Best Ceramic Heat Emitter For Boa Constrictors

Are you looking for an energy-efficient heating bulb to use for your boa constrictor?

Do you want to potentially save some money by using a higher-quality heating lamp?

Ceramic type bulbs for heating lamps and reptile tanks have risen in popularity as of late.

But they’re different from what most people now.

A lot of owners are afraid they won’t use them right.

Don’t worry! We’re here to help navigate the new type of heat emitter.

This guide covers our picks for the best ceramic heat emitter for a boa constrictor.

The best ceramic heat emitters need to have high energy output and a wider range of heat to cover the boa constrictor’s larger space. It needs to be energy-efficient and durable to make the higher price worth it.

Read on to check out our buyer’s guide, reviews of the best products, and commonly asked questions.

What To Look For In The Best Heating Bulb For Boa Constrictors

Type

While this article covers and focuses on ceramic heating bulbs, there are a few types out there you may wish to consider.

The three main types are halogen, ceramic, and incandescent.

Halogen bulbs usually require more energy, but they benefit from putting out heat and UVB at the same time.

For boa constrictors, this isn’t necessary.

As with most snakes, the boa will get its calcium and vitamin D all from its diet.

Incandescent bulbs are the kind you see around your house usually.

It uses simple technology to put out heat directly related to the wattage.

These bulbs are usually cheaper and put out good light as well as heat.

They don’t put out much UVB, but this isn’t needed for boa constrictors.

The main downsides of incandescent bulbs are how they don’t last very long, and they’re not energy-efficient.

Ceramic bulbs are the ones we’re focusing on for this article.

Typically, they cost a little more, and they don’t put out any light.

However, they are quite energy-efficient and last a long time.

They also produce a wider range of heat, so the heat penetrates spaces farther than most other bulbs.

For a boa constrictor who requires a larger space in their habitat, this type of bulb may be the ideal.

With ceramic heat emitters, you have to watch out for the socket connectors.

Often ceramic bulbs will put out a lot of heat directly on the lamp itself.

For this reason, you need to make sure the lamp can handle the higher heat.

The socket needs to be ceramic or porcelain at the least.

Otherwise, the socket and electronics will melt, and the lamp will be unusable after a short time.

Power

For most heating lamps, you need to keep a careful eye on how much wattage the lightbulb puts out.

The watt amount is directly related to how much heat is put out.

Higher watts mean higher heat.

For ceramic bulbs, you’ll need to look for a watt range of 100W to 250W.

Don’t go much less than this, or it won’t put out enough heat to penetrate the whole space.

Keep in mind because the boa constrictors habitat is so significant, you may need to use multiple ceramic heat bulbs.

Lifespan

The lifespan of your heating light is a key factor in which one you buy.

Ceramic bulbs usually cost a little more than regular bulbs, but as a trade-off, they tend to last a lot longer.

In the long run, this may save you quite a bit of money.

Even within the ceramic bulb category itself, there is some variation on how long they will last.

You may think you’re getting a good deal by buying cheaper, but if it doesn’t last long, you’ll be replacing them often and losing money.

There are usually two numbers to consider:

The first is the lifespan, usually measured in hours as put out by the maker of the lightbulb.

The second is what other people say the lightbulb lasts.

For reputable companies, the numbers are pretty close.

For those looking to make a buck, the numbers are often way different.

Our reviews below will take into account what the company says and what actual users have experienced.

Penetration

With the majority of pet reptiles, you don’t need to worry about how far the bulb sends its heat.

Even with the relatively large bearded dragon, the tank size will be heated by most heating bulbs.

The boa constrictor grows to a massive length.

It needs at least 10 ft.² of ground space.

We recommend minimum dimensions of 6′ feet long by 2′ feet wide by 2′ feet tall.

This is more space than a standard heating bulb can handle on its own.

Looking at the different ceramic bulbs, you need to be careful to pick one which puts its heat out far.

Power is good, but spread and penetration are equally important in this case.

This isn’t always clear when reading product descriptions, but we’ve got you covered with our research.

Check out the reviews below for information on this quality.

Quick Temperature Requirements Guide For Boa Constrictors

As mentioned above, the space your boa constrictor needs are 10 ft.² of floor space. 

Then there are heat and temperature markings if you need to hit.

You’ll be looking for three specific temperature marks in the habitat.

• 90° – 95° degrees Fahrenheit (28-32° C) basking spot
• 82° – 90° degrees Fahrenheit (32-35° C) overall temperature
• >78° degrees Fahrenheit (26° C) night time temperature

After leaving the heat on for 12 hours, you need to turn it off to allow for a day-night cycle.

Keep in mind; ceramic heat emitters don’t give off light, so you’ll need to couple the heat with an LED light to help draw a difference between night and day for the snake.

Depending on the tank’s size, the temperature of the room, and the exact bulb you get, you may need more than one ceramic heating ball.

Most owners use anywhere between 3 to 7 bulbs depending on the type and these other factors.

Review Of The Best Ceramic Heat Emitters For Boa Constrictors

In this section, we’ll take each of our picks for the best ceramic heating lamps and talk about their features.

Look for how these features translate into actual usage and what customers had to say about the products.

Simple 150W 110V Ceramic Infrared Heat Emitter

This simple and affordable ceramic bulb is an excellent introduction to ceramic emitters for those unsure of their quality.

The 150W power is ideal for the large boa constrictor space.

