Heating Issues

[Kerri21]

Hello Everyone:

I am having some heat source issues in my terrarium lately and am looking for suggestions. I was using a wire cage lamp with a ceramic bulb (250 watts) but something wrong happened with it and both broke (the bulb basically broke and broke the wire lamp where it attached to the bulb). I din't think this would happen as the wire lamp that I bought was large enough to hold the 250 watt bulb. Anyway, I am not sure if I want to go this route again. Partly because I don't want the same thing to happen again, and partly because I feel like a lot of the heat escapes through the wire caging. I also have had an issue in the past with the red heat bulbs, they usually burn out within 2 weeks or so. I need to keep my terrarium warm because I live in Ontario Canada, and I cannot control the heat in my apartment so it is usually colder than I would like it to be for my red footed tortoise. The 250 watt ceramic bulb seemed to be warm enough, I am using an old 150 watt ceramic bulb right now and it isn't quite as warm as I would like it to be. I need something that directs the heat down and doesn't let it escape, but also won't burn out quickly. Any suggestions would be great .

 

[lismar79]

I have these
http://www.ruralking.com/woods-brooder-light-10-5-shade-with-clamp-6ft-cord-0166.html
And a powersun mercury vapor bulb and have never had that problem.
You probably need to get something all enclosed to keep jeat and humidity in.

 

[wellington]

Did your fixture have a ceramic socket? Heat emitters hardly ever stop working. You may have to use two smaller CHE for night time heat. During the day, I would use a mvb and then a CHE if more heat is needed. All of these need to be in a ceramic socket.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Kerri, and welcome to the Forum!

I don't ever use anything hotter than 100 watts. When using the ceramic heat emitters (CHE) you need to be sure to screw them into a fixture that has a ceramic base, not a plastic base, as they get very hot. The ceramic can take the heat, but the Bakelite (plastic) can't.

I heat my house with a wood stove, so sometimes it gets pretty cold in here. What I've done to help keep the little indoor habitats warm is to cover them with aluminum foil (cooking foil). I fold a couple pieces of foil together to make one big piece then I drape it over the whole thing, lights and all, and tuck it around the edge of the habitat. It doesn't look all that pretty, but it works to keep the cool house air out and the warm air in.

 

[Kerri21]

I believe my fixture did have a ceramic socket but I will have to go back and take a second look. The aluminum foil is an interesting idea..thanks.

 

[Natasha]

Hi Yvonne,
I am planning on doing your foil method until we build enclosure, my little one got runny nose today just being in open tub with heat lamps. So I got very worried and searched tons of postings. Your lights are right under the foil, correct?