Lighting/heating

[GypsyRose]

Ok guys,
I need alittle help. I know this topic has been covered to death, as it seems to be a topic of confusion for us newbies. I have my father in law for aweek and he is making a nice wooden enclosure for my gorgeous lil Stimmie. The only part we havent figured out is the heating and lighting. We have a heat cord at the moment that is attached to a tile and runs under one half of her click clack. But this new enclosure is obviously bigger for her to 'Grow up' in so to speak. Im worried that with a bigger enclosure she wont get the heat she needs.
Also we wanted some lights as it will be a feature in our home. Im sure this was a thread in here somewhere that mentioned Bunnings and down lights? Id like some lights that can be set flush for her own safety. I want her to get the required heat she needs but also kept safe.
Can someone pls help me and point me in the right direction for both these points pls?
Totally appreciate all your advice.

 

[Cambart1991]

i have two spotteds so the heating should be the same. correct me someone if im wrong please, but i have a ceramic globe with cage over the top of a rock at one end and a heat mat under the other end. my tank is a 3ft. hope this help as for down lights i guess u could place some aluminuim fly mesh over the lights so she doesnt touch them. that just my opinion

 

[the jungle guy]

IMO use a cermic heater with a cage, and heat mat at the same end so you have heat gradient otherwise you have heat mat one end and heat light the other end there is no heat gradient is there, and for light just use a energy saving light with a cage aswell and your done oh also goes without saying all heat sources must be thermostated,

downlights are good provide nice heat looks neat as they flush mount. downside is they are known to blow when they die, hence why they have the safety glass there over the halogen bulb BUT ive sein many of times where the safety glass has broken with the glass sending hot shards everywhere not good for a snake enclosure, something to take into account when using it, also halogen bulbs dont like to be turned on/off/on/off so dimming thermostat would be needed here best options still it a ceramic ES flat base, ceramic heat emitter and wire cage,

thats my 2 cents

 

[Profanicus]

For display lighting consider using LED strip lights ... search for "Ikea Dioder" for example.

They stick inside the enclosure pretty flush, take up minimal space, are low power, low heat, won't shatter and last ages. You can switch between 7 colours if you get the more expensive multicolour ones.

Note that I don't actually have these yet, but I plan to be using them inside my enclosure when it is finished being built!

 

[GypsyRose]

Awesome advice guys. Thanks!

 

[Megzz]

My 2 cents just because from memory I think your stimmie is around the same age as mine? (5-6months?) Mine is in a 900mmx600x600 enclosure with a 75W heat globe at one end, and the temps are fine for him.

 

[the jungle guy]

thats a interesting comment Profanicus havent seen the led strips but keen to look into that i like when things in nice enclosures sit flush makes it look really neat, i tottaly forgot about the LEDS how dare i lol

you can get LEDS in the form of the ES bulb cost more then the energy effeicnt bulbs, last a heap longer, brighter, use even less power, and they contain NO mercury so the extra is worth it straight up cost more in the begginng save a heap more in the long run

 

[ralliart3]

Dont own a stimmie (so I dont know if they are nocturnal) but our MD usaully comes out at night,so find a infared globe to be usefull to view him.He also has a fluro for day night cycle but you can bet your bottom dollar that when the fluro comes on he goes and hides.Just my preference.