Ceramic element vs. Heat bulb

[broderp]

I'm trying to automate temp for my little guy for two reasons:

1. Make his life as good/ natural as possible.

2. Make it easier on my and family to keep him in a proper environment.

Does the forum recognize/prefer one over the other?

My thoughts are to try a ceramic heat element for heat, and somehow vary it's power output to achieve the proper basking temp.

This would then either leave his UVB light as the only light source, or I could add suplimental LED or flourent lighting. (also wanting to be able to fade it in and out to mimic sunset/sunrise)

My Exo Terra terrarium is 18x18x24. So I would need to size the ceramic heater appropriately. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you

 

[nightanole]

ceramic for night cage heat is good.

No cham is going to bask under a ceramic though.

 

[Zephalia]

ceramic for night cage heat is good.

No cham is going to bask under a ceramic though.

From my view, ceramic heating is only necessary or helpful when your nightime temps drop low. If you are keeping your cham in your home then this isn't generally a concern. Like mentioned above, your cham will not recognize the ceramic heater as a basking spot and so it will not be a proper basking option.

Good luck figuring out what works for you. I use a 40 watt bulb in a small dome at the back corner of the enclosure for my basking site and it works great. I just adjust the lights to go on and off with the sunrise/sunset.