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I am about to build a cage for my red tail boa who is getting too big for his twenty gallon

Plans are 4X3X4 with two door on the front and one on top
I want to use plexi glass on the bottom so I could use heat tape or a heat pad outside of the tank.

Would that be ok, and if so how much heat tape should I use. Enough to cover half the bottom? I want the cage to be slightly taller so I can run a log across for the boa to climb on this will be his final cage.

Thanks for the help

I have a display cage unit that is roughly that size. I used a 1 foot piece of 11" heat tape at one end. This was covered by plexiglass that was sealed with silicone(so if water spilled, there wouldn't be a problem) This setup seems to work well for my animals.

>>Would that be ok, and if so how much heat tape should I use. Enough to cover half the bottom? I want the cage to be slightly taller so I can run a log across for the boa to climb on this will be his final cage.

Acrylic will work but I prefer Sintra, a type of expanded PVC you can get at almost any sign shop. I find it easier to keep clean, less likely to warp and it transmits heat well.

However, I question the use of heat tape for such a large cage. I think a radiant heat panel is a much better choice, especially given the height. A heat lamp is another choice, but don't rely on heat tape alone for a cage that large unless the room is heated to at least 80* F.

But you may want to still use heat tape to provide a bit of supplemental heat.

In that case my favorite design is to go ahead and build a normal cage. Then cut a rectangle out of the floor that is 2" wider and longer than the size of heat tape that you think you'll need. Do not have this opening up against any wall of the cage so it does not come close to screws, etc.

Then laminate a piece of Sintra over the entire floor. This makes the floor more durable and easier to clean so you might as well cover the entire thing.

The heat tape can then be taped to the underside of the Sintra floor using a foil tape with the proper rating.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

He is right. I didnt realize yours was 3' deep and 4' tall. Mine is 4'x 18"tallx18" deep..sorry skimmed too fast.

Radiant heat, yes! If using heat tape use at least 2' of the 11"