It does require a porcelain E26 socket, or the socket will burn due to the emitter’s high heat.

The infrared heat of this emitter spreads out evenly from the emitter’s source, heating a whole tank without too many cool spots.

The higher power option means you won’t need too many of these to get the habitat up to temp.

As with any heat emitter, the ceramic bulbs stay very hot to the touch for an hour after turning it off.

BYB claims the emitter lasts for 20,000 hours or more. If this were strictly true, they’d last for 4.5 years!

In most users’ experiences, they will last for at least one year and more likely start to burn out around two years.

Pros For This Product:

• Affordable
• Long life
• Good heat output and penetration

Cons For This Product:

• Runs very hot to the touch

BOEESPAT Ceramic Heat Emitter 250W/150W/100W/60W

BOOEESPAT’s ceramic emitters are quality products and come in a wide variety of options.

These are medium-priced products, but buying the packs will often result in a lower price.

This is what’s currently available as of this writing:

• 60W (1 and 3 pack)
• 100W bulb (in 1,2, and 3 packs)
• 100W/150W combo
• 150W (1, 2, and 3 packs)
• 250W single pack

The flexibility with bulbs choices allows you more control in how many you want to buy and what power.

Infrared heat emits from the bulb without light, letting you use this at night (though we recommend using it little at night).

BOEESPAT claims the bulbs last for 15,000 hours. This would be just over three years. 

Users say this is accurate, though note it seems to lose power around the 2-2.5 year mark.

Pros For This Product:

• Lots of options
• Last a long time
• Give off good heat

Cons For This Product:

• Heat doesn’t penetrate as far as some others

OMAYKEY 75W 2 Pack Ceramic Heat Lamp

OMAYKEY’s 75W ceramic lamp bulb is a quality product at a medium-high price for the wattage.

However, OMAYKEY’s reputation in dealing with lamps, heaters, and bulbs is solid.

Some other companies will have bulbs that spontaneously die out long before their time.

This just happens with bulbs sometimes.

But OMAYKEY’s products have a much lower rate of failure.

It lasts around two years before dying and gives off good heat penetration.

The lower watts mean you’ll need more in the tank to get it up to temp.

Pros For This Product:

• Great quality
• Lasts for a long time
• Penetrates heat well

Cons For This Product:

• Lower overall heat amount

Zacro Reptile Heat Lamp 150W with One Digital Thermometer

Zacro Reptile is a trusted reptile company, and this ceramic emitter shows why.

The 150W bulb comes in at an affordable price, and it even comes with a digital thermometer for checking different spots in the boa constrictor’s tank.

The heat output is stable and penetrates far.

Zacro’s only failure with this product is in the shipping and packaging. Sometimes they arrive cracked or without the thermometer.

They do a good job fixing this, but if you’re in dire straits and need a bulb, you may not want to mess around with replacements.

Pros For This Product:

• Great heat and penetration
• Trusted company
• Easy to use
• Comes with thermometer

Cons For This Product:

• Sometimes problems in transport

OMAYKEY 100W 2-Pack Ceramic Heat Lamp with 1-pcs Digital-Thermometer

This is OMAYKEY’s value pack for ceramic emitters.

As usual, the emitters are top-notch and durable over a couple of years.

For a higher price, you get two 100W bulbs and a digital thermometer.

The bulbs give off efficient heat and penetration.

But at 100W, you’ll still need a few to raise the temperature of your boa’s tank.

Pros For This Product:

• Durable and reliable
• Last a while
• Good penetration

Cons For This Product:

• Need several heat emitters

Commonly Asked Questions

Do I need to use a ceramic heating bulb in my boa constrictors tank? – No. A ceramic heating bulb isn’t the only option.

You may also choose to use a halogen bulb or a standard incandescent bulb.

Ceramic bulbs are popular because they’re energy-efficient and give off a lot of heat.
They also last for a long time.

Do boa constrictors need UVB light? – No, boa constrictors don’t require extra UVB lighting.

However, experts do say that the UVB lighting won’t hurt them at all.

If you decide to keep living plants in the boa’s cage, you will need to add some UVB lighting to keep the plants healthy.

Are boa constrictors dangerous to people? – Typically, no.

Boa constrictors, though large and fierce-looking, are one of the more docile snakes and reptile pets to own.

They rarely bite.

In general, boa constrictors squeeze their prey, so they wouldn’t bite anyway.

They won’t squeeze at you either unless they’re startled or stressed.

Even then, it’s not dangerous as long as you stay calm and unwrap them by lifting the tail.

Also, never allow them to wrap around your neck.

What is the size of a boa constrictor? – While constrictor size depends on the number of factors such as diet, gender, and age, adult boa constrictors are expected to fall within a certain average range.

For female boa constrictors, they may grow up to 8′ to 10′ feet long.

Male boa constrictors are smaller, usually reaching between 6′ to 8′ feet.

Do boa constrictors lay eggs? – No. Boa constrictors are one of the few reptiles which give birth to live young.

Conclusion

Now you know how to better navigate the many options out there to find the best ceramic heat emitters for boa constrictors.

Each of our picks would be a good fit for any situation.

Now it’s up to you to decide what you want to try.

Ceramic heating bulbs need to have enough power, lifespan, and penetration to heat the large habitat space.

The habitat setup may seem tricky at first, but once it’s done, all you need to do is enjoy your boa constrictor friend.