heat bulb for flat rock

xXsambondXx

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
26
i am getting a flat rock in 8 days but cant keep the heat up so I got a bulb holder but was wondering what watt red bulb I should get. {D thanks in advance.
 

Ecstasy

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
264
Get flexwatt heat tape, or heat rope or under tank heater, don't get a bulb. It kills humidity.
 

xXsambondXx

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
26
thanks for the advice but i wont be able to get one in time, the humidity is no problem at all but i do need a wattage :/
 

Ecstasy

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
264
You might not get an exact answer because none of the experienced keepers use a bulb. If you keep a few it's not really a good idea price wise. I'm sure they can hold off at house temp until you're able to get something.
 

lancej

Arachnolord
Old Timer
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Apr 12, 2010
Messages
631
It would also help if included the size of the enclosure.
 

OphidianDelight

Arachnoknight
Joined
May 19, 2011
Messages
190
It is possible to heat with a bulb and retain humidity, but I haven't tried it with an enclosure smaller than 10g and it is a lot of prep work when you could just stick heat tape to the enclosure in a couple of seconds. For a 10g tank I would take a 60 watt black (blue) or red bulb and position it on the far corner of the tank. Next, I would take 1.5" strips of cellophane and tape them across the lid, leaving 1.5" between the strips. The result is about a third of the lid is completely uncovered (for the lamp to sit on) and the rest is partially covered for humidity while still allowing ventilation (10g lids measure 12" x 20", I believe). I used this method for emperors. Keep debris and shelters on the cool side and the middle and place the water dish directly underneath the bulb to aid in humidity and give the animal a choice in temperature. Once again, heat tape is much easier by comparison.
 

gromgrom

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
1,743
You might not get an exact answer because none of the experienced keepers use a bulb. If you keep a few it's not really a good idea price wise. I'm sure they can hold off at house temp until you're able to get something.
funny, i know experienced keepers who use bulbs.
 

AzJohn

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
2,181
Anything that adds heat will remove moisture. Heat lamps do it from the top down. Other heat sources like tape, pads, what ever will remove the moisture from where ever they are put, on the side or bottom.

That being said I use heat cable. A 23 foot cable will heat a lot of scorpions for a lot less money than say 5 bulbs.
 

Galapoheros

ArachnoGod
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Jul 4, 2005
Messages
8,982
I'd stack slate against the back, maybe put some dirt and rocks in-between some while leaving spaces there also for the flats to go in. They don't need much moisture. Then I'd put a heat mat on the back behind the slate rocks where they can sit next to the heat if they want. I'd wet it back behind the slate about once every 3 weeks or so. I'd have dry desert sub with a water bowl if they want to drink anything. You wouldn't see them much though. I have a few dozen I'm raising in plastic containers, 3 adults in flat, plastic hinged containers also. I place a corner on a heat mat I stuck to a piece of glass, that's usually where they sit. I'd do it a lot nicer but I have too much for that right now.
 

Ecstasy

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
264
funny, i know experienced keepers who use bulbs.
Might want to finish reading the whole post, mainly the part about price wise to put bulbs in every tank.

Then consider the fact that not every species are best suited with an UTH.
 

gromgrom

Arachnoprince
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Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
1,743
You might not get an exact answer because none of the experienced keepers use a bulb. If you keep a few it's not really a good idea price wise. I'm sure they can hold off at house temp until you're able to get something.

Might want to finish reading the whole post, mainly the part about price wise to put bulbs in every tank.

Then consider the fact that not every species are best suited with an UTH.
Good point, I totally didn't read the rest of the post. In no way did you come back from insulting experienced keepers who use bulbs. Or making a point with your post. Really, good job. But you did get the bulbs being expensive, and the UTH not good for all species correct.

OphidianDelight said:
They must be the ones that know a scorpion will dig and burrow to escape heat and sometimes end up getting cooked on a UTH.
Oh yeah, I forgot all scorpions are burrowers by nature. Especially Tityus species. When I go see my friend's Tityus, I occasionally see them peeking outta those burrows! Such petholes!
 
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Sarcastro

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
May 28, 2009
Messages
308
It all depends on the situation if your heating just one enclosure...then heat tape or a pad will work best and more cost effective,if you have a set up like grogrom's and have your inverts in a small enclosed area like a closet or really small room a heat bulb is prime. it would raise the amb. Temp by atleast 10degrees...if your like me and have an entire room dedicated to your inverts and reptiles, its better to buy a small ceramic space heater and close of the fernace vent in the summer.
 
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xXsambondXx

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
26
its a 10 gallon tank with about 3 to 4 inches of soil sand mix with a sprinkling of sand on top i have several pieces of slate on top of each other for a hide and some sphagnum moss spread around there is a water dish around as well, humidity is no problem but if i could get lots of different heating options if you don't think it's appropriate because I'm just a novice (this is my first arachnid) and i would like your opinions. :D
 

Ecstasy

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
264
Good point, I totally didn't read the rest of the post. In no way did you come back from insulting experienced keepers who use bulbs. Or making a point with your post. Really, good job. But you did get the bulbs being expensive, and the UTH not good for all species correct.



