Global Warming Tips

I post a lot on here about global warming and the issue of global climate change. I assume that a reader of this blog and most herp keepers care about nature, and the environment let alone their own well being. Being a herp keeper and trying to reduce one's carbon footprint can be a tricky situation. Most herp keepers have electricity bills larger than the average person due to heating all of our ectothermic friends.

So here at the East Bay Vivarium Blog we will be giving you a few tips over the next month to help keep your herps healthy and happy, and reduce your energy use.


This is a ceramic heat emitter. They are perfect for herps that require overhead heating and who can still find their basking spot without the visible light shining down on them. They also make great supplemental heaters during winter for tanks that usually only require a heat pad. These are more energy efficient than an incandescent light bulb because all of the energy used is converted to heat via infra-red light. No energy is wasted on non-heating visible light. If you use a 100 watt incandescent bulb for example, then you probably only need a 60 watt ceramic heat emitter, thus using less energy. Plus ceramic heat emitters can be left on 24 hours a day or used only at night and will not bother your nocturnal critter. If you are using a ceramic heat emitter in a wooden cage make sure you use a bulb guard as they do get hot to the touch.

More tips down the road!