Do you have to use a "DOME" style fixture for CHE or Flood in the closed. chamber?

Leothetort*2021

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Hi all . Building a new closed chamber for my Leopard tortoise. Enclosure is a 5' by 2' . Torty is 8 months old. My questions is the lighting fixtures. Do I have to use a "dome" style for the Che and or the 65W flood? OR can I just use the Ceramic socket only? I'm using the recommended T5 HO lamp/hood style UVB . Just wondering about the humidity being an issue OPEN style fixture? I have seen photos with the "cage" style and CHE and a bulb exposed in a closed chamber but didn't know if this was acceptable or safe for this environment habitat Thanks in advance
 

Tom

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Hi all . Building a new closed chamber for my Leopard tortoise. Enclosure is a 5' by 2' . Torty is 8 months old. My questions is the lighting fixtures. Do I have to use a "dome" style for the Che and or the 65W flood? OR can I just use the Ceramic socket only? I'm using the recommended T5 HO lamp/hood style UVB . Just wondering about the humidity being an issue OPEN style fixture? I have seen photos with the "cage" style and CHE and a bulb exposed in a closed chamber but didn't know if this was acceptable or safe for this environment habitat Thanks in advance.
Totally fine to use a flush mounted ceramic socket. I mount mine with these "Plastic Round Boxes" to give a little offset and protect the ceiling from excessive heat.
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Leothetort*2021

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Thank you Tom. I was just worried about the closed chamber having 80% Humidity causing problems with breakage of the CHE and flood. Enclosure is customized plexi/glass
 

Markw84

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Thank you Tom. I was just worried about the closed chamber having 80% Humidity causing problems with breakage of the CHE and flood. Enclosure is customized plexi/glass
The humidity is not a concern with the fixture as Tom mounts and not at all with the bulbs - incandescent or CHE. The CHE is pretty much bullet-proof and should last years and years. I like to use a dome and be able to easily move / change fixtures. Either dome or flush mount works fine if you are sure to use a ceramic fixture for the CHE. But you need enough height in your enclosure to do that. You want the CHE as high as possible to avoid a hot spot directly under it.
 

Yvonne G

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I'm thinking this thread may be confusing "closed chamber" and "heated night boxes".
 

Tom

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I'm thinking this thread may be confusing "closed chamber" and "heated night boxes".
I can see how that might be perceived that way. Thanks for pointing this out.

I used a pic of my outdoor night box to demonstrate, but the same info applies to indoor closed chambers.
 
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