DHP Instant Success

[SpottedDragon]

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Nel's new cage got here over the weekend (finally!), and so far she hasn't laid anymore eggs and is starting to eat waxworms and hornworms.

Anyway, I set up the "hot" side of the cage with a 50w Arcadia deep heat projector over some dark slate rocks, and once it got up to temp she hasn't left! The thermostat controls it and keeps the air right at 88* but the surface of the rocks is right at 92* directly under it and dropping down to 88* towards the edges. She does seem to move to adjust where she wants to lay on a regular basis.
I don't know if this new heating is the reason she started eating again, but I was expecting such a big change to her environment would throw her off. She is now in a 48x24x18 animal plastics cage. I'll try and remember to get pictures soon.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...6/IMG_2905.JPG

[acpart]

She looks great!

Aliza

[MicheleVicchitto]

Nel's new cage got here over the weekend (finally!), and so far she hasn't laid anymore eggs and is starting to eat waxworms and hornworms.

Anyway, I set up the "hot" side of the cage with a 50w Arcadia deep heat projector over some dark slate rocks, and once it got up to temp she hasn't left! The thermostat controls it and keeps the air right at 88* but the surface of the rocks is right at 92* directly under it and dropping down to 88* towards the edges. She does seem to move to adjust where she wants to lay on a regular basis.
I don't know if this new heating is the reason she started eating again, but I was expecting such a big change to her environment would throw her off. She is now in a 48x24x18 animal plastics cage. I'll try and remember to get pictures soon.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...6/IMG_2905.JPG

Hi, if you don't mind, what type of thermostat are you using with the Arcadia DHP? I just got a DHP but don't want to use it until I have an appropriate thermostat.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi, if you don't mind, what type of thermostat are you using with the Arcadia DHP? I just got a DHP but don't want to use it until I have an appropriate thermostat.

I "think" a DHP could use a Herpstat dimming thermostat. Maybe an ON/OFF pulse thermostat would work just fine. Perhaps the only difference might be a shorter "DHP bulb" life with the pulse thermostat.

One key is having the DHP's wattage as close as possible to the heat level you need.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Nel's new cage got here over the weekend (finally!), and so far she hasn't laid anymore eggs and is starting to eat waxworms and hornworms.

Anyway, I set up the "hot" side of the cage with a 50w Arcadia deep heat projector over some dark slate rocks, and once it got up to temp she hasn't left! The thermostat controls it and keeps the air right at 88* but the surface of the rocks is right at 92* directly under it and dropping down to 88* towards the edges. She does seem to move to adjust where she wants to lay on a regular basis.
I don't know if this new heating is the reason she started eating again, but I was expecting such a big change to her environment would throw her off. She is now in a 48x24x18 animal plastics cage. I'll try and remember to get pictures soon.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...6/IMG_2905.JPG

Hi Spotted Dragon ~

We'd love to see leo Nel in her new environment -- a 48x24x18 animal plastics cage! Better now than never!

[SpottedDragon]

Hi, if you don't mind, what type of thermostat are you using with the Arcadia DHP? I just got a DHP but don't want to use it until I have an appropriate thermostat.

Sorry, it took so long, just saw this. I use the Herpstat EZ 2. It's the non-digital version. I use a temp gun to dial in the exact temperature. Just know that it takes a few hours for the thermostat to "learn" the new adjusted temperature when you change it - to the increase or decrease in heat won't be instant.''

Arcadia does recommend using a dimming proportional thermostat for these, as it takes a few min for the bulb to warm up and cool down, not as long as a CHE, but you would get more inconsistent temps with an on/off thermostat. The only issue with it that I have had is that the thermostat probe needs to be directly under the bulb for best regulation and very occasionally one of them will lay directly on the probe which makes the thermostat think its cooling. Luckily they don't sit there long and the EZ thermostats will alarm / error if the sensor is not receiving input (I think if it can't regulate temp with in a hour). Neither of mine has sat long enough on the probe to cause a spike in temps though.

[SpottedDragon]

Hi Spotted Dragon ~

We'd love to see leo Nel in her new environment -- a 48x24x12 animal plastics cage! Better now than never!

