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In this
article I'm going to try and explain why I prefer to use ceramic heating
elements to other forms of heating.
All forms of heating should be controlled by a thermostat and protected
by a suitable guard
Light
bulbs
Advantages - easy to obtain, cheap to purchase and easy to change when
they blow
Disadvantages - if run on a mechanical type of stat the bulb will flash
on and off causing stress. If run on an electronic stat an expensive
dimmer type unit must be used, (except microclimate mini 300), if you
use a pulse proportional or standard unit these will fail. You will
need to use coloured type bulbs so that the vivarium is not brightly
illuminated at night. Light bulb can blow at any time so they are very
unreliable to be left i.e. when you go away on holiday or for a few
days.
Heat
mats & strips
Advantages - easy to obtain and fairly cheap, very reliable. You don't
have any problems of stray light as you can have with light bulbs.
Disadvantages - low power output. The problem comes during the winter
in the early hours of the morning when the room temperature is at the
lowest. The temperature outside may be below freezing and that makes
our room temperature fall, to say, the low 50s. If you, for example,
are keeping a tropical reptile in your vivarium that needs to be kept
at about 78of at night. If your room temperature is about 50of and your
vivarium needs to be at 78of do you think in all that a heat mat that
is rated at about 12 - 30 watts could raise the temperature through
out your vivarium by almost 30of?
Powerplates
Advantages - easy to install and purchase, very reliable
Disadvantages - as with the heat mats it's output is low, only 50 watts,
so in larger vivariums you will have the problem of maintaining vivarium
temperature in the winter. You could get over the problem by installing
several units, however this would be expensive.
Tubular
greenhouse heater
Advantages - easy to install, will warm the vivarium very easily
Disadvantages - can cause hygiene and odour problems if the faeces can
come into contact with the heater unit. Problems can occur if the reptile
can lie on the guard unit. This may get quite hot and burn the occupant.
Sloughing can also be a small problem if the animal's oil dries up while
laying on the heater unit. In extreme cases the animal may die if the
reptile overheats while laying on heater unit.
Ceramic
elements
Ceramic elements come in two forms. The 'bulb' type (E.S.E.) and the
trough type (F.T.E. or H.T.E.)
The photographs below shows the difference between the two styles of
elements.
These two unit have a different ways they work. The E.S.E. or bulb type
unit is 'spot' type heaters. You hang them over the spot or small area
you need to warm. Being a spot type heater these are ideal for basking
animal. If you need a 'hot' spot in your vivarium this is the type of
heater unit you need. The trough unit is a 'flood' style heater unit.
Its job is to warm an area rather than the spot of heat as you get with
an E.S.E.unit. A trough unit mounted in the vivarium roof should easily
heat a vivarium of 4ft long by 2ft wide by 2ft height.
E.S.E.
ceramic type heater units
Advantages - ideal for basking area. Splash proof
Disadvantages - short life span, usually this type of heater unit only
last 2 - 3 years. The temperature under the heater can be difficult
to control even with a thermostat. If reflector unit is used this also
needs to be protected from any animal that may be able to touch it.
Very difficult to use as heater unit for a large area. High temperature
melting point wire must be used when connecting mains to this unit
Trough
type ceramic heater units
Advantages - very long life span (over 10 years +). Splash proof. Ideal
for heating larger enclosers. Small vivariums can be safely heated with
one of the lower wattage elements. Quite cheap to purchase. Having the
power available when the lower room temperatures of winter come, this
type of unit has the backup power to cope with the lower ambient temperatures
of your room.
Disadvantages - must be used with a good quality thermostat. May not
be easy to find stockist. Must have a good quality guard unit to protect
occupant. High temperature melting wire must be used when connecting
power to this unit.
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