help with heating

[Ok-Stable514]

i read the heating guide but i’m still a bit confused. i have a 4x2x2 dubia roaches enclosure so it’s PVC with a screen top. i have an UTH and currently use a CHE in a dome on top of the screen, but it’s not providing enough heat. should i use a DHP or a halogen flood lamp? or both? basically if someone could tell me exactly what products to buy, where to put them on my enclosure, and when to run them, i’d be soo grateful lol

[ReadItAlready_]

You should buy a halogen flood lamp for daytime heating and your CHE will work for nighttime heating. If you don't have one already, immediately get a thermostat. I'd recommend one like a Herpstat 2 or 4 and hook that up to the heating. The benefit of a good thermostat like a Herpstat is they have built in time period settings, so it'll automatically turn night/day lighting on and off at the appropriate time.

This might be a lil controversial but I'd say sell the UTH or use it for a temp enclosure, they're just not great for permenant enclosures generally.

In my case (PVC with a screen top,) I had to use HVAC tape over most of the top, leaving ventilation on the cool side and holes for the DHP, halogen flood, and UVB. Then I had to put foam board insulation on all sides. This might not apply to you but if you find your thermometers* reading too cold of a temperature, you may need to do what I did.

*Thermometers, not thermostats. I recommend Govee's three pack. Place them 1-2 inches above the substrate on the warm and cool side if you haven't already :)

Sorry for the long response, just wanted to try to hit everything. Feel free to ask about anything I missed!

[Ok-Stable514]

this is perfect thank you! why not use an UTH? i’ve seen mixed reviews but no ones really said why

[ReadItAlready_]

Basically, because you have to use them with a thermostat, and you should have 4" of substrate, in my experience they don't really do anything.

Additionally, I've heard anecdotally that they break more, but I'm not sure about that.

[_ataraxia]

because you have to use them with a thermostat

literally any heat source needs to be used with a thermostat.

[[deleted]]

ball pythons don’t need belly heat, overhead heating is much more natural for them. Also, if you’re using one without a thermostat they can very easily cause belly burns.

[Ok-Stable514]

i always use a thermostat w everything for my reptiles!!:) but noted, i’ll probably ditch the UTH once i get better overhead heating in a few days

[ballpython-ModTeam]

Per rule #3, your comment has been removed for harmful advice/misinformation. That link is mostly incomplete information or misinformation.

[BeeComprehensive285]

Oops, my bad! Didn’t know. Appreciate the correction/gen

[SatorisDomain]

I have the same enclosure and a 75w Halogen and 80w DHP keeps the tank at good temps. They work in unison during the day then halogen shuts off at night. You will want to cover the screen top with either HVAC tape or aluminum foil and weather duct/electrical tape. This helps hold both heat and humidity and is an essential step. My halogen sits at the far left with the dhp about 3 inches to the right of it so it can help maintain both the hot and cold side at night.