newbie question

[bigdaddydan74]

is a 75 watt blacklite to much?

[ssssnakeluvr]

garters don't need lighting...they are some of the most cold tolerant snakes out there. They don't need the UVB bulbs either. If the snake is just kept as a pet, generally room temps do fine. I am a breeder, and keep my critter room around 75 to 80 degrees.

[bigdaddydan74]

i was told that it eas needed for heat . i have it over a flat rock at one end. it barely gives off any light at all. what do you think?

[bigdaddydan74]

was needed for heat

[ssssnakeluvr]

I raised garters for years as a kid, never had any special heat or lights. I got my first garters in 1980....we had no such thing as a pet store in town (town of 980). My snakes did just fine, lived for many years, in fact, one was an adult when I caught her, and I had her for another 8 years after that. Soome people prefer heat for them, however I jsut keep my critter room warm and they do fine.

[bigdaddydan74]

thank for the advice!!!

[ssssnakeluvr]

you're welcome!!

[Cazador]

Realize that additional heat will speed up their metabolic rates, which will increase activity levels. If your snake is on display in a nice large enclosure, you might want to add the heat to increase activity levels, but if you have it in a small, out-of-the-way enclosure you can reduce activity levels and food consumption/defecation by lowering the temperature. A lot of this has to do with your personal preference.
If you're truely using a "black light" (the kind that make white clothes glow) you might want to reconsider because prolonged exposure to black lights can damage retinas. Exo Terra makes an infrared heat lamp (red light) that provides heat without affecting photoperiod. Fluker makes a "repta sun" red light bulb that also puts out heat without affecting photoperiod. If you choose to use supplemental heat, be cautious of Exo Terra's ceramic bulbs because they can melt ordinary light domes. Not coincidentally, Exo Terra makes special, thicker heat domes that won't melt with their ceramic bulbs.

As ssssnakeluvr said, they're not necessary... just a matter of personal choice.

[Thamnophis]

Just use a lamp like this: such as you use in your house.

Reflector spot lamp

[Cazador]

I think bigdaddydan is using it for light AND heat, so turning it off at night might depend on how cold his house gets, unless he leaves it on for 24 hours, which some people do... just not my personal style.