The Debate: Heat lamps vs. Heat Pads

[cheeky]

Just looking to start a friendly discussion/debate reguarding the debate between using heat pads and nocturnal heat lamps. Which do you think is better?

 

[gromgrom]

pads, i use both.

 

[Korni]

Heat lamps!

because in natural habitat the heat comes only from the sun.

The scorps dig when it's too hot for them, by using a heat pad the heat comes from below, so it will be warmer when the scorp digs.
Very unnatural!

 

[jebbewocky]

Heat rope on the side of the tank.

 

[Danimal]

flexwatt heat tape!

 

[Stan Schultz]

Just looking to start a friendly discussion/debate reguarding the debate between using heat pads and nocturnal heat lamps. Which do you think is better?

Why would you use either in the first place?

What are you trying to accomplish (beyond the obvious, "trying to keep the cage warmer")?

 

[jebbewocky]

Why would you use either in the first place?

What are you trying to accomplish (beyond the obvious, "trying to keep the cage warmer")?

Personally, I don't bother with heating my tarantulas, beyond the fact that they are on shelves above my heated roach tank (which is heated to increase their breeding)--in part, because most T hobbyists don't and I've read it doesn't matter (including in the TKG).

Not knowing as much about scorpions, and my perception that most people heat scorpions--at least Pandinus and Heterometrus species (which, so far is all I have)--I heat them.

 

[Chrome69]

Lamps, they heat much better and more things at once for less wattage and are easier to position in weird ways.

 

[AzJohn]

Why would you use either in the first place?

What are you trying to accomplish (beyond the obvious, "trying to keep the cage warmer")?

I use some sort of heat on any scorpion species I'm trying to breed. From what I've observed the main cause of a female scorpion aborting her brood or producing it early is to cool temps. Also many species will grow sick and die if kept at temperatures that are to cool for to long. Unlike tarantulas, most species of scorpions do best at around 85F.

 

[H. laoticus]

I get more activity out of my scorps with heat and it also helps them during molting. If I don't have the lamp on, my scorps either don't molt or take extremely long to.

 

[terancheped42]

hi im new to this site and this question is completely off topic but i was wondering if any one new of any reptile/invert shows happening in the next few months in or near east NY .

thanks, Fenn :}

 

[cheeky]

Fenn, there is a section for these kinds of questions. Not to sound rude, but please try to keep discussions on topic.

 

[Michiel]

Lamps, they heat much better and more things at once for less wattage and are easier to position in weird ways.

+ 1, and heat cables also work fine, but like stated above, lamps are cheaper (less wattage).........

 

[psychofox]

I heat my entire scorpion room with an oven and use extra heat lamps for my gravid females. Lamps are much more effective, and more natural just like Korni pointed out.

 

[Bazzgazm]

I'm just going to say, I like a more natural, above type light source, however...

bulbs are not more efficient than tape..

if there was a bulb that produced no light, it would be alot more "efficient" and since there is much less wasted energy, then obviously... the heat tapes are going to be alot more energy efficient.

Now... the problem with inverts is like stated, they burrow to escape heat.

I use belly heat on my snakes simply because of cost.. and the rooms aren't freezing cold either.. room around 75-80, and belly heat around 10-15* higher.

 

[stingray]

I use above lamps on all of my reptiles and invertabrates.

 

[Stan Schultz]

I use some sort of heat on any scorpion species I'm trying to breed. From what I've observed the main cause of a female scorpion aborting her brood or producing it early is to cool temps. Also many species will grow sick and die if kept at temperatures that are to cool for to long. Unlike tarantulas, most species of scorpions do best at around 85F.

Ah! This is very useful information. My specialty (or course) is keeping tarantulas. While I know a little about scorpions, I've never made an in-depth effort to study them. Thanks for the info.

 

[gromgrom]

I use some sort of heat on any scorpion species I'm trying to breed. From what I've observed the main cause of a female scorpion aborting her brood or producing it early is to cool temps. Also many species will grow sick and die if kept at temperatures that are to cool for to long. Unlike tarantulas, most species of scorpions do best at around 85F.

This is some of the best advice you will get in the hobby. Keeping gravid females warmer and offering waterdishes constantly will produce consistently healthier and larger broods that wont be eaten. (If the keeper does this right)

I use an undertank heater on one section of my rack near the lamps to cook my gravid females, keeping one end cooler and one end smoking. They alternate which side they want to be on... and if you observe, they push their bodies against the heat.

It's because they're basically incubating their embryos.... Not a good way to word it...

 

[Chrome69]

bulbs are not more efficient than tape..

if there was a bulb that produced no light, it would be alot more "efficient" and since there is much less wasted energy, then obviously... the heat tapes are going to be alot more energy efficient.

This is only true if you are only heating one tank or close together areas, a 50 watt red heat lamp will heat more area than a 50 watt heat tape. If you compare the area of a tape that takes the same wattage as a lamp the lamp will win.

I agree if you are using a lamp for not a wide area it is a waste, but if you have a good amount of critters like alot of us do the lamp is a better investment. Plus most of them have easy to turnoff switches if you need to do a hot/cold-day/night cycle whereas alot of heat tapes you gotta actually physically unplug.

And there is a bulb that emits no light, it's called a ceramic heat 'bulb', never tried em though.