T-Rex Heat safe

[Starry night]

I got this heat emitter from Mega rays site and I just want to say this thing is worthless. I paid like $28 for it with shipping and everything and I'm about to just throw it in the garbage. On his site he has a video of him measuring the temp from this thing at 19" and putting out 99 F. This thing is on my tortoises sleeping area right now at about 14 inches and only reaching about 84-85 and the temp in my house stays above 70 F. My laptop puts out more heat than this crap. I can not believe I paid this much for such a worthless product.

 

[Tom]

How many watts and what brand? Is it a ceramic heat emitter? Everyone's situation is different. That's why I always say to use a thermometer and adjust the height of your bulb/CHE to fit YOUR situation. Are you allowing at least couple hours for it to really warm up? And don't forget to measure the temp at the height of your tortoises back.

Sorry your bummed about your new purchase.

 

[Yvonne G]

Sounds like you got one that's too small for your habitat.

 

[Starry night]

It's the 60 watt one that they sell and I think that is the only one they sell. No its not s CHE. They are in a small tubberware dish at this time due to them being treated for parasites and this thing just does not produce the heat like said on their web site. I paid way to much for such product I'm not happy with.

 

[bettinge]

Do you think it defective or just a poor quality product?

 

[Defiant]

He purchased this http://reptileuv.com/megaray-hp-60-watt-heat-projector.php I was looking into it. Maybe just havent let it get hot enough yet. Or too high from the substrate. If you want Ill trade you for my 100W ZooMed Reptisafe Ceramic Heat Emitter. Its only about 1.5 weeks old. I love ReptileUV products but to each is own.

 

[Starry night]

Ok believe me I have even lowered it to as low as 12" and it still does not get to as high of temperature as stated in the video in his site. I leave it on all night, 8-10 hours and then change back to their lights and heat lamp for their daily light cycle. Trading would do me no good as I'm not paying any postage to mail this thing off. I'm just going to use it and never buy another one. I just don't think it's a quality product IMO.

 

[tortoisenerd]

Have you contacted the manufacturer to ensure you are using it as they intended? They may also offer a replacement. I had great customer service experience with Mega Ray. Best wishes.

 

[Defiant]

Just thought I would offer. As I don't need alot of heat I have this CHE half way dimmed. Having a lower wattage heater would be useful. Ill have to look into purchasing one from them. I like the concept as my tort table really has no place for an outside lamp I worry about the guy getting to close its only raised 10" and cocked to the side.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

It sounds to me like you are turning it off during the day? You would leave a CHE on 24/7. It takes some time for them to heat up so if you are turning it off during the day and turning it on at night that is not using it correctly. You need to point it directly downward at the substrate about 12 to 16 inches away and leave it on all the time. I personally use a black light bulb and a regular hood. It's cheaper and gets hotter, but you already have that thing so turn it on and leave it on all the time. After about 48 hours test the temp then...
OK I just read up on what you got and I know nothing about them, but it says there's a 30 free trial, I would ship it back to them and get your money back then just pay $4 for a black light bulb. I'm telling you I have kept my animals warm like this for years and it's the cheapest and easiest way to do it...

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't think its a CHE, Maggie. According to the link shown above it looks like the Mega-ray UV/heat spot light.

 

[-ryan-]

Just a tip: If you want to use lower-wattage heaters/bulbs you have to get them pretty close to the tortoise. My smaller tortoises have 45 watt flood bulbs (the small ones you put in track lighting systems) that are about 6" from the substrate. That allows me to use smaller wattage bulbs and still get nice hot temps (note: you CANNOT do this with spot bulbs like what zoomed sells). For the larger tortoises I use 45 watt halogen flood bulbs and keep them only a little further form the substrate. I usually use multiples though to spread the basking spot out further. I basically keep them just out of reach of the tortoises. Some of the benefits to this method are that the enclosures don't dry out nearly as much (since there is not excess heat built up), I save a lot of electricity, and I have much more control over the overall enclosure temps.

Keep in mind, my enclosures have tops, so heat buildup is a real problem if I use large bulbs, but right now with the inquisitive cats I have no choice. Fortunately I have never had a problem and I seem to have a really easy time keeping the enclosures humid.

Just thought that you might want to consider dropping the heat lamp down even just a little bit further. With it that far away you are heating all of the air above the tortoises. Once you get it in the 'sweet spot' I think you will have better luck.

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I don't think its a CHE, Maggie. According to the link shown above it looks like the Mega-ray UV/heat spot light.

Actually he is talking about a product that puts out just heat (no light) yet is supposedly safe to the touch.