Vivarium Ventilation: STOP Overheating Reptile Enclosures! - Fans & Vent Placement for Reptiles
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2021
- An issue with wooden/PVC cages is that in hot weather, they often overheat. Today I explain vivarium ventilation, discussing how vents and fans can be used to ensure optimal air temperatures.
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(As an Amazon associate, I earn a commission if you purchase through these links, but you don't have to pay any extra. I have not received any form of endorsement to advertise any of these products.)
UK:
Circular vents - amzn.to/3tT4s7s
Plastic-framed mesh - amzn.to/3nOz5Kh
Lucky Reptile Terra Fan Set - amzn.to/3kipbhy
US:
Circular vents (pick a size) - amzn.to/3nJQXpm
Rectangular vents - amzn.to/3nHVfO4
Fans - amzn.to/3nFCDOR
Ca:
Circular vents (pick a size) - amzn.to/39inbzQ
Rectangular vents - amzn.to/3hLey5c
Fans - amzn.to/3Al5efV
Looking for the reptile lighting equipment used in my enclosures? Find it here:
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LED lighting - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/led-light...
Tungsten-halogen lamps - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/tungsten-...
Fluorescent lighting - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/linear-fl...
Metal halides & equipment - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/metal-hal...
Solarmeter 6.5 - amzn.to/31uqUGF
--- US ---
LED lighting - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/led-light...
Tungsten-halogen lamps - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/tungsten-...
Fluorescent lighting - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/linear-fl...
Zoo Med PowerSun Metal Halide Kit - amzn.to/3suYrwm
Solarmeter 6.5 - amzn.to/3d3rlNs
--- Ca ---
LED lighting - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/led-light...
Tungsten-halogen lamps - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/tungsten-...
Fluorescent lighting - kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/linear-fl...
Zoo Med PowerSun Metal Halide Kit - amzn.to/3igD7Gq
Solarmeter 6.5 - amzn.to/3skXGWd
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Reptile Lighting Group - / reptilelighting - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
---- PRODUCTS ----
(As an Amazon associate, I earn a commission if you purchase through these links, but you don't have to pay any extra. I have not received any form of endorsement to advertise any of these products.)
UK:
Circular vents - amzn.to/3tT4s7s
Plastic-framed mesh - amzn.to/3nOz5Kh
Lucky Reptile Terra Fan Set - amzn.to/3kipbhy
US:
Circular vents (pick a size) - amzn.to/3nJQXpm
Rectangular vents - amzn.to/3nHVfO4
Fans - amzn.to/3nFCDOR
Ca:
Circular vents (pick a size) - amzn.to/39inbzQ
Rectangular vents - amzn.to/3hLey5c
Fans - amzn.to/3Al5efV
I’ve added so many additional vents to PVC enclosures. I don’t know why manufacturers don’t provide more ventilation.
My 5x2x2’ enclosures only came with two circular vents each: it’s nuts how little ventilation manufacturers are willing to install! Thanks for watching
Great video, Joe! Already looking forward to the next segment in the series!
Thanks very much!
Oh man, I haven't even finished the video but i already paused to subscribe and comment because this is so good. So cleanly explained... I'm going to be recommending this channel at the pet shop.
Been waiting for this and it's an excellent video as expected! Thank you as always for giving us in depth and quality information.
Another great video mate! I alter all of my wooden vivs for cross ventilation. Don’t understand why some viv manufacturers have such poor ventilation. Between yourself and Roman, I’ve learned a lot about setting up the correct heating for my animals so thanks for all your efforts 😄
Glad to be of service! 😁
I had an issue with my macklots python's new enclosure. It was converted from a used outdoor birdhouse and is much taller than it is wide (4'X4'X7'), so the heat gradient is pretty much all vertical. Once all the shelves and climbing branches were installed, I found that the hot basking spot was a little too hot, but the bottom of the enclosure was a little too cold. Installing a computer fan on the roof blowing air downwards did the trick. It pushed the warmer air down to the floor and cooled the basking area down just enough. It works perfectly!
How are you measuring the temperature of the basking spot?
@@JTBReptiles for the basking spot and the other resting spots in the enclosure (there are 4 shelves at different heights along with a ton of branches) I use a temp gun. For just general air temp I have 3 little digital temp/humidity gauges at the bottom, middle and top of the enclosure.
@@JTBReptiles you can see the build/enclosure on my channel it went out about 3 weeks ago.
Excellent enclosure!
With regards surface temperatures, remember that the heating influence of an object in contact with the animal doesn't just depend on the temperature of that object: it also depends on its thermal conductivity. It is for this reason that a piece of wood (which has a low thermal conductivity) at a high temperature (40*C, say) will feel cooler than a chunk of stone (which has a higher thermal conductivity than wood) at the same temperature. Considering this alongside the basking behaviour of wild herps - which seem to care not whether they are basking on wood, grass, soil, leaf litter, stone, and so on - we see that surface temperatures really do not matter that much. So long as no surface in the enclosure is uncomfortably hot or cold to the touch, you needn't worry about surface temperatures. This is a concept I will be fleshing out in full detail in a video I hope to produce over the winter.
