20 gallon terrarium....question abt a glass top or top perio

[Latoshia]

Guys my hubs brought home a piece of glass specially cut for my crabitat....within 30 mins of the heat lamp on it it shattered over my crabitat. After a lot of damage control I put everything back the way ive had the top and am coming to you for help. What should i use or do for a top? I have a 20gall terrarium im using and a side heater that wasnt enough so i bought the heat lamp for the top. Can i still do a glass lod with the lamp sitting on it lile in the photo? My hubs said he was gonna go back to the same place for a thicker glass the what he originally bought...ugh i dont know what to do. Id just like to figure out a top that works...


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[daws409]

You can't put a lamp on glass no matter how thick it is. Bulbs get hotter than UTHs which is why it shattered. (Experienced crabbers, correct me if I'm wrong.) As far as I know, the only way to make the bulbs work is a wire top. You may can try cutting a circle out of the glass for the dome/lamp but again I don't know how to keep it above the tat.

Lights zap humidity. I suggest using a UTH. What kind do you have? Zoomed does little to nothing for heat. http://Www.ReptileBasics.com is the best place. You'll want to get the biggest that will safely fit along the back and ABOVE the sub.

If lights are a must for you, I suggest a DIY wire top using window kits. It's the safest that thing to use with a light system IMO. Here is a link in how I made mine: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... p?t=113009
Go back through that entire post for details.

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[Latoshia]

You can't put a lamp on glass no matter how thick it is. Bulbs get hotter than UTHs which is why it shattered. (Experienced crabbers, correct me if I'm wrong.) As far as I know, the only way to make the bulbs work is a wire top. You may can try cutting a circle out of the glass for the dome/lamp but again I don't know how to keep it above the tat.

Lights zap humidity. I suggest using a UTH. What kind do you have? Zoomed does little to nothing for heat. http://Www.ReptileBasics.com is the best place. You'll want to get the biggest that will safely fit along the back and ABOVE the sub.

If lights are a must for you, I suggest a DIY wire top using window kits. It's the safest that thing to use with a light system IMO. Here is a link in how I made mine: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... p?t=113009
Go back through that entire post for details.

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Im using a ceramic heating bulb in the lamp, does that make any difference?

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[daws409]

Here is link on lights: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=92543

I copied all of this:

Ceramic Heat Bulbs

Are exactly what they sound like! They are completely ceramic and are shaped to look like a normal bulb. A heating cable is run through the ceramic so that when it’s turned on the cable gets very hot, and the ceramic transmits that heat to whatever it is pointing at. They do this without producing any light.

HOWEVER – they run extremely hot, and not a lot of animal keepers use these because of the danger of burns to both themselves and their pets. Ceramic bulbs tend to heat only what is directly in front of them, and a specialty fixture should be used since they do produce so much heat.

That said, there have been crab keepers who have used them in the past. One of the most effective set-ups I’ve seen using a ceramic bulb was from tnt4eva, who cut a hole in her screen lid and hung the bulb using just the ceramic base to a clamp lamp (without the metal dome) inside of the tank away from the glass and all decorations.

Honestly, a incandescent is better IMO. These may also work better with a glass top. Like I said earlier, I have DIY screen tops so I can't assure you it's safe for glass.

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[Latoshia]

Thank you that was really informative! So i guess at this point i want to de viate away from the clamp lamp. Exactly what should u be getting to keep the heat and humidity high in my tank? I believe i have a zoomed on the side now andbit does nothing for my tank thats why i bought the clamp lamp.

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[daws409]

Heat - a better UTH.. I linked in previous post

Humidity - moss pitt, bubblers (air stones) in pools, a climbing background (these hold humidity well when sprayed daily)

Also want to note that bubblers do better in deeper pools.

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[NLindsey921]

Zoomeds are not the best uth. For the price they cost they are inefficient and don't heat the tank more than half a degree at most unless you have an itty bitty tank. Most on here including myself now that i have bought one suggest a ultratherm from reptile basics. They are safe to use with the glass top. They cost about the same as a zoomed but are several times better. You just tape them to the back of the tank. Get the largest size that will cover the back of your tank above your sub line. You don't want it dipping below cause it will dry out the sub. Hope this helps.

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[Kardi]

I have an awesome UTH, but supplement with a heat lamp in the winter. I also have a glass top.

I've had great luck with my heat lamp being about a foot above my tank and at an angle. It's enough to keep the heat at a toasty 86, but you have to watch the humidity!

Below is a crappy pic but you get the idea.



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[Latoshia]

I have an awesome UTH, but supplement with a heat lamp in the winter. I also have a glass top.

I've had great luck with my heat lamp being about a foot above my tank and at an angle. It's enough to keep the heat at a toasty 86, but you have to watch the humidity!

Below is a crappy pic but you get the idea.



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So is your uth actually under the tank or on the side? I'm thinking i need to get one asap

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[NLindsey921]

The uth should be mounted on the side. If you put it underneath it will trap heat and the substrate would become unbearably hot along with it becoming a fire hazard. It could even cause your tank to crack.

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[Kardi]

I have an awesome UTH, but supplement with a heat lamp in the winter. I also have a glass top.

I've had great luck with my heat lamp being about a foot above my tank and at an angle. It's enough to keep the heat at a toasty 86, but you have to watch the humidity!

Below is a crappy pic but you get the idea.



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So is your uth actually under the tank or on the side? I'm thinking i need to get one asap

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My UTH runs the entire back wall, above the sand line, and is insulated. You can see the black stripes at the top of the tank if you look closely. I also have one side insulated, as it's just frigid in Ohio at times and this is cheaper than heating the whole house.

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[Latoshia]

Does the uth go inside or outside the tank pn the back?

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[Kermie16]

Does the uth go inside or outside the tank pn the back?

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UTH goes on outside of tank along back wall above sub level


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