[Temperature] Your favorite heating method?

Your favorite heating method? · 02-09-2010, 12:20 AM

I've purchased a 160 gallon aquarium... it's 6' long and about 3' high. What's your favorite heating source? I've heard complaints about the ceramic screw-in lightbulb type of heat sources due to burns, and I've heard people say to never use a heat rock. So what works? 11' RTB is going to be singly-housed in this big aquarium.

Reyes81487 · #2 02-09-2010, 02:23 AM

i like using those purple night bulbs and a simple heating pad for belly heat. **** 11' thats huge. please post some pics, i love big snakes.

bterrill · #3 02-09-2010, 03:30 AM

I'd probably look in to buying flexwatt for this. Belly heat is easier to do on aquariums. I'm not a big fan of light heaters and remember you don't want a screentop so those won't work well anyways unless you can put them inside the actual tank and then you'll need to worry about burns.

Any UTH is probably best for this, but be sure to get a thermostat also. You don't want to just plug in any heat source and let it run straight off the wall.

zamora · #4 02-09-2010, 07:08 AM

Aquariums are extremely difficult to control heat and humidity in--I speak from experience. However, having said this, I retrofitted an aquarium which was a lot of work but I am totally satisfied with the results. Heat and humidity are easily maintained but I warn you---it is work to put something like this together. See the thread below...

Retrofitted Caging

Good luck!

HopingForBabies · #5 02-09-2010, 07:59 AM

I would use an Ultratherm. You can get a good size one. You should make a top for the tank to hold in the heat.

kingsnake.com Classifieds: Ultratherm Heat Pads - There is no better under tank heater!

MLynch · #6 02-09-2010, 01:59 PM

Right now I have glass cages, so I'm digging overhead incandescent lights (outside of cage) (white during the day and red/nocturnal bulbs at night) and heat rope under the cage. Between the two I can maintain a good temp range in the cage ...I'm really liking the heat rope! ...Way more than UTH Mats.

However for larger plastic cages (Boaphiles, Reptile Basics, Pro-Line, etc) I like RHPs, and that's the way I'm going to go when I step up to plastic cages this coming summer.

GreenConstrictors · #7 02-09-2010, 03:16 PM

Flexwatt all the way baby, and I recommend a plexiglass lid to keep the humidity up, all bulbs and panels will dry your cage out, then causing future problems.

Ectotherm1 · #8 02-10-2010, 01:57 PM

Flexwatt or an Ultratherm UTH.
I really like Ultratherms because they come in all different sizes and don't get too hot.