AdamB Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 (edited) Hi folks, I'm after some heating/thermal insulation, although it won't be going in my house. Its actually for a vivarium for my reptile Chameleon. I have no idea about anything to do with insulation, although a quick google reveals some expensive stuff which I'm not prepared to pay. I would need around 5 meters worth, not prepared to pay the earth for some. The vivarium does get damp where its misted for the chameleon to drink, although the insulation will be placed behind some polystyrene. It is a glass surrounding so something which is ideal to be placed on that. I'm trying to maintain a temperature of 90 F/ 32 C, I found some like insulation foil from Wickes but don't know how good this stuff would be for what I need? ThanksAdam Edited February 25, 2013 by AdamB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StuDoc 72 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Just use a 50W basking lamp that will maintain the temp. Shouldnt the chamleon have 1 anyway? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AdamB Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 (edited) I use a 75W basking lamp, and still struggle to maintain temps of 80 F. My flat is so cold, and I'm reluctant to keep putting the heating on considering the Chameleon has his own heat source as well. Half the problem I have is that I have one background and the sides are only covered by fish tank vinyl, so the glass still lets all the heat out from the sides, as well as at the front from the doors. So I'm looking to change that and add another 2 backgrounds for the sides with some insulation behind them. Edited February 25, 2013 by AdamB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StuDoc 72 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Ahh I see buddy. You maybe cheaper putting him in a wooden Viv? Can get a 3 ft one for £40 brand new online? Will be cheaper than Insulating. I have 2 piled ontop of another (Check the lizard thread on here people will help you on there.) My bottom tank has a 75W and top has a 50W. I get 105F at hot end and 80-85 at cool end and that in winter without the heating on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AdamB Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 (edited) I was thinking about a wooden viv mate, but my mrs is pretty reluctant to use a wooden viv because apparently its easy to contain and grow bacteria on a wooden viv, and requires cleaning more often. I'm currently using an Exo-Terra 90x45x90 Glass viv, so would need a wooden one of similar size or a little taller. Where abouts are your vivs located? Mine is opposite a large window in my living room. I tend to have the curtains open to allow the light and heat through, but in this weather we don't get much lol. Also to add, my Chameleon also likes to climb on the hood mesh, and has suffered a burn to the top of his head which is now recovering, although he'll never grow his spikes back So I don't know if a wooden viv would be a good idea being that the basking lamp would have to be placed on the inside. Edited February 25, 2013 by AdamB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StuDoc 72 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 They only harbour the bacteria more if the vinyl on them is split or damaged with it though they are essentially just like doors on a fitted kitchen so cant be too bad. I clean mine 1ce a month and replace the wood chippings the new 1s always make it smell epic. It may be more difficult if you need a tall Viv but I have seen geckos kept in long vivs just with plent logs and vines to climb. I keep mine in my living room I have an old Victorian Tenement flat with high ceilings and a bay window which is about 7ft x 7ft its quite a cool flat tbh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AdamB Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 Ah I see, I suppose when the vinyl becomes split it becomes easier for bacteria to grow in the wood. Yeah I clean mine once every 3 - 4 weeks. I use a felt mat at the bottom with towels underneath that to soak up water as best as possible. I did used to use that eco earth stuff, but didn't really like it because it stunk and was easy to harvest parasites and anything else. Will have a look on the old ebay and see if I can find a cheap wooden viv to suit my needs. It will prob just end up being a season dependent thing as I will prob switch back to glass in the summer. How is your wooden vivs vented? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StuDoc 72 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Yeah mate they will grow in the MDF if it splits. The towels wont help with your steaming issue they will also harbour bacteria quite badly as the damp and warm so be careful with that. Does your lizard need a mister in the tank? I find beech chippings have been the best substrate for me as its too big too eat. Smells good is natural plus all the dirt falls between it to the bottom of the viv keeping it quite clean. I think ebay can be quite expensive I got a 3Ft beech effect Vivexotic one from a website I use for food and stuff. Was only £40 They have air vents built into the back of the viv and sliding glass doors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AdamB Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 Yeah I change the towels once a week when I do my load of washing lol, but give the rest of the viv : vines, background, logs, sticks etc a good soaking in some warm water and disinfectant once a month. I might try them beech chippings, know a good website where to get them from? What are they like at soaking up water? Problem I have is that because the Cham's don't drink from still water, they require spraying 4 times a day for about 3 minutes each spray. The breeder I got him from a year ago was working on a drainage system which sits in the bottom of the viv and can be removed and drained of any excess water at the bottom. Problem was they were only made for the reptibreeze mesh viv's, as a hole can be cut in the bottom quite easily, glass is a little more difficult lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StuDoc 72 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 You can get them from any reptile website or try your local pet shop? Do you use a reptile shop local to you? Any shop or website that you get food from will sell chippings. I'd imagine with them beign wood the would be quite good for soaking up water or you could lift the lizard out and spray it on your hand? Feeding them plenty salad is good for keeping them hydrated too but youll know all this I cant advise you as I've never owned a Cham maybe better to invest in a mister???? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StuDoc 72 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 http://www.ukstarletowners.com/topic/55151-reptile-thread/ Check that out mate on the 1st page username Bannana19 message her she keeps chameleons should be able to help you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AdamB Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 Yeah I always use the same pet shop thats pretty close, they have plenty of reptiles in there. When I'm next in there for some food I'll see if they have any wood chippings. I tend to put him in the shower and he drinks from a spray bottle, the only problem is that the mrs found out yesterday that because they use water to keep themselves warm, if they are not warm then the use the water inside their body to help maintain their body heat. However since the viv is not hot enough, he is using a lot of his water and seems to be dehydrated a lot of the time after looking at his urate. Hence why I am trying to get the viv warm so that he hydrates himself by drinking water rather than using it to keep warm. I did have a look at a misting system, but they are quite expensive. I already have a fogger which is pretty handy as I'm able to add in some F10SC disinfectant to help clear any viruses or respirtory infections. I use this like once or twice a month and it also helps kill any bacteria within the viv as long as it is literally fogged out. I did remember a thread from here a while back about reptiles but couldn't think of the girl who had the veiled I think it was, I'll send her a message! Cheers lad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StuDoc 72 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Well If thats the case then for the sake of £40 you should try a wooden VIV will defo bring the temp up a bit if you dont like it then just sell it always loads of people want them on gumtree. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Addymk2 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 When I used Exo Terras for my spids keeping the temps up was a night mare! In the end I glued a block of polystyrene underneath and conveniently placed slate rocks etc on the floor in there, they held the heat and radiated it around the tank fairly well tbh! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AdamB Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 Glad am not the only one that has had temp problems with these vivs. I think its just plainly due to the glass and the heat always radiates out because heat will always flow to a cold surface. Just thinking I could mix some slate chippings in with the wooden chippings and see how I get on. Think I may end up going for a wooden viv, may get the mrs to pop down the pet shop to see what they are using. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Addymk2 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Or (this isn't so good for your electricity bills by the way!) Get a heat mat underneath/behind the polystyrene and just keep it as a constant heat source over winter just as an extra to the lamp Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AdamB Posted February 27, 2013 Author Share Posted February 27, 2013 Got the mrs to go down to the pet shop yesterday while I was at work. They told her to use some polystyrene insulation on the outside of the viv, I managed to find some stuff on B&Q website pretty cheap so I will give that a go. They also said that the wood chippings were supposed to be pretty good at holding in the heat and humidity, and was best to mix it with some eco earth. I'm not a fan of the eco earth stuff but I suppose its worth a shot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Addymk2 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 The wood doesn't hold it for very long unless its under/on a direct heat source. That Eco earth is pretty pants tbh lol Instead of coating the outside/inside of your viv with thick polystyrene you could always cut and paint it to look a bit natural? Ill find a pic of one the misses made using the wire brush attachment on my dremmel lol looked awesome tbh! Cut it to shape, layered it with non toxic grout, painted it and waterproofed it with non toxic PVA glue Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tara Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 We made a polystyrene background for one of our bearded dragons, sheet of polystyrene, sprayed expanding foam over it, water down some bathroom grout and paint a good few layers over then paint and varnish. It's on a wooden viv but really helps with the heat, we have another dragon in the same size viv but with no background and need to go up 20w on his basking bulb to get the same temps. I would think it should cope well with a damp environment. Will see if I can find some pictures Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tara Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 There you go Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Addymk2 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Great minds think alike :-P check my post on here 1st there's a pic of mine in there! Forgot about that lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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