- Joined
- Aug 6, 2003
- Messages
- 359
As my collection of T's and other inverts grows (and I SWORE it wouldn't LOL), I'm getting sick of shelling out for any more UTH heaters. I'm wondering if I even need them at all, at least on some of the enclosures. Here's the deal: I've turned my spare bedroom into an invert room. I have a few tropical and native scorps (I'm in Arizona), some tropical pedes, and shortly my T's will include a sub-adult genic, parahybana, blondi, and an adult boehmei and H. schmidti. The room is undisturbed unless I tiptoe in there, I have the blinds drawn and a sheet over the only window, which faces South. All in spacious enclosures. These guys have it pretty good.
I've used UTH heaters on the glass of a back corner of each tank except for the native scorps (H. arizonensis and C. exilicauda). For the three Winter months, it can get down to the 40's and 50's at night (usually upper 50's I'd say). I leave the heater vent to the room open, and the thermostat for the whole house at is around 68-70 degrees. It's about that temp in the bug room, too, maybe a couple degrees cooler at night. I let the UTH heaters run 24/7 during these months, and I figure it heats the corner by a few degrees and gives the critters a temp gradient (the boehmei is always hugging the glass near the UTH heater or right in front of it, where she's set up shop). In the Summer (about 5 months here), I keep the house in the low 70's. I shut off the A/C to the bug room by closing the vent, and the room stays about mid-80's in the day, a little cooler at night. I'm not planning on using the UTH's at all during these months. During the Spring and Fall, I don't heat or cool the house at all, and it stays in the mid to upper 70's in the day, cooler at night. Last Fall I put the UTH's on a timer and ran them only at night.
I'm wondering if this heating arrangement sounds about right. I'd rather not have to heat the enclosures at all, but I'm afraid the T's will be too cold if I don't, especially during Winter nights. I know that blondis, in particular, should be kept pretty warm. I may look into a space heater, but don't like the idea at all for safety reasons. I hate buying the UTH's for every tank, since they are expensive and there are more power cords and surge protectors than I care to look at. What are some options, or do I just stick with the UTH routine?
Thanks,
John
I've used UTH heaters on the glass of a back corner of each tank except for the native scorps (H. arizonensis and C. exilicauda). For the three Winter months, it can get down to the 40's and 50's at night (usually upper 50's I'd say). I leave the heater vent to the room open, and the thermostat for the whole house at is around 68-70 degrees. It's about that temp in the bug room, too, maybe a couple degrees cooler at night. I let the UTH heaters run 24/7 during these months, and I figure it heats the corner by a few degrees and gives the critters a temp gradient (the boehmei is always hugging the glass near the UTH heater or right in front of it, where she's set up shop). In the Summer (about 5 months here), I keep the house in the low 70's. I shut off the A/C to the bug room by closing the vent, and the room stays about mid-80's in the day, a little cooler at night. I'm not planning on using the UTH's at all during these months. During the Spring and Fall, I don't heat or cool the house at all, and it stays in the mid to upper 70's in the day, cooler at night. Last Fall I put the UTH's on a timer and ran them only at night.
I'm wondering if this heating arrangement sounds about right. I'd rather not have to heat the enclosures at all, but I'm afraid the T's will be too cold if I don't, especially during Winter nights. I know that blondis, in particular, should be kept pretty warm. I may look into a space heater, but don't like the idea at all for safety reasons. I hate buying the UTH's for every tank, since they are expensive and there are more power cords and surge protectors than I care to look at. What are some options, or do I just stick with the UTH routine?
Thanks,
John
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