CHE questions

[nesta's mommy]

So I need to get something to keep nesta warmer at night/warm the tank a few more degrees during the day....

i have a few questions...

Is it true CHE's are more likely to catch fire?
Is there any other options other than a CHE for at night?

right now my temps are 72.5 and 97.0 with the digital probe thermometer... its really getting cold here!

 

[nesta's mommy]

or if i could even have some advice on how you all boost your temps that last few degrees if needed....

any and all help/comments would seriously be appreciated!

 

[nesta's mommy]

really, any suggestions at all would be helpful as night temps are dropping pretty low and i don't have heat in the house

 

[npedersen]

higher wattage basking bulb or the addition of a low wattage ceramic heating element

 

[diamc]

Hi, to warm the tank a few degrees during the day, you could raise the basking area a few inches to get a basking temp of 100 to 110 and use a low wattage bulb, even a standard household bulb on the cool side to make the temp around 80 degrees. Or just try a higher wattage basking bulb to see if that will help to raise both the basking & cool side temps, but I think you are going to need a lower wattage bulb on that side.

At night, since you don't have your heat on and if the room temp is dropping close to 65 degrees, you could use a black bulb but make sure it is on the opposite side of the tank from where your beardie sleeps and also make sure that his face is in the opposite direction of the bulb because any light at night can disturb their sleep.

 

[nesta's mommy]

my only problem with raising the basking area is that its an mvb and there is the minimum inches away...

i like the black bulb idea, and that definitely won't harm her sleep?

also, i heard CHE's were a fire risk. is this true?

 

[npedersen]

Treat it like a bulb and your fine. It's no different than a bulb except no light. I wouldn't use a black light at night though. Go with a lunar bulb if you must but again I like total drakness for mine, just my opinion. The CHE's are fine.

Something I do in the winter he is I'll put a space heater next to the cage and pull the cage away from the wall to minimize the draft from the wall. All walls have it, it's just a matter of how much. The space heater helps keep me warm too, LOL. But the CHE uses MUCH LESS energy.

Nick

 

[nesta's mommy]

i have a space heater so that should be good. i didn't know that the walls had drafts, i thought it was just windows... thanks for the advice i really appreciate it.

what kind of fixture do i need for the CHE? a ceramic?

 

[npedersen]

As warm air rises in the central part of the room the cold air sinks at the edges. That is why heat vents are typically placed on the exterior walls so the cold air sinks more centrally to the home. I didn't think about it either until my Heating and Cooling who also has various pets said he thinks about that when he is placing a cage in his home, probrably more technical than it needs to be but hey it sounds logical.

Nick