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What should I go with?

Leafpot

Leafpot

New member
Typically for all you lamp users because that is what I am using.

I've heard and have indeed read every thread and ideas about UTH vs Lamps and that question has been debated to death and back, and have worked out the kinks such as humidity and belly heat along with ambient temperatures for my corn, etc. :smash:

I'm getting a corn snake in a few days and I've been having trouble with a hot spot for it. The warm side doesn't go bellow 80, but also doesn't go above 83 with what I've been using so that's an issue. But then I decided :idea: instead of using a regular bulb, why not get a flood light that's dimmable? That way if it gets hot I can in fact adjust it, as well as angle it more if I need a wider range of heat from the front to the back of the warm side. Not a problem for me.

But the typical "basking lights" I find at pet stores are far more expensive than the flood lights you can get a a hardware store. Both direct heat and both produce light, except one produces UVB/UVA for the reptile, which makes it far more pricey. So I was wondering, I know corn snakes don't need any special lighting, but should I go for the more pricey, or less pricey? I've been hearing quite a bit about how the lifespan of the more pricey ones don't tend to last, so I was personally leaning more towards the cheaper ones even thought they don't produce anything special other than light and heat.

I also read that people use Mercury vapor bulbs which produce UVB/UVA lighting and heat, but I find those are no different from the basking bulbs, just with a different name from what I've researched, as well as the fact their life span doesn't seem to be that great either.

So, what are your opinions on which one I should choose? :shrugs:
 
You already know how most of us lamp users feel. Get a ceramic heat bulb. They are a little more expensive but they waaaaaay outlast other bulbs, produce no light, produce a penetrating radiant heat, get more than warm enough to adjust with a dimmer and are just overall a better lamp option than most other bulbs.
 
Sigh hahaha. Forgot allll about that.
Let me rephrase: I need a bulb that produces LIGHT and HEAT which ceramic heat bulbs do not.
 
Why do you need light? The light from your room should be more than adequate to see your snake.
 
Shiari said:
Why do you need light? The light from your room should be more than adequate to see your snake.
Click to expand...

Let me explain hahah.

1) I am not using a UTH. Simply because I do not have the correct size, nor do I have a thermostat to regulate it. I do not wish to spend excessive amounts of money to fix the problem either when lights work just as well for a snake. I have indeed read all the things people say and reasons for not trusting them but it is just what I am doing.

2) the room I have indeed placed my snake tank doesn't get much to any light whatsoever, and I don't feel like leaving the overhead light on for the snake. -Which I mean I could but the bulb functions as a heat source for the snake, not just a light. I can get the bulbs for far cheaper, and serve the same function as a basking light/heat emitter that produce light.

3) Sure if I got a ceramic heat bulb I could leave the overhead light on yeah, but a heat emitter is more expensive by a little bit, but it's just a preference thing. Besides I wont necessarily need a dimmer for the floodlight, as I can adjust the height of it and angle as need be, considering also the location of the tank.
 
Potentially. With the bulb I was originally using it maxed out at 83F, and it was just not getting any hotter after leaving it on for well over 12+ hours, which is my reasoning for getting a new bulb.

If I do need a dimmer of some sort, then I will in fact get one. That's still hovering in my mind:)
 
Do whatever you want to do... but unless your snake room is pitch black 24/7 there's really no need for any form of extra light. They sleep during the day, heck the lower light volume might make for a more secure less stressed snake. As long as you hit appropriate temperatures and humidity though, just use whatever you want (except a uv creating light, snakes don't need it and it has been known to damage eyes). Sounds like your mind is pretty made up on the floodlight since you've rebutted just about every option and alternative presented. So like I said, as long as you can achieve proper temps and humidity, run with it.
 
You have said you have settled on using a bulb, but you can't get it to reach the temps needed for the snake. I don't think there is a question here, look for an alternative heating method.

You don't need to leave a light on for the snake. That's only for the folks looking for a Motel 6. Snakes "see" with their tongues: "the only blind snake is a snake with no tongue" (quoted by Chip or Dave, I believe).

And like Shiari said, you still need a thermostat to control the temps. Why so closed minded when it comes to UTHs? It would be great for you to have a bulb setup if it worked for you, but since it is not please do what is best for the snake.
 
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