I have had a viv for about 4 months now and I have a ceramic bulb in a ceramic fitting. The area ABOVE the ceramic bulb fitting on top of the viv has started to swell a bit and crack slightly.

Obviously I don't want to ruin the new viv so has anyone any ideas how I can stop the heat cracking the bulb?

The ceramic might be getting to hot for the wood and warping it?

Solution will probably be to take the bulb out and try a different method of heating.

there has got to be a way of using the ceramic tho, loads of people do the same!

how amny other way can you heat a 5 x 2 x 2 viv without using a ceramic ,red bulb or heatmats

Lower the temp or increase the space between bulb and top of viv.
What woods the viv made from?

I use Microclimate AHS heaters for my big vivs.

tin foil above the light/bulb should reflect heat/light.

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A reflector sounds ideal!

You need to insulate the ceramic bulb holder from the viv. roof in some way. I assume it is connected/screwed direct to the roof so you need to put something in between to insulate and reflect the heat downwards.
Graham.

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Either use the heat shield from here:
Custom Guards - Herpetology ceramic heater and spotlight guards

Or do what I do - get a UV tube reflector, flatten it out and cut a square off and fix this between the bulb holder and the wood. Job done

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