What DOES really matter for basking is the quality and intensity of radiation. This is to say that the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation provided is important, but so too is its overall intensity. We already look at the spectrum in blocks - UVB, UVA, visible light, and NIR - and for two of these blocks we already think, albeit not enough, about intensity (we measure UVB in units of the UV index; we measure visible light using lux meters). The next step is to think about these blocks in more detail and consider the intensity of radiation offered in each. If we do this with an aim to matching sunlight, THEN we will have recreated proper basking conditions: basking really depends on sunlight, not warm air or hot objects.
This comment has gone more in-depth than I originally intended, but I hope it helps!
Thank you Joe! I pondered about this topic since I am currently in the planning phase of building enclosures for both of my babies. This video helped me strategize my vent and fan placement.
Excellent, thank you for explaining this so well.
Keep it up my man. Fantastic content.
Man you are the best! Subscribed!
I use a variety of PVC enclosures for my snakes and none demonstrate ideal ventilation which is why I am looking into vivarium fans. I've been keeping snakes for nearly 20 years and still continue to learn new things. Thanks for the help and advice. I always look forward to implementing better husbandry practices.
Snakes realy dont need the ventilation, i bet on your 20 years journey on keeping snakes, no snake died from lack of air
@@RixiV11 no, haven't lost any snakes. But I have had issues with mold and condensation, especially when higher humidity is needed. I think better air circulation would definitely help with these problems.
Air flow is something which has been playing on my mind a lot recently. I’ve put more vents into my current vivariums, but I plan on installing proper flat ducting for fan powered ventilation on all of the vivariums in the soon to be refurbished reptile room.
I’ve been considering the pros and cons vs wooden and glass enclosures, and I think I’m leaning towards constructing all of new vivariums from glass with vents along the bottoms (above substrate dams) and mesh tops.
I want to keep all ventilation feeds and outtakes independent for bio security, with no common ducting so I have had to draw out exactly how I plan on doing it.
If I were to be starting again with my collection and more confident working with glass, I would be inclined to use glass vivaria with mesh as you describe. I would have to rig something up to hold insulation foam tight against the sides of the vivaria during the winter as my herps are in an outbuilding, but this is not a consideration most people need to think about.
Good video Joseph.
Thank you!
Well done! Anymore, I use a thermostat for heating lamps only to guard against overheating, rather than trying to maintain a certain temp, then let the reptile figure out where it wants to be in regards to proximity to the heat source (as you explained in the video.) And when doing this, like you said, it is better to have the temperature probe some distance away from the heat lamp.
Alright mate 👍
How's School going ?
Great video mate
Just started my second year at uni. Not doing too badly so far!
Thanks 😁
This is something I have been looking at more closely, especially when vivariums are stacked and the transfer of heat. I do not have any vents at the bottom of the vivarium however and currently have one fan blowing in the cool end and one drawing air out of the basking end. This has certainly helped but perhaps I should be looking to add a vent towards the bottom of the enclosure.
I like the Lucky Reptile fans as they are quieter than the PC fans that I have on one enclosure.
Look forward to the next instalment to include basking as I feel at the moment until I have all the bits of the jigsaw I don't want to make any drastic changes, just yet.
Have a look at your temperatures to decide if you need any more vents - and if you think you do, go for it. Ventilation is great for many reasons more than just keeping things cool!
My next informational videos are a way off; I've just started a new term at uni, so I can't make anything new until December. (I do have one short video up my sleeve which will be out in a few weeks, though.)
@@JTBReptiles Now the weather has cooled I am getting much cooler ambient temps, for example today our corn was sitting about 22/23 and the surface temp of the slate 30. In the summer the ambient in the shade (must get terminology correct!) sits at 25/26 most of the time so it has seen quiet a big drop.
Hope this term goes well for you.
That sounds fine. I wouldn’t consider it a big drop - think, it often changes much more than that during the course of a single day, never mind across the seasons!
Thank you, and I hope all is well at your end also 😁
A very good video! I have fans, I just have the issue that my thermostat only has one probe, even if it has a cooling mode. What would be the beat spot for that one?
Looking to set up a tall home for mossy frogs, with some undecided easy to keep fish. Problem is that where I live the temperature can change drastically. For example, just last week I was walking around in shorts and a tanktop with amazing weather, now the streets are covered in snow. The frogs need humidity but the temperature needs to be anywhere between 10 and 20 degrees celcius. So I'll probably have to make some kind of system which can heat during the freezing cold, but also cool during the extreme heat waves without losing humidity levels.
I have a fish tank terrarium for dwarf tree frogs. There is no way to put vents in through the glass as It is already setup and the glass is tempered so can't be drilled. So got a thick acrylic clear top and going to put 4 big holes at top and cover it with fine stainless steel mesh and silicon it on. Going to look at drains to put the mesh in at the hardware shop. I was thinking since hot air rises this will allow that air to escape easily. But at the same time I need to keep it fairly humid, so really don't want to draw dry air in.
