Using a heat light or other source to warm one corner of a room

[Sharno]

My slings and juvies who are in deli cups all are in plastic tubs now with a set up I found here -- a heat pad wrapped around a glass jar in the middle, distributing some nice heat. They are eating well and thriving.

All my tarantulas are in my office with me and the temps can drop here in this room specifically. I use a space heater pointed at my desk, and when I have it on, my larger tarantulas on the nearby shelves bask in the warmth even though it's not pointed at them. It's too powerful and I think would be too much heat if I just turned it around and let it warm them all day or at night.

If I want to add a little glow of warmth to one corner of a room that is not super well insulated, could I get a tall lamp and use a heating bulb and point it toward the cages? If so, is it safe to leave on all night? What kind of power does it draw?

Thanks all.

 

[viper69]

My slings and juvies who are in deli cups all are in plastic tubs now with a set up I found here -- a heat pad wrapped around a glass jar in the middle, distributing some nice heat. They are eating well and thriving.

All my tarantulas are in my office with me and the temps can drop here in this room specifically. I use a space heater pointed at my desk, and when I have it on, my larger tarantulas on the nearby shelves bask in the warmth even though it's not pointed at them. It's too powerful and I think would be too much heat if I just turned it around and let it warm them all day or at night.

If I want to add a little glow of warmth to one corner of a room that is not super well insulated, could I get a tall lamp and use a heating bulb and point it toward the cages? If so, is it safe to leave on all night? What kind of power does it draw?

Thanks all.

What's the median temperature in the room, day/night ? A setup you found in your office? Are you renting out the space, that reads a bit confusing hah.

The type of heat bulb I have in mind requires a ceramic socket, and those are not safe in my mind to leave on overnight IMO if you have a Murphy's Law mindset.

 

[Sharno]

What's the median temperature in the room, day/night ? A setup you found in your office? Are you renting out the space, that reads a bit confusing hah.

The type of heat bulb I have in mind requires a ceramic socket, and those are not safe in my mind to leave on overnight IMO if you have a Murphy's Law mindset.

It is a home office attached to a house. The office used to be a patio, now it is a covered patio. That said, insulation is not great. I live in So Cal, so our temperatures most of the time around 50f lows - 75f highs. But in the mornings it can seem really chilly. I just have found the slings and juvies in the warmer containers are really thriving and the added heat is when it all turned around. The are eating better and molting more and I have had no deaths.

I use my under-desk heater most mornings to take the chill off my work area because I hate cold. It would be nice to have a little artificial warmth on them I think.

Thanks!

 

[viper69]

It is a home office attached to a house. The office used to be a patio, now it is a covered patio. That said, insulation is not great. I live in So Cal, so our temperatures most of the time around 50f lows - 75f highs. But in the mornings it can seem really chilly. I just have found the slings and juvies in the warmer containers are really thriving and the added heat is when it all turned around. The are eating better and molting more and I have had no deaths.

I use my under-desk heater most mornings to take the chill off my work area because I hate cold. It would be nice to have a little artificial warmth on them I think.

Thanks!

I know that region's weather, it's perfect. I'd move them out of the room if you can't find a better solution to chilly temps, just seems like you are making things more difficult than necessary. I'm sure there's a reason why they aren't indoors. Lower temps equals lower metabolism, just that simple.

The only "solution" I can think of off the top of my head is a radiant heat panel used for reptiles.

 

[brianp]

I just went out to the garage and turned on three 75W heat lamps. One is on the B. smithi tank, one is on the Lampropelma tank and the third is in front of the sling area. I probably don't really need them, but it's still been kind of chilly at night. I've got four more going in the tortoise cages. All of mine are connected to dimmers so that I can adjust the heat
output in response to ambient temperature. Just a subtle glow to take the edge off.

 

[ieatkats]

Most people on here are going to tell you that external heat sources are not needed. Which is true. However i myself do have a small heat red heat lamp but puts out very little heat. You cant feel any heat if your hand is more than a few inches away. Mine is not pointed directly at the enclosures but to the side of them and my pokies love it. Dont know if its just the red light or if its actually a heat thing but my P. vittata/pederseni basks in the light all the time so i have left it.

 

[Lopez]

I use heating cable. It gets pretty hot to touch but you can easily distribute the heat it gives off.

 

[Sharno]

Most people on here are going to tell you that external heat sources are not needed. Which is true. However i myself do have a small heat red heat lamp but puts out very little heat. You cant feel any heat if your hand is more than a few inches away. Mine is not pointed directly at the enclosures but to the side of them and my pokies love it. Dont know if its just the red light or if its actually a heat thing but my P. vittata/pederseni basks in the light all the time so i have left it.

Thanks - and thanks to everyone who has replied. I know that the temps here in So Cal are fine for the tarantulas in general. I just have become spoiled with the slings in the temp-controlled containers - they eat consistently, and when they don't eat, they molt. With the tarantulas on my shelves, sometimes they refuse food one week and take it the next, and I am pretty sure it's just the cooler/fluctuating temps. It just makes it more difficult to track when they are molting, and a lot more clean up of roaming live food. All of the slings and juvies live a very consistent routine which is awesome.

 

[cold blood]

Heat lamps or lights are probably the worse way to heat them. They needlessly dry the air and can bring humidity levels down enough to pose an adverse effect

I would get a large aquarium, heat that with the heating pad on the back and place the containers with the spiders in that heated enclosure.

Or, like viper mentioned, move them inside.

 

[viper69]

Or, like viper mentioned, move them inside.

There must be a reason why he doesn't, I'm curious what is preventing that "move".

 

[Sharno]

There must be a reason why he doesn't, I'm curious what is preventing that "move".

I'm a she
They are inside. When I say "covered patio" this is a room addition that used to be a patio and has been turned into a spacious office. But it is not carpeted, and the heating in the house reaches this part of it last and it doesn't stay cozy. In So Cal we're notorious for poorly insulated houses anyway - and this, being a room addition, is especially so.

I can move them to a different area of the house, but this is where I spent a lot of time, and I like to be around them. For some time I had them in the guest room of the house, which is very cozy, but whenever we have guests I have to move them all out. Not a big deal. But for some people, even the THOUGHT that tarantulas basically ruled the room makes them freak out. When they were in the guest room I did not get to check on them as much.

Cold Blood, I have the aquarium/heat pad for my slings and juvies. All my larger tarantulas in larger containers are on a shelf now and fitting them into big aquariums would be tough. Not ruling it out though.

Thanks all.

 

[cold blood]

Cold Blood, I have the aquarium/heat pad for my slings and juvies. All my larger tarantulas in larger containers are on a shelf now and fitting them into big aquariums would be tough. Not ruling it out though.

Adults are far more resilient and less in need of the heat (even though they may be attracted to it), its just speeding them to the end. I was meaning more for the slings and juvies, as their enclosures are the ones generally small enough to fit multiples into larger enclosures more easily. I can see the desire to heat the youngsters to get them to that larger, more resilient size.

 

[viper69]

I never let guests rule where my pets live. If they don't like it they don't have to come over or can stay in a hotel hah