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Temperature trouble

J

JBHerps

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I have checked the manuals, read the faqs, and searched Google but I did not find an answer.


My enclosure is housing a Bearded Dragon, and it measures -


59" L x 22 1/2" W x 39 1/2" T from the inside.


It is being heated completely by a Zoo Med Repticare(R) Ceramic Heat Emitter, which is being controlled by a Honeywell CT62B1015 Thermostat. This winter I have been experiencing dramatic distability in temperature. I calibrated the temperature for 90 F (32 C), which I achieved. Then during the day the temperature would drop at a large rate to 75 F (23 F).


There is a temperature difference in the house, my room stays at 75 F (23 C) while the house is at 70 F (21 C).


What would be the best way to heat this enclosure?


Thank you


JB
 
First check your equipment to make sure there is not a malfunction causing the temp. fluctuation. You can get temp guns from scales.com.

Have you moved the hotspot, either the bulb further away or changed wattage? I know you probably haven't but just making sure. It's possible that your bulb is not functioning properly as well.

Sorry I can't be more help. Any chance of pics of your set up?
 
I measured my heating element 2" away and it measures at 91 F, then the basking spot which is 7" away and it reads 82 F.


I am still using the original heating element, I have not changed wattages recently or moved it's location.


I have prepared pictures of this enclosure their available at "http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/herperjb/my_photos". "Enclosure" contains photos of the lid and where the enclosure is currently located, "Reptiles" has slightly dated photos.
 
For insulation put some styrofoam (the thicker the better) underneath the terrarium and put 2/3 sheets of Aluminium foil under there as well. And put some on the top/sides of the terrarium if you can. But dont cover ventilation holes. This will keep the heat in more.
 
The first thing that comes to my mind, since you mention the problem just started in the winter, is it might have something to do with your apt/house heating system. Perhaps when your heat turns on, that raises the ambient temps in the cage, altering the heat transfer neat the basking spot and raising the temperature of the basking spot. Then your cage thermostat would turn the ceramic heater off, since it's warm enough. But, when your house heat turns off, the CHE is still off and takes a little while to warm up again.

This just a guess, but it's the first thing that pops into my mind given the situation. You could check by regularly taking the cage temps and noting the on/off status of however you heat the house/apt and whole room. If it is the case, maybe move the CHE away from the cage, leave it on 24/7, and suplement it with another type of heater (lamp maybe?) that has a shorter warmup time. The shorter warmup time would help reduce any oscillations, if that's what's happening.

But, like I just said, it's just a guess. However, if the temps aren't oscillating, and just continually cool, then I'm wrong. But it sounds like you're otherwise doing everything right, and you said it just started in the winter, so the house/apt heating system is the first thing I can think of that would have changed.

Just a guess, but worth a shot.

Henry
 
Thank you

Hello,


Thank you all for your help, it is very much appreciated. It turns out that my Ceramic Heat Emitter is not suited as the only heating element for this type of enclosure, so I will be replacing it with a 150 watt Neodymium Daylight Bulb by T-Rex.


JB
 
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