Hiya bud! I've just ordered 2x terra fans, i have a question. I have a 6x2x2 viv, would one fan blowing in on the upper corner of the cold side and one dragging out on the upper corner on the hot side be sufficient? It's a wooden viv it's very well insulated, the ambient temps on the coolside it's not as low as I'd like it. And i like the idea of my beardy having fresh air circulating. Thanks
Would you need these fans for enclosures that come with a mesh screen as well such as Zen Habitats?
What air temperature range is perfect for arid species?
Hi. Old critter lady here. Im using computer fans plugged into the usb charger on my power bars. As i have glass terrarium
Amazing video. Im just wondering if you have a video on how you keep your bearded dragon? Temperature and lighting wise? Thanks
Yes, I have a couple:
- ua-cam.com/video/bnVSNFVNMak/v-deo.html
- ua-cam.com/video/UEcm0YwfAIg/v-deo.html
- ua-cam.com/video/cLADA8Sm9AY/v-deo.html
👍
@@JTBReptiles Brilliant thank you!
Are the fans in the reptile room set on a timer?
I work in HVAC and like the idea of make up air units, so I designed a small scale model of one that fits a 40mm fan inside and even made mini flex ducting for the supply vent. You move fresh air intake flaps to adjust the amount of fresh air vs returned air from inside of the enclosure. In the future id like to build a sealed acrylic enclosure with a gasketed swinging front acrylic door so that the enclosure is mostly airtight and have the MUA regulate the pressure, humidity and temperature. Let me know if you want to see the current design! Ill be posting it to thingiverse eventually
Would aquarium chiller fans work too? Do you know any easy ways to mount them? I found a single chiller fan that can rotate multiple angles.
I am not familiar with aquarium chiller fans - someone else might be able to help you, though!
They will work yes.. but it will depend on what one you use and the size too.. what make you got ?
@@JPsPetNation Dymax windy W-4 DM225
How would you manage temperature in a high humidity enclosure? If I put a fan on one of those the humidity would crash towards the ambient room humidity.
Good question. It isn't an issue I have faced yet (my high-humidity species are all in glass vivaria which don't overheat because of their poor insulation), but I can think of several solutions, One would still be to increase ventilation but to increase the frequency of misting as well; a second would be to use chilled water (potentially in combination with increased ventilation) when misting. (If you opted to use chilled water, you would have to ensure that it was delivered in such a way that vivarium occupants couldn't get TOO cold - so instead of spraying 5*C water into the enclosure, you might at regular intervals put in 18*C water as a fog.) Someone might have a better idea than either of these, though!
Generally, the best way to increase humidity without sacrificing ventilation is 1. To increase the amount of substrate. Some substrates and substrate mixes hold humidity far better than others, for example, topsoil mixed with moss and topped with leaf litter work much better than aspen or sand. Secondly, instead of misting the air, which evaporates very quickly, you should pour water onto the substrate so that it is moist, but not soaking wet.
Which Cooling on/off stat do you use? I'm struggling to find one..
MicroClimate EVOs have the function, but there are quite a few available which are a lot cheaper if you look around. I actually don't thermostatically control most of my fans at the minute because the day-to-day variation in the weather does not warrant it: I run them constantly from May through until October, then they are constantly off through October until May.
@@JTBReptiles Brilliant, I've a few Evo's, didn't realise they had that function. Thanks.
Hello jtb I have a question for you please, my crested geckos enclosure only has a single ventilation strip on the top and nothing else except for about a 4mm gap between the sliding doors letting some air in, the humidity reads from the mid 80's to 100% during the day when everything is switched on - is this something I should worry about? He's been in there for 18 months and no signs of any illness. (The temperatures are fine)
What is the lighting like? What are the temperatures? How often do you mist the enclosure? Is it live planted? How large is the enclosure and how large is the vent on top?
@@JTBReptiles Arcadia jungle dawn led, arboreal shadedweller and basking spot. Temperature is 28c in the basking spot and ranges from 20 to 23 everywhere else. It's 45x45x60cm with a 15cm ventilation strip, I mist once at night just before lights off and it's planted.
That doesn’t sound bad - a 15x45cm strip of mesh is more than most wooden vivaria have which are significantly larger. If you wanted, you could add another vent low down in the enclosure so that air can come in through the bottom and leave at the top.
@@JTBReptiles cheers dude
U forgot to mention glass vivariums, like exo terras.whays ur method there?
And your wooden frame for the fan/fans was nice buy TRUST ME, the viewers and me, were waiting for you to show us how it looks on avivarium, where upu placed it, etc.
Got to be careful with geographical temperatures. Black Tail Cribos come from tropics but don’t like temperatures above 25c.
If everything is on a thermostat overheating isn’t something that can occur.
Simple