I also want to note that I put the wrong specs for her cage - its the T8 - 48x24x12, the snakes is the 18" high :/

This is the reptile wrack - Ball Python on the bottom, Nel in the middle, and Wyrm the male Leo on the top

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...505&height=673

Nel enjoying her DHP - she is out basking every few hours now, even during the day

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...8/IMG_3485.JPG

Just a description of set up for anyone that is looking at heat / light placement

Capture.JPG

Seeing how much Nel just loved it, I ended up getting my male one too. I have the same results with him, he's out more, basking more, and really seems to get a lot of use out of it. I may try one with the ball python eventually as well.

Right now she has an egg box with eco earth on the UTH since she's trying to lay eggs again. Otherwise this is just another hide (cool) as I don't keep the UTH on when she's not in egg-mode. The humid hide is from reptile basics and I love it ( https://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-b...dium-hide-box/ )
There is a damp rag on it right now because she's been sitting on top of the hide and basking and she was in shed last night, so just a bump up in humidity for her.

[MicheleVicchitto]

Sorry, it took so long, just saw this. I use the Herpstat EZ 2. It's the non-digital version. I use a temp gun to dial in the exact temperature. Just know that it takes a few hours for the thermostat to "learn" the new adjusted temperature when you change it - to the increase or decrease in heat won't be instant.''

Arcadia does recommend using a dimming proportional thermostat for these, as it takes a few min for the bulb to warm up and cool down, not as long as a CHE, but you would get more inconsistent temps with an on/off thermostat. The only issue with it that I have had is that the thermostat probe needs to be directly under the bulb for best regulation and very occasionally one of them will lay directly on the probe which makes the thermostat think its cooling. Luckily they don't sit there long and the EZ thermostats will alarm / error if the sensor is not receiving input (I think if it can't regulate temp with in a hour). Neither of mine has sat long enough on the probe to cause a spike in temps though.

Thank you for all the information.

I'm definitely pleased with the DHP. But currently I find that I need to keep both the DHP and the UTH on 24/7. I think I need to put something under the enclosure to prevent heat loss from below. And if I decide to switch to a more naturalistic enclosure, I'll probably need to either get a shorter enclosure (Donnie's is 18 inches high) and/or switch to the 80w DHP.

Donnie doesn't really come out to bask yet, but with the DHP, I am finding him to be more inquisitive.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thank you for all the information.

I'm definitely pleased with the DHP. But currently I find that I need to keep both the DHP and the UTH on 24/7. I think I need to put something under the enclosure to prevent heat loss from below. And if I decide to switch to a more naturalistic enclosure, I'll probably need to either get a shorter enclosure (Donnie's is 18 inches high) and/or switch to the 80w DHP.

Donnie doesn't really come out to bask yet, but with the DHP, I am finding him to be more inquisitive.

Sorry if I already asked. How much substrate does Donnie have now? I'm not sure how fire-safe it is to use the Ultratherm heat mat underneath a substrate thicker than a slate cheese board (~1/4 inch thick).

A layer or two of corrugated cardboard underneath Donnie's 36 x 18 x 18 inch enclosure might insulate his enclosure JUST ENOUGH! IF not, you could also add that to the back glass. Styrofoam is also recommended. I don't know how they compare.

[MicheleVicchitto]

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Sorry if I already asked. How much substrate does Donnie have now? I'm not sure how fire-safe it is to use the Ultratherm heat mat underneath a substrate thicker than a slate cheese board (~1/4 inch thick).

A layer or two of corrugated cardboard underneath Donnie's 36 x 18 x 18 inch enclosure might insulate his enclosure JUST ENOUGH! IF not, you could also add that to the back glass. Styrofoam is also recommended. I don't know how they compare.

Right now, Donnie is on slate cheeseboard and paper towels (since there were gaps with the cheeseboards). But since his enclosure is sitting on a wire shelf unit, I suspect we have heat loss from below. I have thin stick on floor tiles that I had picked up before I realized the glue could be a problem inside his enclosure, so they were never used. I thought perhaps I could put those on the shelf to stop some of the heat escaping. There would be about a half inch of space between the ultratherm and the tile being used on the shelf unit.

I'm hoping to get some new photos of Donnie tonight. He's definitely grown a bit since I got him and he has filled out. He has also gotten very inquisitive at night. He's fascinated by both cats and anything I'm doing.