Ceramic heaters and mesh

[opstrat]

Hello.

I am setting up my terrarium and have a ceramic heat emitter in a exo Terra dome. Problem is the bulb is slightly longer than the dome so as it sits on the mesh the emitter is actually touching the mesh.

What option's do I have here. Raise the dome above the mesh but not sure how high to still be effective.

 

[MSMorgan]

If you want to use the ceramic, raise it off the screen and then take a temp reading. Adjust accordingly to meet your heat requirements. I just use a regular household light bulb in a dome with a "dimmer dial" on the cord. Works well and I can adjust as necessary.

 

[Venutus1]

Hello.

I am setting up my terrarium and have a ceramic heat emitter in a exo Terra dome. Problem is the bulb is slightly longer than the dome so as it sits on the mesh the emitter is actually touching the mesh.

What option's do I have here. Raise the dome above the mesh but not sure how high to still be effective.

If you want to use the ceramic, raise it off the screen and then take a temp reading. Adjust accordingly to meet your heat requirements. I just use a regular household light bulb in a dome with a "dimmer dial" on the cord. Works well and I can adjust as necessary.

Just two cents.


I agree with what MSMorgan says...
Ceramic heaters are just sort of "eh" ...
If you have a really cool house and need nigh-time heat w/o light, then they are ok.

People don't always realize...
CHE's actually do not project heat downward as good as a flood light incandescent bulb does.
Even in a dome fixture
The heat rises up of them like heat of a radiator. LOL
I wish someone would;d invent a che that shot the heat down into the cage better.


It should not be touching screen, but how high you raise it, if indeed you do need to use it.. will be up to some trial and error testing the basking spot / area you need to warm to the desired temp.
I would start with 2" up off the screen and experiment from there.

BTW,
chams usually do not need any heat at night-- unless you live where it is very cool... or you have a sick animal you want to keep above say 78 degrees 24/7.

An incandescent bulb in your dome light just on days may be a better option.


Here are some bulb tips / insight, I hope it is helpful.


cheers
Todd
www.lightyourreptiles,com

Incandescent light bulb synopsis:

1.
Spot light bulb in a dome-
Spot bulbs focus & create the most narrow beam
This concentrates the heat the most in smaller area-
Not good in smaller cages or with close basking spots.
Only use for distances to hit basking spots FARTHER away.
Otherwise you could get burns if animal is too close but still trying to *skweeze* into tight beam of light/heat to evenly warm its whole body.

2.
Flood light in dome - usually frosted to make nice mellow light.
this is usually a pretty good option...
since flood lights point the light in one direction - but in a softer way with less of a "pin point" hot area than the spot light bulb.
(ie. they "flood" the target area with light and heat.)
Good option in tall-ish cages where heat needs to go down a foot or more to basking spot.

3.
Standard bulb in dome:
most useful --
basically the dome reflects the heat and light out over a broader area.

A 40 - 75w bulb, (wattage may vary depending your cage size and conditions / ambient room temp.) is always a good money saving choice.

In general, you want a daytime basking area of 84 - 90.
This is a must because the animals need to get warmer so their digestive enzymes can properly digest their food.

Even if you are using (and you should be) a linear flo. UVB set up--
ALWAYS USE A DOME and basking bulb.
Even if it is just a 5 inch dome and a 40w bulb.
Why?
Because flo. lights will give off some heat --
BUT fluorescent lights do NOT projected heat downward. (like they need.. you know, sort of like a nice warming shaft of sunlight. )

So always add a dome w/ an incandescent bulb.
Even if they only use it an hour or so a day- or not every day...
They *need to have the option* (as they would in Nature!) to heat up their bodies to digest a big meal or raise body temp. to fight of a pending infection.

Again, basking temp can be say... 84 to 90-ish, tailored to your specific cham species.
In other words....
Please check to fine tune to your animal because different species of chams like it hotter or cooler.

Hope this helps.
Didn't mean to ramble on...
LOL


Todd
www.lightyourreptiles.com

 

[opstrat]

Thanks for the help guys. I stay just outside Glasgow in Scotland so it can get a bit chilly at night. As it is supposed to be the end of summer here, night temps are about 18c and will continue to fall as we near winter.

I will play about with measurements and see what happens.

Todd, I am on my mobile at the moment but there is a few points in your post to ask you about later

 

[opstrat]

Thinking more about it I will ditch the ceramic in favour of standard reflector bulbs. Paired with uvb tube