Need help with.. Everything?

StarFall · 05-25-17, 01:16 AM

Hi there,
I've been researching reptiles for months and months, but i still can't figure out the equipment? I have an enclosure a bit bigger than 4x2x4, so I'm thinking of using CHE, as I feel a heat mat would be a bit impractical for a tank of this height. How do I use these? Can I use the lamps used for heating bulbs? What wattage should I use?

How do the thermostats work? I'm confused by thermostats in general. Why is the wattage always so high? Do I need such a high wattage?

The cage has a screen top. Will I need to figure out a way to keep in more humidity?
Also I'm planning to get a carpet python, if this is important.
I'm gonna need a few very patient people to help me figure all of this out lol

dannybgoode · 05-25-17, 01:18 AM

First things first. What species are you thinking of as that drives pretty much everything else.

StarFall · 05-25-17, 01:20 AM

Carpet python

**EL Ziggy** · 05-25-17, 08:06 AM

A IR heat lamp, CHE or RHP could work as a heat source if used correctly. I'd probably go with a RHP if possible but I'm not sure how it would work with the screen top. The CHE and heat bulbs will lower your humidity a bit. I use IR heat bulbs in my carpet enclosures with no problems but my cages are only 12-18" high. Could you post a picture of the enclosure you plan to use? Thermostats help regulate the temperatures inside your enclosure. An unregulated heat source could get too hot and harm or kill your snake. You plug the heat source into the thermostat and plug the thermostat into an outlet. Set the thermostat accordingly to get the desired basking and ambient temps. I'm not the most mechanically inclined but the wattage of the thermostat has to be able to handle the maximum wattage of the heat source. For such a tall enclosure I'd think you'll need a 200-250 watt CHE. Are you getting an adult carpet? I don't think I'd put a baby carpet in such a large enclosure. Best wishes with your new critter.

akane · 05-25-17, 09:25 AM

For that size and shape of enclosure from what I've been seeing (mine are all more horizontal for less arboreal snakes) I also think the radiant heat panel would be best. You could do it with some well placed lamps but it will be a lot harder with the height because the heat drops off and spreads out the farther down you go so just top mounting a che in a tall enclosure might not heat evenly enough. I have a few small tanks with vertical temp gradients and some tanks I built up the area under the heat with rocks or logs so they can get closer to or farther from it but I'm talking 30" max difference and only one object in that tank goes that high under the warm side while the next highest is a rock platform 6" down the log is leaning on and there's a cool side where I built up more instead. In that footprint you won't really have the horizontal heat gradient for that and I can get a 12F difference over just 30" with various heat producing bulbs from the top.

StarFall · 05-25-17, 12:16 PM

I like the radiant heat panels.. Seems more effective than a bunch of lamps. Also, I plan on getting a baby carpet and growing it out. So for a vertical heat gradient, would I only need one RHP? How would I make sure the bottom part isn't too warm or too cold? Sorry for all the dumb questions, I'm about as bright as an unplugged light bulb.
edit- the enclosure is made of wood on one side, with cute little doors. The other sides are glass. The bottom is made of some sort of plastic. The lid is made of a metal screen with a wooden frame. I have a couple of nice logs that I can use, everything just needs a really good cleaning before I can do anything.

Scubadiver59 · 05-25-17, 02:41 PM

EZ...what wattage of CHE are you using in your 18" high viv? A 200 or 250w version?

I just put my Asian Rat back in it's original viv, (66"x28"x17" (lwh) internal) molded PVC, and I'm having issues getting the heat up inside the hot hide--using a Reptile Basics XL black plastic rectangular hide and it's only getting up to 78F inside the hide while it's 90F+ on the top. The CHE I'm using is a ZooMed 150w model. Does the size of the dome have any affect on the heat reflected? I'm using a rather narrow ZooMed ceramic dome and I have a wider dome, but it comes close to the edge of the screen and the PVC and I don't want to melt it.

I was thinking of a 40w RHP, down low, on the back side of the hide or even putting a UTH under a 12"x12" ceramic tile and putting that under the hide.

Didn't mean to hijack, but this will help the OP to see what others are doing and issues the OP may encounter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL Ziggy

A IR heat lamp, CHE or RHP could work as a heat source if used correctly. I'd probably go with a RHP if possible but I'm not sure how it would work with the screen top. The CHE and heat bulbs will lower your humidity a bit. I use IR heat bulbs in my carpet enclosures with no problems but my cages are only 12-18" high. Could you post a picture of the enclosure you plan to use? Thermostats help regulate the temperatures inside your enclosure. An unregulated heat source could get too hot and harm or kill your snake. You plug the heat source into the thermostat and plug the thermostat into an outlet. Set the thermostat accordingly to get the desired basking and ambient temps. I'm not the most mechanically inclined but the wattage of the thermostat has to be able to handle the maximum wattage of the heat source. For such a tall enclosure I'd think you'll need a 200-250 watt CHE. Are you getting an adult carpet? I don't think I'd put a baby carpet in such a large enclosure. Best wishes with your new critter.

**EL Ziggy** · 05-25-17, 03:07 PM

@ Scuba- I have a 100w IR heat bulb in my enclosure.

Scubadiver59 · 05-25-17, 03:18 PM

My CHE is sitting on the top of the viv, on the screen, directly, and isn't heating enough. I'm wondering if I switch to a wider dome if that will provide more heat. I thought that using the narrower dome, it would concentrate the heat better, but now I'm not too sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL Ziggy

@ Scuba- I have a 100w IR heat bulb in my enclosure.

StarFall · 05-25-17, 06:09 PM

I'm leaning towards radiant heat panels rather than CHE. How exactly would a vertical gradient work? How would I get the exact temperatures I need? What brand should I get?

**EL Ziggy** · 05-25-17, 07:27 PM

I think the RHP is the best option too Star, just trying to figure out how you would mount it. I'm making some enclosure upgrades soon and will be replacing my heat bulbs with RHPs. After doing some research I think I'm going to go with Pro Products heat panels.

**EL Ziggy** · 05-25-17, 08:02 PM

@ Scuba- I'm using the 8.5 in dome. I have a dimmer switch on my lights that allows me to get the temps exactly where I want them.

Scubadiver59 · 05-26-17, 12:45 AM

@Zig - my openings aren't that wide so the outer edge of the dome would be darned close to where the PVC & screen meet. That being said, the temperatures finally went up in the hide today, I guess time was needed for the CHE to finally raise the temp up inside the hide...all is well now.

I will eventually be moving my Asian Rat to an arboreal cage but I'm going to keep this one for transitioning my snakes to their final, larger vivs, which will be using RHPs.

Sorry for the hijack, StarFall! We now return you to your regularly scheduled program...

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL Ziggy

@ Scuba- I'm using the 8.5 in dome. I have a dimmer switch on my lights that allows me to get the temps exactly where I want them.

StarFall · 05-26-17, 12:56 AM

It's okay lol. I think I understand what I need to do now, thanks for all the help everyone!