How to setup a ceramic bulb and thermostat!
On our care sheets, we mention thermostats and guards a lot because these are a vital piece of equipment when keeping snakes. They control the temperature of the heating source so it cannot reach harmful temperatures and the guard protects the snake.
For this How to, the pictures will show you a step by step guide on how to setup your ceramic bulb with a ceramic light fitting to a dimmer or pulse proportional thermostat and how to fit a ceramic guard.
Remember to check your thermostat can cope with the wattage of the ceramic bulb.
For this How to, the pictures will show you a step by step guide on how to setup your ceramic bulb with a ceramic light fitting to a dimmer or pulse proportional thermostat and how to fit a ceramic guard.
Remember to check your thermostat can cope with the wattage of the ceramic bulb.
If you are unsure of where to get these products we would recommend Surrey Pet Supplies they are who we use for our reptile products and they offer a great service. They also stock a good range of ceramic light fittings, ceramic bulbs, ceramic guards and thermostats. You can find digital thermometers on eBay for a couple of pound.
Click on the pictures below to enlarge them.
Step 1
You are going to need a dimmer or pulse proportional thermostat, ceramic light guard, ceramic light fitting and ceramic bulb.
Step 2
This is your ceramic bulb and ceramic light fitting. The next step is to attach the ceramic light fitting to your vivarium ceiling.
We picked a ceramic fitting with a bracket and it turned out to be difficult to fit with a guard, so we would recommend you to choose a different fitting.
We picked a ceramic fitting with a bracket and it turned out to be difficult to fit with a guard, so we would recommend you to choose a different fitting.
Step 3
We took out one of the plastic vents and replaced the vent with aluminium mesh screwed in to the back of the vivarium. So we could fit the ceramic fitting cable and thermostat probe. Make sure your snake cannot get through the holes in the mesh.
Step 4
You will need to screw the ceramic fitting to the ceiling/wall of your vivarium, holes do not need to be drilled in advanced. Place the ceramic bulb into the fitting but do not plug the fitting in to the thermostat.
Step 5
We used a ceramic light fitting with a bracket which made fitting a guard quite difficult because there was a gap between the vivairum ceiling and the guard so a snake to could fit inside the guard and get badly burnt or even killed. So the way we got around this issue was to cut the bottom off a aluminium light bulb guard and screw this to the vivarium ceiling, it fitted nicely inside the guard so it covered the gap. Obviously this step only applies if you have a big gap between the guard and vivarium ceiling.
Step 6
Finally you can fit your ceramic guard.
Step 7
Next you will need your dimming or pulse proportional thermostat, there is three leads that come off your thermostat, one is the plug, another is the plug socket for your heat source and lastly there is the probe. Plug your ceramic light fitting plug in to the thermostat but do not plug your thermostat in to the mains yet.
Step 8
Now put the thermostat probe through the vent, mesh or you can drill a hole through the vivarium if you wish. We place the probe on the hotspot and secure it using nail cable clips/u-clips, if you have a branch under the ceramic bulb and guard you would place the probe there and secure it to the branch using a cable tie. Never use any form of tape within the vivarium!
Now plug your thermostat in and set your required temperature on the thermostat dial. Now leave your thermostat for 24 hours to settle and then change the dial accordingly but do not add your snake until the temperatures have been running consistently for at least 24 hours. Its best to check and monitor temperatures using a digital thermometer.
Now plug your thermostat in and set your required temperature on the thermostat dial. Now leave your thermostat for 24 hours to settle and then change the dial accordingly but do not add your snake until the temperatures have been running consistently for at least 24 hours. Its best to check and monitor temperatures using a digital thermometer.