Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I want to build my Ball Python a cage that is 4' by 18" by 18" out of Melamine. Right now I heat his 40 gallon tank by using a heat mat/heat lamp, but I know that it won't be able to heat through the Melamine bord.

How do you think I should heat it? I was thinking of cutting a hole in the top and covering it with wire. Then i can use a heat lamp to heat it. The down side I can think of is that he won't get the necessary belly heat.

Also, what kind of substrate do you think I should use if I can't find a reptile carpet big enough? I was wondering if anyone has used reptile bark and if they had problems? I am also thinking that tiles would be a good choice because they are attractive and the hold heat well.

I am open to all ideas and I'm curious as to what you guys think!

Thanks

Nothing wrong with using several reptile carpet pieces...do it often.
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Mike and David at 3-D Pythons
www.3dpythons.com

Belly heat is good, but many people have successfully kept and bred their pythons using overhead heat lamps and no heat pads (wood cages don't really allow the use of most heat pads). My ball pythons is kept in a tank with a red heat lamp overhead, and it doesn't seem to affect him in any negative ways. I mean, he's still getting the heat. When he's in hiding, the warm hide spot is just plain warm inside, but when he decides he wants belly heat, he usually sits on top of his hide spot that had warmed under the heat lamp. He's only done that once or twice so far though. Keep in mind that when the heat lamp heats something up (like the ground), that does give the reptile(s) belly heat.

I personally prefer using overhead heat for my reptiles. I'm curious about those radiant heat panels though. I'm going to build my python a melmine enclosure this summer (I've built three furniture quality enclosures for other reptiles, but those tend to take way too long to make). I plan on heating it either by a red bulb, or a radiant heat panel.

I have built some nice furniture grade wooden cages as well but I bought glass for the bottom. Local glass places make glass to about any specs. I got 1/4 inch tempered for each tank. Put the belly heat on there, works awesome. I think belly heat is a significant need of larger snakes to help with diestion among other things, less so on smaller species though I personally do it for all of our Balls. They probably are right on the cusp of that size transition. But that's just my opinion...
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Mike and David at 3-D Pythons
www.3dpythons.com