Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am debating whether to purchase or make an enclosure for my IJ carpet pythons. For those of you that have built wooden cages, what is the SAFEST way to provide heat? I am partial to flexwatt for my python racks, but is it really safe inside an enclosure? I plan to use either 1/2" or 3/4" wood ( 18" x 36" x 18" approx.), so flexwatt would have to be used inside the cage, correct? What methods are used to ensure safety for heating the cage? Heat panel, flexwatt, rope lighting, etc.?

All comments and advice would be most appreciated. Pics if ya got em'!

TIA and take care,
ToddG

I use heat tape in my melamine enclosures and like always Chris and I recommend using the flexwatt under a thinner material. Often making the bottom out of one material with a recess for the amount of flexwatt. Over which the entire bottom can be skinned in either PVCX or another thinner material.

Of course there are lots of different options you could make the bottom a framework of material and have jut the thin PVCX or other material over the frame the heat tap could be taped to any part of the skin from below.

I myself use heat tap but rather than use it below the cage I use it in the side and back. Because I use tileboard for a backing in all my cages, the thin 1/8" melamine coated hardboard. It is easy to tape the heat tape directly to the back and cover with reflectix to save energy and heat efficiantly.

Like I said many possibilities just have to decide which is best. If I had to do it all over again I would use a RHP for my boa cages rather than heat tape.

Good Luck

-----
Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

Thought I had replied to this post...

No, you do not have to use flexwatt inside of the cage. To further comment on Jeremy's post...

My favorite way to use undertank heating in a wooden cage is to cut a rectangle out of the floor that is about 2" longer and wider than the size of flexwatt (or whatever UTH, heat rope, etc.) you'll be using. Keep this cutout away from any wall of the cage so it maintains structural integrity.

Then just laminate a piece of vinyl flooring or expanded PVC over the entire floor. Then just use the appropriate foil tape to attach the heating device to the underside of the plastic floor.

This makes the cage lighter, easier to clean and provides an air space for the heating device.

Now, with all that said, I'd still prefer to use a radiant heat panel for just about any cage. Pro Products is my first choice.
-----
Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Thanks for the advice. I am still undecided whether or not to build. If I do, leaning towards the heat panels.

Thanks again,
Todd

Nice snake BTW.

If your cage has lots of vertical room and a shelf or branch for the snake to stay off the ground, then Flexwatt on the cage floor may be less desireable than overhead heat.

I don't think Flexwatt on the back wall will help you much, and Flexwatt on the ground forces the snake to stay on the ground to bask. For a rosyboa, fine. For a carpet python, not the best setup I would imagine.

I'm a fan of ceramic heat emitters. The pros: the wavelength of the radiation emitted seems to penetrate into the muscle. I'm not taking that from an advertisement, put your arm under one and see for yourself. Snakes make good use of basking spots when you use one of these. The cons: bulb and heat shroud get ultra hot. You must shield the bulb from the snake and from your hands.

Heat panels are really great for heating a larger area than a single bulb. Plus, they don't get burning hot and don't waste energy heating the ceiling.

Someday I'll post pics of my own heat mats I made, basically from heaters encased in PVCx. I put these right into the cages under the substrate for ground-dwelling snakes. They have more thermal mass than heat pads alone and so heat more gently so to speak and are moisture-proof.

I have a setup for a yet-to-be-here young carpet python. It has one of these PVC heater things I made attached to the back wall and one under the substrate. The shelf butts up against the heater on the back wall. After some testing, I abandoned the back wall heater and went to overhead heat.

with a darker substrate to absorb some of it as well. I suppose it is cliche to using overhead lighting as I did with our 8' x 4' x 18" cages. I actually use 2 (or 3 in the winter) 75 watt day bulbs in combination with 4 night heat lamps at 100 watts each. I use a dual thermostat control system and timers for all heating. I have 5 thermometers in each cage (total of 2 cages) to see what my temperatures are in different spots. In the daytime my heat gradient is very large due to my (2 or 3) 75 watt day bulbs (at night not so much). I also used some home made drop in bulb protectors to protect my animals from burning themselves. Each light (rather day or night) has its own mounting base that is easily removed for changing. Take a look at the pictures. Probaby much easier to see than explain.

-----
2.1 RTB (Zander, Ridick, Liliana)
1.1 Burms (Vladamir, Natalia)
0.1 Lavender Albino Retic (Katerina)
1.1 100% Het Tigers (Nicholi & Charlamaine)
2.3 Silver fox rabbits
many, many, many, many rats
"So, just how big a boy are ya???!!"