Ceramic Heat Emitter Question

Pendulum · #1 08-30-2004, 07:37 PM

After a few burned-out bulbs and fluctuating temperatures, I decided to go with a 100 watt ceramic heat emitter to use in conjunction with my UTH. I have a 29 gallon long tank which currently houses my boa. My question is: How far from above my tank should I place the emitter? Can I put it face down on the screen top? (in it’s dome fixture) At the highest basking point (on a branch), that would put it about seven inches away from my snake…(if he chooses to bask there) and a total of about 17.5 inches off the aspen substrate. Or should I use the clip to raise it higher than the screen lid of the tank?

Thanx

Pendulum · #2 08-30-2004, 08:03 PM

Correction... If i place the CHE flat on the top of the cage (in it's dome) the actual device is about 8 or 9 inches off the highest basking point... Because it's set back about two inches into the dome... So the lip of the dome fixture is right on the screen lid about 6 to 7 inches off the highest basking branch. A thermometer in the tank in the center of the basking area (between the heat emitter on top and the UTH/substrate below) reads about 90 right now... but im continually monitoring it for changes because i have only had the CHE on for about 45 min.

MatRivera · #3 08-30-2004, 08:23 PM

do you have a thermostat controling your heat....?

Pendulum · #4 08-30-2004, 08:28 PM

No... Im having two installed on my boaphile cage but don't have one on my current setup. Im a bartender at a nightclub so i can be home almost every day except for weekend nights though... So i have been constantly monitoring the heat levels in the cage. They have yet to go above 95... maybe not even TO 95... I live in chicago and it's drafty here. That's the main reason im going for the boaphile.

MatRivera · #5 08-30-2004, 08:39 PM

ok...the boaphile thermostats are top notch!

Pendulum · #6 08-30-2004, 09:12 PM

I placed a thermometer right on the branch in question and got a temp reading of about 96% after an hour. I decided this was too warm and raised the CHE off the screen top about 3 more inches. This should bring the temp down. Im trying to get it at no higher than 94 or 95.

Also... my snake has plenty of other places he can go in the cage that are much cooler. With all these options, will he know to move from a spot if he feels too hot? He seems to move back and forth between the hottest part of the basking area and another (slightly cooler) branch area in the middle of the tank that is about half way too the cool side....