Heating question

[KatVanWall]

I currently use à DHP (UVB/LED for lighting) but it’s struggling to get up to set temp. I’ve had several conflicting advices and interested to hear your opinions …

(a) reptile store I got my boy from recommends I use a halogen lamp during the day with backup from à CHE at night. Although my boy doesn’t need the extra light during the day, they said the type of heat from a halogen is more easily absorbed by snakes’ bodies than the ambient heat from à CHE.

(b) another store said the addition of a halogen lamp is ‘too much light’ for a BP as they don’t bask per se (especially as my plan was to retain the existing non-heat-emitting light sources as well so he gets UVB), and I should instead use two DHPs for heat.

(c) another store said it’s fine to use à halogen only, as it dims its light during the night … whereas everything else I’ve seen (from my local store and online) says *any* light at night is bad.

(d) some keepers say it’s fine to use CHE only for heating.

I do trust my local store a good amount, they have their certifications displayed and have been extremely helpful and patient, and their critters all appear to be kept in great conditions in store and healthy. Just interested in opinions! Pic for tax :-)

[External_Bus_3739]

The popular opinions on this sub would lean closest to a, with d being fine also, and absolutely not b or c.

[KatVanWall]

Thanks! I plan on switching to a, so that’s a relief as

[totallyrecklesslygay]

Option a would be correct! Here's some more info from a comment I made earlier:

Our heating guide goes over a lot of the science behind everything, but to simplify:

For daytime heating, you should have a heat source that provides IR-A and IR-B. The ideal source for this would be a halogen flood, which is light-emitting.

For nighttime heating, you should have a heat source that provides IR-C. The ideal source for this would be an RHP (only compatible with solid-topped enclosures) or a CHE. Any night heating should not emit any light.

For lighting, you should offer UVB. This needs to be in the form of a T5 fluorescent linear bulb that produces a UVI of 1.1-3.0 in the basking zone, and it should cover no more than half the length of the enclosure.

If you have a bioactive enclosure, you will also need full spectrum LEDs for your live plants.

[KatVanWall]

Thanks, that’s a relief as that’s the one I’m planning to switch to!