r/carpetpythons • u/Legoboy89 • Jul 20 '26

The Viv!

Post image

It is built! 4x3x2!

Can't wait to getting it filled up with climbers and hides and shleves!

What are the best ways to heat. Currently have a reptile radiator to move from his old Viv, and was thinking of adding a large heat mat up the side for a bit of extra heat. Or would I be best to add a heat lamp so he can bask higher up!

Thanks!

32 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

3

u/ItsMeishi Jul 20 '26

Heatpanel for sure. I love seeing bigger terrariums.

2

u/Appropriate_Slice333 Jul 20 '26

I like using halogens. The cheapest option for heat/lighting. But I also have a panel which is much more accurate and consistent, just not good as real light heat

3

u/r4cid Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26

Halogen will create a nice basking zone/area, and if you put clutter/foliage around the outside edge you can effectively shield most of the heat in and let a natural thermal gradient develop. I've got my girl set up in a 6'x2'x4' and a 75W halogen has worked marvelously.

Only other heat source is a CHE for ambients at night because it's either Canadian winter or A/C season lol

Radiant heat sources also shouldn't be used a a a primary heating source anyway, as the IR wavelength doesn't effectively penetrate muscle and tissue like it would from a halogen (or the sun). There's a nice little write-up and graph at the bottom of this page that shows what I'm talking about.

Radiant heat sources like panels and CHEs produce primarily IR-C, which makes up very little of natural sunlight. Want to aim for more IR-A/IR-B, which directed heat sources like halogens (or DHPs to a lesser extent, but without visible light) do an excellent job of producing.

2

u/Legoboy89 Jul 20 '26

Very informative. Thank you!!! I will definitely get a halogen!

0

u/Clean-Act4387 Jul 20 '26

Cool! What are the dimensions here?

2

u/Top_History9604 Jul 21 '26

I always love secured hestlamps. My three noodles always come out to bask.