Hood or No Hood?

[Mr Gizmo]

Another "noob" questions that I have not found a definitive answer on ... not that there may even be one.

Hoods ... I see most cages & setups don't have the lights/heaters contained under a hood (think large fishtanks). Is there a particular reason for this?

My thoughts:
Hood may trap too much heat?
Hood adds weight atop a cage that it cannot properly support?
Hoods add more cost that is (purely) decorative?

You Thoughts:
?

Thanks!

 

[Carlton]

Another "noob" questions that I have not found a definitive answer on ... not that there may even be one.

Hoods ... I see most cages & setups don't have the lights/heaters contained under a hood (think large fishtanks). Is there a particular reason for this?

My thoughts:
Hood may trap too much heat?
Hood adds weight atop a cage that it cannot properly support?
Hoods add more cost that is (purely) decorative?

You Thoughts:
?

Thanks!

IMHO it doesn't really matter, as heat will rise off the top of a fixture either way. A hood isn't necessary, but if the lighting you choose to use is mounted in a hood so be it. Back in the early days you usually had a choice of aquarium hoods or "shop light" linear fixtures for the UV tubes. The incandescent basking bulbs were usually separate. A few terrarium hoods had a combination of florescent tube mounts and an incandescent heat bulb but not always, and the hood materials, ballasts, wiring, etc. have to handle the extra heat. Depending on the size and configuration of your cage either one works. A hood can hide some of the cage top clutter, but not all of it. A hood can reflect more of the UV light down where you want it, and anyone observing the cage won't be blinded by the UV light that spreads out horizontally.

 

[Mr Gizmo]

Sounds like the answer I was hoping/looking for. I'd like to mount all the lights inside a wooden enclosure/hood with some baffled ventilation on the top/sides (possibly) in the event of excessive heat or whatnot. More of a finished look IMHO but seems to be not necessarily needed.

 

[Carlton]

Sounds like the answer I was hoping/looking for. I'd like to mount all the lights inside a wooden enclosure/hood with some baffled ventilation on the top/sides (possibly) in the event of excessive heat or whatnot. More of a finished look IMHO but seems to be not necessarily needed.

Another approach would be to make a decorative wood "screen" for the top of your cage that hides the separate fixtures behind it. That way you don't have to wrestle with a big wooden construction just to change a single light bulb. I used to have a big wooden box housing my full spectrum and heat lights for my bird aviary. It was cumbersome and heavy to move so replacing any of the lights was a headache.

 

[Mr Gizmo]

Another approach would be to make a decorative wood "screen" for the top of your cage that hides the separate fixtures behind it. That way you don't have to wrestle with a big wooden construction just to change a single light bulb. I used to have a big wooden box housing my full spectrum and heat lights for my bird aviary. It was cumbersome and heavy to move so replacing any of the lights was a headache.

Good idea. I like to overthink designs/engineering of things. Any guess my occupation? LOL

 

[MarieMc44]

They say a lot of UV is escaped or being "wasted" if there is no hood. The hood acts as a deterrent for the UV to divert all its rays downward to your reptile.

 

[junglefries]

They say a lot of UV is escaped or being "wasted" if there is no hood. The hood acts as a deterrent for the UV to divert all its rays downward to your reptile.

Ding, ding, ding....Tell the lady what she has won, Bob.... kudos

 

[Mr Gizmo]

Ding, ding, ding....Tell the lady what she has won, Bob.... kudos

Just to be clear. All lights/tubes would be in a fixture/reflector as everyone does based on the pics of the cages I see on here. What I am referring to is a hood over those fixtures to hide the fixtures, wires, etc... More of a finished look. I'm fully aware that a light bulb/tube will emit in all directions and a fixture or reflector is used/needed to direct the light emission effectively.

Thanks for the feedback