Keeping Cages Warm during winter

[csmolins89]

Just wondering if anyone has any advice in keeping your chams warm during winter months. Where I am located it is currently 0 degrees F out and in my apartment its consistently 66 degrees. My cham has been sitting under his heat lamp more and more and I have been noticing that burns are starting to form on his back. This is stressing me out because I do not know how to warm up the cage enough so that he isn't sitting under the heat lamp all day. I have treated the burns but I am trying my hardest to prevent more from forming. Anyone got any tips or suggestions?

 

[Montium]

Raise the heating source and buy a temp gun. Make sure the hottest point in the cage can't get to a temp that can deliver a burn.

 

[csmolins89]

Raise the heating source and buy a temp gun. Make sure the hottest point in the cage can't get to a temp that can deliver a burn.

I check the temp constantly with a temp gun. It doesn't go higher than 90 typically. I will try and raise the light and see if that helps

 

[Mike Fisher]

He's getting thermal shock. That's when the cage is cold but you have a concentrated heat source. They'll stay under the light and get burned but still be cold.

If you are using a screen cage, you should cover the back and sides to hold in more heat.

 

[csmolins89]

He's getting thermal shock. That's when the cage is cold but you have a concentrated heat source. They'll stay under the light and get burned but still be cold.



If you are using a screen cage, you should cover the back and sides to hold in more heat.

I have three sides covered with plastic already. Would you suggest something heavier ?

 

[Mike Fisher]

I have three sides covered with plastic already. Would you suggest something heavier ?

Make sure his cage is not in a drafty area. What type of bulb do you have in there? If it is a spot light, switch it out for a flood or a normal house type bulb. Spot lights concentrate the heat more and cause burning.

 

[csmolins89]

Make sure his cage is not in a drafty area. What type of bulb do you have in there? If it is a spot light, switch it out for a flood or a normal house type bulb. Spot lights concentrate the heat more and cause burning.

I have a standard heating bulb from the pet store. I am getting a incandescent bulb today. I raised the light about six more inches off the top of the cage to lower the chances of him getting burned more. Before I left for work I put a towel on the side of the cage that points to a window I'm hoping that helps keep the warmth in. I plan on putting towels on all three sides to better insulate the cage. I even thought about buying a small space heater and placing in towards the cage but I am extremely cautious about doing so because of it being a fire hazard, and not knowing if that would be overkill or not. This is my first winter with my cham so this is all new for me and I feel completely terrible that he has burns because of it.

 

[JamesBryan]

You could get a second bulb at a lower wattage and use it to raise the ambient temperature of the enclosure.

 

[werecat]

I use a portable electric heater, but it is the "oil-filled radiator" style. I believe these are safer for running all day than the forced air type. We run ours all day on some of the colder days in winter and use it when we go out of town at Christmas time. It's worked really well. Ours has a built-in digital timer and thermostat so we can set it to go on for only part of the day and also set the temperature. The timer has been very reliable and overall it's a solid unit.

We have this one and got it for a reasonable price at Lowes:
http://m.lowes.com/pd/DeLonghi-Oil-Filled-Radiant-Tower-Electric-Space-Heater-with-Thermostat-and-Energy-Saving-Setting/3262151

Also, you should get some Silvadene cream to treat the burns ASAP. Definitely try the ideas others have posted too.

 

[fluxlizard]

Hey werecat- just a heads up, our fire department several years ago claimed those oil filled heaters started a lot of fires.

Supposedly a new and safer option are the new infrared style heaters. They use less energy also supposedly and can heat a much larger area. Also they are cool to the touch so if something falls on one it is safe and have auto shutoff if they are bumped or knocked over.

Lilly's has one for $125 that I am using in my home- it is doing an outstanding job- though I haven't gotten my first power bill yet to see if the claims of costing only $1 a day to run are true, but I am heating 1600 sq feet with one set on economy mode- it keeps the place around 70 according to the thermometer on the wall.

In college a 250 watt, red infrared heat lamp placed over a water monitor's enclosure kept my entire tiny apartment warm... LOL

 

[fluxlizard]

Can you put the cage in front of a sunny south-facing window?

 

[csmolins89]

Can you put the cage in front of a sunny south-facing window?

My apartment does not have any windows that face that direction and lately where I live we haven't had a sunny day in over a week

 

[junglefries]

Qjick tip: keep cage at highest point of room. Heat rises and will pool near the ceiling.

 

[csmolins89]

Qjick tip: keep cage at highest point of room. Heat rises and will pool near the ceiling.

I have the cage on a stand that raises it up about 15inches off the ground so I have that covered

 

[werecat]

Fluxlizard, thanks for the heads up about oil-filled radiators. Good to know. I'll have to look into the infared types.

 

[csmolins89]

I found a good solution. Got an adjustable fan that has a heater on it. Giving me the option to point it in a specific direction. I'll set it on low and boom heating issue taken care of . I also purchased a pack of house hold bulbs, Should I keep the light raised or is the household bulb flooded enough to not burn?