Dumb question about bulbs

[Bryce08]

right now im using the exo terra day light bulbs, one 25w one in the exo terra light fixture for above the cage, and I also have a 60w one in a heat lamp hanging above the cage.

what kind of bulbs does everyone use for their setups?

Ive always stayed away from the infared bulbs becuase I wasnt sure how they did with the mantids...infared good or bad?

 

[Rick]

Never used anything except a plain ole fluorescent strip bulb or nothing at all.

 

[gripen]

100 watt heat emitter is what i use.

 

[lunarstorm]

I am currently using a single infrared bulb (guessing it's a 75W or 100W) to heat an 18x18x24 Exo-Terra terrarium and it works pretty well. I use a 150W ceramic heat emitter to heat the general area of my mantid desk, including pots/cups of various sizes and a couple of netcubes (you can search for threads I've started and find a picture of my setup if you're curious).

If I buy another bulb, it would probably be another ceramic heat emitter as it would give me the capability to easily sustain ~90-100F temps if desired (e.g. mating tropical species).

 

[Mvalenz]

I use an 50w infrared bulb and it seems to heat up the enclosure quite well. It hasn't seemed to affect the mantis negatively. I use it on the side of the enclosure and keep it on all the time. move it a little further away at night to bring down the temp. I use a regular bulb on top and turn it on in the day just to imitate daytime.

 

[CoolMantid]

What species?

 

[Bryce08]

well this honestly is more of a question for a friend, my setup is ok, but was jsut wondering for him, he was asking about infared and I couldnt answer his question. thanks for all the info so far everyone!

its for an idolo

 

[Bryce08]

what is everyone experience with the heating matts? do they work well? in combo with a small wattage bulb? its just for a 12x12x18 exo terra

 

[gripen]

heat mads are not worth the money for mantids. they are good for herps though

 

[hibiscusmile]

I use regular bulbs too, the new ones with wiggle dont emit heat.

 

[agent A]

I use a 70 watt basking bulb and it gets pretty hot

 

[meaganelise9]

I use the SunGlo heat bulbs for heat and light during the day, since I don't want to keep my bugs near the windows especially in the winter. It's drafty.

 

[Psychobunny]

I have all my mantids on Bean Farm's Ultratherm UTH's (under tank heaters) and only have one 50W basking

lamp.

These heating matts from Bean Farm are the only ones I have ever had any luck with, most are just trash.

I regulate them with a lamp dimmer switch and a laser point thermometer.

And yes, they are very effective for mantids, unless you stack your net cubes.

Only the bottom will keep warm. Then you can use a bulb and fixture for the top cube.