| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| james.g |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 13:56:10
hi,
i have just been brought a royal that i've wanted for years, but having a query on the tank set up. we have the humidity ok at 55 - 60%, cold end 24 and warm end is 32. we were told by the seller to turn off heat bulb at night to make the enviroment more realistic and cooler for him. is this right because if we do this, the temperature drops to 22/23 degrees and the humidity rises to 75 or slightly more, which worries me. any advice anyone would be really appreciated. thanks |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Cookie |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 10:32:47
I had replied before seeing your last post. Good luck with your new Royal dude :) |
| Cookie |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 10:28:19
Hi James.q
I am only after finding out all this info too the other day on here and got some brilliant advice. One of the members Chrisc gave me some really good info and links, and Im only after buying my ceramin bulb, pp stat etc last night following his advice. I've copied and pasted it below fyi.
chrisc;
if you dont want the IR then use a ceramic as said
ceramic bulb
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150-WATT-CERAMIC-HEAT-BULB-LAMP-ES-FIT-REPTILE-/270825873378?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&hash=item3f0e7adfe2
ceramic bulb holder
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CERAMIC-VIVARIUM-HEAT-BULB-LIGHT-LAMP-HOLDER-REPTILE-/220745245960?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&hash=item3365712508
dimmer stat
http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/habistat-dimming-thermostat-600w.html
pp stat
http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/habistat-pulse-proportional-thermostat-600w.html
both of these will be fine for ceramic bulbs
digital thermometer x2 hot a cool end
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-LCD-Thermometer-Reptile-Vivarium-/280774767435?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&hash=item415f7af34b
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| james.g |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 10:13:19
hi, thanks alot for your help. we now have the infa red bulb with the habistat dimmer!! hopefully sorted now - finally!!!! |
| Fezza |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 20:25:54
Of your going to be using a ceramic it's perfect. If your using a red light it'll give you a disco effect! Not cool
Decide on your new bulb, of youre going IR or red get an on/off or dimming stat. Ceramic is best with a pulse |
| carlb1981 |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 20:20:32
That would be ok for a ceramic bulb in my opinion the habistat dimmer stat is better as you can use this with ir and ceramic bulbs |
| james.g |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 20:09:03
Me again, I have seen a Habistat pulse proportional thermostat, would this be OK |
| james.g |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 18:42:59
wow that's an amazing difference. those places and makes are really handy to know thanks.the tank is ok and kitted up for now. will change the bulb and get the stat asap. thanks alot for all your help! i'll let you know how i get on with the new temp set up! thanks again |
| Fezza |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 18:23:59
Truth be told I've never seen an exo terra stat. Not sure they do one (could be wrong) a lot of the stuff for reptiles (all brands) I find over priced.
Hides I get from John Berry's big world reptiles site. They're simple black plastic, easy to clean and do a great job in the racks for £5. Any fake plants come from dunelm mill for £4 and water bowls from a local pet shop for £3.
I've done the "spending more on a water bowl and hide than on the actual animal" thing many times before now. Granted, what I use may not look the most "natural" but they work and the snakes care |
| james.g |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 18:07:36
you dont list exo terra - not too good ? |
| james.g |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 18:06:51
to be honest i feel a bit out of my league with it all. i thought i had it fairly sorted what with the temp and humidity being ok in the day..now i'm not too sure what the best thing to do. maybe swop for an infared and get the stat. see what happens then? |
| Fezza |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 18:04:22
I'd be avoiding that shop again if I were you, I think as long as you stick to the main brand stats (microclimate, lucky reptile, habistat or Komodo) it doesn't matter where you by it from.
Tbh, habistat, microclimate and Komodo all seem to offer the same thing in a different box! If price is a key issue then a basic on/off stat will do just fine. Avoid the cheaper matstats if you're running a bulb as they're designed to run low wattage heat mats, not bulbs
The lucky reptile stats are feature packed and have a digital display which is great if you have some experience but can be a bit daunting if your new to all this |
| james.g |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 17:54:28
it's a shame cause we've always used them. have 3 leopard geccos and always been to them for food etc. might only go to them for food now... |
| james.g |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 17:50:17
yea we said bout e bay and they said no cause it wont work after 2 months. just wanna do right by him. mind you he's real laid back. only been in viv 48 hours yesterday and he scoffed a lovely big mouse last night... |
| Fezza |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 17:46:37
Argh! I hate it when shops either don't sell you stuff you need, give you ****e advice or over charge for stuff you do need.
I went to find a stat locally the other day to run my rack off, £67 for a lucky reptile thermocontrol pro2!?! I got one off eBay for less than £30
A local reptile shop you can trust is a valuable commodity ;) |
| james.g |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 17:38:58
wow thats really handy. shop was trying to sell me one for 60 quid. spent bout 350 on snake and set up so far so couldn't do it straight away. no, snake can't get to light so hopefully that's ok. may send you pic of light set up just for a bit of reassurance later if ok. will swop bulb for infared asap and order stat tonight. didn't panic bout it cause it doesn't seem to heat up any higher than 33!! was turning it off at night then, but wont now! thanks so much!! |
| Fezza |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 17:33:31
Cool, we all love pics
So long as your snake can't come into contact with the bulb and holder everythings sweet. Add a stat ASAP, more for piece of mind then anything else.
Surrey pet supplies do a stat for about £30 delivered. Cheapest around I've found |
| james.g |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 17:25:26
that's great thank you loads!! we have the metal tray thing that sits inside the hole cut out, on the top of the viv.is that a suitable guard as the tank is not high enough to install the same as what you have- even though it looks great! i know the snakes can burn themselves and this heat set up is completely outside the top just shining down through a metal mesh tray. can i keep the ceramic bulb holder for the infared too. we have not got the thermastat yet - i know it is needed, but the temp hasn't risen above 33 degrees. was just worried bout the temp and safety at night. thanks alot for your help. he's sooooo lovely. i'll post pic of tank and eric asap!! |
| Fezza |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 17:08:47
Hey don't worry, everybody has to start somewhere
Royals have no specific requirements for uv light. The minerals and vitamins that other reptiles and mammals get from sunlight (uv) your snake will get from its prey
Both ceramic and IR bulbs require two components to make them safe to use, these are
1)a thermostat
2)a guard
The stat will maintain the correct temp for the well being of your animal and the guard will keep your snake from coming into contact with anything hot enough to cause injury. Snakes don't sense heat like you or I so can easily inflict horrid burns to themselves without noticing. Assuming you have those basic requirements in place either heat source can be run 24/7 without issue
Bellow is a pic of my viv setup showing bulb, guard, warm side hide (Rigel is inside) and the thermostat probe ( small black thing behind the hide)
Hope that helps |
| james.g |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 16:28:25
ok thanks. we went for the white light as they recommended we didn't have a uv. are they ok then with no light at all, just the heat. if so i'll check out the other type bulbs asap. are they safe enough to leave on 24/7 then. the metal dish that holds the ceramic bulb holder, seems to get quite hot. sorry for the questions - proper newbie me!! |
| Fezza |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 16:00:50
IMHO your royal would be better with infra red or ceramic bulb. Royals are nocturnal so won't really appreciate a bright light during night hours
Both ceramic and IR bulbs give of no visible light so won't disrupt the snakes sense of day/night
That may explain why the seller recommended you turn the white light off over night |
