats an irresponsible choice...

Again, whats a safe setup worth to you?
All that risk instead of paying $90 for a RHP? Cummon, get real.. if you cannot afford a safe setup, you should leave the herping alone.

Anyone should think $90 is a bargoon for safety!
Im sure your home insurance company would love you for your choices...

[marisa]

Well for me, I find the way to keep humidity up when using a bulb on a tank or a enclosure would be putting a water source underneath it. But is warm water 24/7 any good? I am not sure. But I find water under lights I have used constantly "warm" It seems yucky but maybe not. I don't know.

Marisa

[Paleosuchus]

Ok thanks i'll look into the hardware cloth. An on another note, i have been using a light over the water bowl for keeping the humidity up for my emerald tree boa aswell as misting. Seems to work as good if not better then a heat pad under the water bowl.

[Darren179]

Well in my enclosed melamine cages I find that I can maintain the temps I need ambient and floor by placing 1-2 feet of heat tape (depending on size of cage) plus and 18 inch flouresent bulb over the hot end. I can get my temps into the mid 80s ambient and the floor space at whatever I want. Thus I have no real need for the bulbs. For the bigger enclosures heat panels work well also

[Jeff_Favelle]

Don't flatter yourself dude. Just because someone doesn't agree with you, doesn't mean they are baiting you. Holy moly reality check.

[Jeff_Favelle]

How about you prove ME wrong. I've proven that it does dry out cages. So why don't YOU stick to facts? Hmmmm?

[Mark]

Invictus: Get over it. Whats there to prove. Take any heat source and a water source and you'l get a raised humidity. The problem lies in too small of a waater source and/or too large of heat source. If there is not enough water to replace the moisture that the bulb uses the humidity will drop.

For example take 2 cages that are both the same and run one with a light buld and one with a heat pad/ heat tape. Sure maybe for a bit you will get the same humidity but you'll notice the water the the light bulbs cage will be drying out more often and have to be filled on a more regular basis. add more air flow and your problem only gets worse.

hmmmm...now I wonder why that is?

maybe because bulbs dry out the air.

Mark

[mykee]

What Mark said. Also, keep in mind that a UTH or heat tape or whatever is on the BOTTOM of the tank, cage, aquarium, whatever. A light bulb, unless you're an idiot, will be mounted at the highest point, if not outside the cage. I might be wrong, along with all the "science rebukers" here, but heat rises, right? Where is it going to rise to? Out of the cage? Where a heat source placed low in the cage, will heat UP and heat the cage more EFFECTIVELY, as well as dispersing the humidity created more EFFICIENTLY also.

[Invictus]

Incorrect Mykee.

The light bulb actually heats the cage more efficiently, and I've proven that too. The heat from heat tape does not radiate enough to actually heat the air above the heat tape, and yes, I've measured it extensively. Heat does not necessarily rise unless it has somewhere to rise TO - so unless you use top ventilation (which I don't), the heat will rise and fall all the same. Because I now use side vents, the heat will move to an area of lesser concentration - thus out the side of cage, heating the ENTIRE cage, not just the exact area of the bottom where the heat tape happens to be.

But if you're actually interested in the data I did collect, I have taken temp measurements in identical cages, one heated with heat tape, one with a light bulb. With the exception of the floor itself, the cage with the heat tape offered ZERO in the way of air heating - thus the reptile would get heat on their belly, yes... but would still have 80% of its body exposed to nothing more than room temperature. I took measurements above the heat tape, and every inch above it right to the top of the cage.

The cage with the bulb, on the other hand, maintained a consistent air temperature within 1.5 feet of the bulb itself, and still allowed a 10 degree drop at the cooler end of the cage where the vent was. Temperature measurements were taken again, every inch up to the height of the light housing, and the temps increased the higher up you got, yes.... but the overall air temp on the hot side was MANY degrees warmer.

I have also done cages for arboreals that were always at 80 - 100 % humidity by simply placing a second water dish directly underneath the area the bulb was in. It is NOT a fire risk, or at least no moreso than heat tape underneath a cage.

But people here don't seem to be interested in the absolutely exhaustive study, trial, and error that I've done over the years, so whatever.... I could post data from both cage setups with thermometers and hygrometers every inch in the cage, and people will still insist that the light bulb dries out the air.

And Jeff, before you criticize me about "flattering myself", maybe you should look at your own self-indulgent B.S. on these forums.

Anyway, good day. I'm done with this horse *****.