Oh yeah, I forgot all scorpions are burrowers by nature. Especially Tityus species. When I go see my friend's Tityus, I occasionally see them peeking outta those burrows! Such petholes!
Well besides the fact you call people out and I've already made it obvious before, some would say even made you look a bit bad. I mean because with you and another person who I won't mention I've noticed when people ask questions you and this other person don't post but when somebody like Michiel or them post you and that person reply back with: "Oh I was just thinking that", and you know what? No you weren't.

I never insulted anybody, I simply said experienced people don't use bulbs meaning in bulk, I never said at all. This is the reason why my next sentence said: "It's not a good idea price wise". Also just to clarify somebody, just because somebody has a lot of scorpions and has had them for 6 years doesn't make them an experienced keeper.
 

gromgrom

Arachnoprince
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Well besides the fact you call people out and I've already made it obvious before, some would say even made you look a bit bad. I mean because with you and another person who I won't mention I've noticed when people ask questions you and this other person don't post but when somebody like Michiel or them post you and that person reply back with: "Oh I was just thinking that", and you know what? No you weren't.

I never insulted anybody, I simply said experienced people don't use bulbs meaning in bulk, I never said at all. This is the reason why my next sentence said: "It's not a good idea price wise". Also just to clarify somebody, just because somebody has a lot of scorpions and has had them for 6 years doesn't make them an experienced keeper.
You did insult people. You said

You might not get an exact answer because none of the experienced keepers use a bulb.
How does the second comment about price negate that at all? Please explain that to me, since you're obviously more experienced than everyone I know locally.

I know experienced people who use bulbs and dont post here because of "know it all" new keepers like yourself. Some of my friends have kept and bred common and rare inverts and herps for years, some on this site, and they use bulbs.

Do you really expect me to answer every topic? Sorry that I don't, I'm glad you're keeping track though. I tend to go to topics that pertain to the scorpions I own, and I don't own any Pandius or Heterometrus...

I mean, you've called me out on two topics so far. I do call people out when they're wrong, and I expect others to do the same to me. But in this case, you're wrong, and you're not taking it very well. {D

I'm done arguing with you. Apparently you know more than anyone else here anyway, by your comments to me and others.


on topic: if youre in a room temperature room, a heating pad on the side could do fine. Flat rocks do like it hot though, and a bulb may be what you want. I'd like to do away with mine, as they burn out quickly and are expensive.

What's best about this hobby, OP, is finding out what works best for yourself. :)
 
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Ecstasy

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
264
You did insult people. You said



How does the second comment about price negate that at all? Please explain that to me, since you're obviously more experienced than everyone I know locally.

I know experienced people who use bulbs and dont post here because of "know it all" new keepers like yourself. Some of my friends have kept and bred common and rare inverts and herps for years, some on this site, and they use bulbs.

Do you really expect me to answer every topic? Sorry that I don't, I'm glad you're keeping track though. I tend to go to topics that pertain to the scorpions I own, and I don't own any Pandius or Heterometrus...

I mean, you've called me out on two topics so far. I do call people out when they're wrong, and I expect others to do the same to me. But in this case, you're wrong, and you're not taking it very well. {D

I'm done arguing with you. Apparently you know more than anyone else here anyway, by your comments to me and others.


on topic: if youre in a room temperature room, a heating pad on the side could do fine. Flat rocks do like it hot though, and a bulb may be what you want. I'd like to do away with mine, as they burn out quickly and are expensive.

What's best about this hobby, OP, is finding out what works best for yourself. :)
I never said I know more then everybody else, so please re-read the whole thread. You assumed I said something by the way I said it instead of asking.

Also perhaps read the title of the thread? It's for a flat rock. That was my whole point in the first place. Like I said, don't assume things. I don't have a problem with me being wrong, and I handle it perfectly fine, but I don't like being called out by people who don't understand things in the first place, because they like to read something and automatically blah blah.
 

Michiel

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
May 22, 2006
Messages
3,478
You can talk all you want, but the best bulb is of course the "Exo Terra special nightglow/ gamma ray Hadogenes species bulb"!! Only 80 bucks a piece and it allows for total natural behaviour!!! :D{D{D
 

Ecstasy

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
264
You can talk all you want, but the best bulb is of course the "Exo Terra special nightglow/ gamma ray Hadogenes species bulb"!! Only 80 bucks a piece and it allows for total natural behaviour!!! :D{D{D
Yea it acts as the moon, but it'll still pull humidity out. It's not generally considered a heat bulb as well.

But for instance, Michiel, do you heat all your scorpions enclosures single, or do you keep the room at the temperature?
 

AzJohn

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
2,181
You can talk all you want, but the best bulb is of course the "Exo Terra special nightglow/ gamma ray Hadogenes species bulb"!! Only 80 bucks a piece and it allows for total natural behaviour!!! :D{D{D
WOW, for $80 it must work great. I can heat all my scorpions with it.
 
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