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Night Glo moonlight lamps and heating

J

Jack B

New member
I have some questions about heating the snakes aquarium with lamps. I did not have much luck with the undertank heater and decided to go with lights. The undertank heater was my first choice but when I read all of the warnings I was turned off. They said that if the animal could burrow through the substrate or make it's way to the glass directly over the heater it could be burned.

I saw that and said unacceptable. I'm using paper towel and have seen the snake go under that. They use cage carpet at the pet store and I've seen those snakes under that as well and I've seen them burrough under the aspen shavings at the other pet store.

I went with plan B as per the directions and stuck the heater on the end of the tank instead of under it. That did practically nothing. I pulled the heater off the tank and filed it in the circular file and went out and got a T Rex basking lamp with a dimmer on it and a 50 watt basking bulb. I also got a Night Glo moonlight lamp.

Those lights do a nice job heating. I set the dimmer so I get about 82 - 84 degrees on the paper towel right under the lamp. I just have to cover a good portion on the screen to keep the humidity up around 50 - 55%.

My question is about the moonlight lamp. They claim it simulates natural moonlight and can be used with repti glo or sun glo lamps for a 24 hour cycle. I'm wondering if leaving the moonlight lamp on all night for heat is a good idea. I need to put heat into the tank at night because I'm in NJ and it's pretty cold at night. I keep my thermostat at 72 but it will get down to 70 in the tank with no heat source.

Will the moonlight lamp all night for heat bother the snake or will she be peacefull in her tube like on a warm moonlit night. Since the snake doesn't bask (that I've ever seen yet) I'm thinking of just going with the moonlight lamp 24/7 to provide heat as long as the snake is not bothered at night thinking it's a never ending day.
 
Well, I use a red lamp and leave it on all the time. As I understand it, they can't see red light. I've also heard they can't see blue, either? Someone else will know that better than I. And no, they won't bask. They spend the vast majority of their lives hidden away.
 
The moonlight bulb won't bother your snake, and neither will the red bulb, (light they supposedly can't see). If it's the fear of your snake getting burnt by the UTH, then I suggest placing it on a seperate piece of glass or tile, raise the tank, and place it underneath. This will keep the heating element from touching the tank glass, giving you some room to adjust the temps better. You can also use a rheostat to adjust the heat as well.... That being said, I'm in Florida and don't use external heat except a couple of those lights mounted on my racks to keep that area a little warmer when the temp drops... for the couple weeks of winter... :grin01:
 
I've had other reptiles in the past, and I'm getting my first corn soon. I know almost nothing about heat lamps, because almost everyone I've talked to (and almost everything I've read) suggested using a UTH instead. What about using your dimmer (or a thermostat/rheostat) with a UTH? I'm pretty certain that will keep the heat at the correct level, and then you won't need to worry about lights.
 
UTHs are generally recommended. However, mine's at its highest setting, and it just doesn't cut it, even when it's hot out. The lamp brings everything up about 10 degrees. It's still hard to get really good temperatures in cold weather, though, especially with the weather changing every day around here.
 
Rushrul, if your UTH isn't warm enough, can't you just get the next size bigger?

But for Jack- it _is_ frightening to read the warnings on UTHs or to see a 110-120F reading on a thermometer placed on the glass. You're right- this would burn your snake. The solution is to get either a rheostat or a thermostat, though, and get the temp down to where you want it. I'm using a Zoomed thermostat which isn't the fanciest in the world but works all right. You can probably find one for around $25. If you search the forum, you can find instructions for using a lamp dimmer- very cheap.

I just think that, especially in light of your baby regurging, belly heat is better and more natural than basking heat.

FWIW, at the snake store I go to, the owner advised me to get an Exoterra Desert heat mat, and said he wouldn't even carry Zoo Med, because Zoo Med got much hotter. I've switched to Exoterra mats now, but I still have a few Zoo Meds in use. But all UTHs are on thermostats.

Nanci
 
If your UTH is on a thermostat or rheostat, there is little danger of burning your snake. Of course, you also need a good digital thermometer with a probe to accurately measure temps.

I have Zoo Med on some of my tanks, and Exo Terra on the others. I much prefer the Exo Terra. They still need to be regulated, but are muck more consistent that the Zoo Med.

Rushrulz, I have a hard time believing your UTH doesn't get hot enough. It leaves me wondering how you are measuring the temps, and if you keep your snake room at arctic temperatures all the time. Unless you got a defective UTH, you should be too hot instead of not hot enough. Especially when it is hot outside.
 
Thanks for the reply. I'm glad to hear that those kind of lamps do not disturb the snake at night.
 
I'd have to agree Becky, plus I've never seen a UTH with settings. The ones that I've seen are either plugged in or not plugged in... only two choices. I like my Herpstat ND because it does the job of thermostat and thermometer in one. Definitely keeping that side under control. That said, I still have the tank up on one paperback book at each end, so it's still a little ways away from the pad.
 
Yes, I'm thinking about getting a thermostat even for the lights. The problem with the UTH also was that once I put it on the side of the tank it wasn't really hot. I could hold the back of my hand against it and it was luke warm. Maybe I just got a bad one?
 
That's how mine was. Didn't really get that hot plugged straight into the wall yet came with a lot of burn warnings.
 
Perhaps you got a bad one, I'd return it if you can and try another one, but I could always touch my pad without getting burnt. What I couldn't touch was the glass bottom of the tank. It was what got hot (high was a 106 before I got a digital probe prior to the thermostat.

The fact is that snakes really need belly heat. In the wild they would get it from the earth, hidden in forests they wouldn't get it from the sun. I don't think you'll find any expert out there that would say that a lamp is better than a UTH for a corn.
 
Yes, I'm planning to get a thermostat even for the light. I'll probably get a repti therm 500R. I also think an UTH would be better for her digestion but mine didn't work out so well. Maybe I should get another one and the thermostat and try it again.
 
Yes, I think the thermostat is a great idea and am planning to get one. I measure temps on the floor and use a digital thermometer and have a mechanical T Rex, the sticky kind, that I don't stick anywhere but can move around on the floor for spot readings while the digital keeps an eye on the warm side
 
Lights just really make me nervous as a fire hazard. I have one on my torts, but I don't like it...

Nanci
 
I'll have to look up the herpstat I han't seen that one yet. I'm starting to consider trying another heat mat. I think I may have got a bad one. So many people sound like theirs work well.
 
Just a little question about thermometer probes and positioning. It should be under the substrate, above the UTH? How hot should it be ?
 
Jack B said:
Yes, I'm thinking about getting a thermostat even for the lights. The problem with the UTH also was that once I put it on the side of the tank it wasn't really hot. I could hold the back of my hand against it and it was luke warm. Maybe I just got a bad one?
Click to expand...

Your hand is not a thermometer. Since snakes' optimal temperature is much lower than skin temps--unless you have really cold hands--the UTH is not going to feel hot. Even if it feels lukewarm, it still may be warmer than the snake needs. Use a digital thermometer with a probe, and place the probe directly on the glass over the UTH and under the substrate . Oh, and I suggest you put it under the tank rather than on the side. The temps should read around 85 or so.
 
TWGarland said:
Just a little question about thermometer probes and positioning. It should be under the substrate, above the UTH? How hot should it be ?
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the probe is supposed to be in the middle of the UTH, at the closest point the snake could possibly get to it (read: against the glass on the bottom). That way, you're measuring the temp at the absolute hottest point the snake can reach.
 
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