bennybbc
New member
Hi all,
I'm new to this forum and in the next few days will be new
to Skinks. I've raised various snakes for quite a few years
and have never had any heating problems with them. I
understand that I need to have a warm end and cooler end
to the cage but do I need to use a heat lamp/ceramic heat
emitter or will a heat mat on one end work fine? If overhead
heat is the best way to go I'd prefer to use one of the
ceramic "Bulbs". They don't *need* light do they? I will
have florescent light during the day. I've read and heard
that BTS's don't need a full spectrum light source but is this
true? Also, what about dropping the heat at night on the
warm end to match the temp on the cooler end? Should I
keep the warm end at the same temp 24/7 or drop it at night?
It would be nice to just put the warm end on a timer as well
as the light source but if necessary I'll keep the temperature
constant either with below tank heat or with a ceramic heat
emitter.
Lots of questions regarding heating and light sources but I
really believe in doing it right. My snakes are and always have
been very healthy and I want the same for my new Skink.
With all of the info I've found on a few care sheets I don't think
I've seen any of my questions fully answered. This will be my
6 year old son's first reptile that he will call his own. Don't
tell him but I want it more than he does! ;~}
Thanks in advance for any and all advice. From what I've
read this looks like a friendly forum.
Bruce
Redding, California
I'm new to this forum and in the next few days will be new
to Skinks. I've raised various snakes for quite a few years
and have never had any heating problems with them. I
understand that I need to have a warm end and cooler end
to the cage but do I need to use a heat lamp/ceramic heat
emitter or will a heat mat on one end work fine? If overhead
heat is the best way to go I'd prefer to use one of the
ceramic "Bulbs". They don't *need* light do they? I will
have florescent light during the day. I've read and heard
that BTS's don't need a full spectrum light source but is this
true? Also, what about dropping the heat at night on the
warm end to match the temp on the cooler end? Should I
keep the warm end at the same temp 24/7 or drop it at night?
It would be nice to just put the warm end on a timer as well
as the light source but if necessary I'll keep the temperature
constant either with below tank heat or with a ceramic heat
emitter.
Lots of questions regarding heating and light sources but I
really believe in doing it right. My snakes are and always have
been very healthy and I want the same for my new Skink.
With all of the info I've found on a few care sheets I don't think
I've seen any of my questions fully answered. This will be my
6 year old son's first reptile that he will call his own. Don't
tell him but I want it more than he does! ;~}
Thanks in advance for any and all advice. From what I've
read this looks like a friendly forum.
Bruce
Redding, California
