A Question About Heating

[Firebird]

Hello friends, I have a question. I currently have a terrarium set up and am waiting for my baby to come in a few weeks. Because it is summer and will only be getting hotter from here on out, I am concerned about the temperature of my tank. The tank I have has the bulb sockets build directly into the cage, so this isn't a matter of getting a different sized dome or moving the heat lamp away. In the event that I can't maintain a correct temperature gradient, I am wondering if it is possible to use just a uvb bulb without the incandescent bulb, provided it gives off the correct amount of heat. If not, what ways are there to coll the terrarium down and make sure the cool end does not heat up along with the hot end? I want to be prepared now so I don't freak out about it later on. Thank you!

[MechHAN]

the reason to use incandescent bulb is to increase temperature,I didn't use the incandescent bulb last summer and my BTS spent a lot of time in water bowl...I’m even thinking about creating a man-made cold end with ice bottle this year...I did some experiment,a bottle of ice in towel can lower the temperature near area about 2-3°C,only need 2-4 bottle of ice for a day...it seems also higher the humidity...

[Firebird]

i wish there was an easier solution than sticking ice in the tererrium all day :/

[Noah H.]

Have you tried a light dimmer? It's meant to adjust the light output for lamps, but it can also be used on heat lamps to affect the heat output. I have one hooked up to my heat lamp, and it works like a charm. I got it at Home Depot for only $5!

[Firebird]

i actually just got a light dimmer, so hopefully that will help.But if my house is, say, 90 degrees farenheight, wouldnt the tererriums cool end also be that hot? i doubt my house will get that hot but its just an example.

[StaceyLeigh]

When it is really hot in the summer I turn the basking light down, and have even put cold water bottles in a sock for the skinks to climb on. They will use them too, I will find them slumped over them trying to stay cool! The dimmer should help. I have my lights either on a dimmer, and/or a temp controller to maintain a certain temp.

[Firebird]

Oh really? thats pretty cute that theu use the bottles like that. ill have to keep all this good stuff in mind. its already pretty warm now, so im worried that this summer will be unbearable