Heating large enclosures - How to guide.

[murinus]

where do you get your light fittings from ? i cant find screw fittings like yours ? great post by the way

[trejones]

very helpful post thanks

[Varanus guy]

Good post mate at first I struggled with heating large enclousres (dunno if i spelt it write lol) and it took me soooo long to get it write

[eeji]

when i had my iggy, i used heat tubes from screwfix direct as the primary heat source, they kept the perfect temperature

these:
Creda Suntube 180W Tube Convector Commercial Heater - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

connected together with a few of these kits:
Creda Suntube Interlocking Kit - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

[=)Al=)]

Thanks alot that was a very usefull post!

[metalgod]

How much does it cost to keep a Bosc each month? Food, bedding etc... and what size viv does an adult need, and how much do THEY cost?
I'm contemplaiting buying one but I'm not too rich so I don't know if I'll be able to afford one :o/

Also, is it likely to eat my cat????

[lucaswilb]

The other thing i have used to keep the general and night time temperature up is a greenhouse tube heater. fairly economical and comes with handy cage to cover it.

just a suggestion

[Grayspoon]

I will soon be adding the heating for my new viv... its 44 inches wide x 5ft tall and 24 inches deep... Of cousre the basking spot temps will be easy at the top from basking lamps... However heating the rest and at night I am unsure of... I was considering a 250W ceramic on a stat mounted on the roof.. Hiowever this may cause some issues where its to hot at the top and much to cold in the base... I will require at least 80 in the coldest part as its for an iggy...

I have used those screwfix tubes in another viv before... perhaps I could add one lower down on a seperate stat to keep the temps consistant? OR would the ceramic be enough alone?

Thaughts / suggestions please

[jason-knott]

hi,i have a pair of b/montiers about 3ft long and very tame.what the size of yours?jay,jason-knott@live.co.uk.

[murrindindi]

Hi, this is a great piece of advice, but have you ever used or considered using Metal Halide bulbs? they give an excellent quality light,and are cheap to run, (I mean in conjunction with the other heat/lights source) London zoo use these in most of their reptile enclosures. Regarding the use of U.V lighting, there have been a couple of studies which show the use of lamps like the "powersuns" etc. have a beneficial effect on Varanid species, although they don`t come close compared to natural sunlight.
At present I have a Varanus ornatus, TL.225 cm., mass 21kilos, I`ve had him for 12years, since a 32cm. baby, he`s ridiculously tame!
Regards,
Stefan l
P.S You can now buy self-ballested Metal Halides