Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anybody use these? I have my Spilotes in pairs in 2 ea. 48"x30"x16" melamine cages that were custom made for the guy I bought them from. They have a thin decorative finish on the outside that makes them kind of look like marble.

These were built for BCIs and have a small bulb receptacle in the top left rear corner. Its too close to the top to put much of a heating element in and too tight in tolerances to mount a bulb guard.

As my Tiger Rats stay mostly in the hide box I thought undertank-type heat may be the trick. The ambient temp in my herp room is 78F though I will be dropping it considerably as I begin to cycle my ETBs and Chondros.

Do these go underneath the cage itself? Its 3/4" melamine and I'm wondering if the heat will penetrate and what types of fire hazards they present? Maybe I shoud bite the $$ bullet and go w/IR heat panels?

Thanks,

Bill

I have used the ultratherms from the Bean Farm although not in many years.

I am not a huge fan of using undertank heaters underneath 3/4" melamine. If it were me I would definately to with radiant heat panels, especially for the species in question.

If you do want to use the ultratherms I would cut a large rectangle out of the bottom of the cage that is about 2" longer and wider than size of the heat mat you'll use. Stay away from the edges as to avoid screws or other fasteners. Then I'd cover the entire floor of the cage with expanded PVC or FRP panel (which I think you have used before).

The heat pads can then be attached inside of the cutout and directly to the plastic floor. I would also route a small channel for the cord to run out.

One nice feature of this plan is that it makes the floor more durable. If the melamine is starting to break down at all I would consider going this route. If the floor is in good shape then just go with the radiant heat panel.
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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 my friend! I figured you'd chime in on this post lol!. Yeah, I figure the heat panels are the way to go but I just spent over $2,000 on the new herp room - cages, IR panels, Helix controllers, Rainmaker, etc. etc. I also have one more Barrs cage and two Helix panels I just ordered last night!

I may have to sell a few "odds-n-ends" that I've been on the fence about.. 0.1 Moluccan Scrub, and 1.1 IJ Carpets. I need to either pair up the Scrub or sell her and the IJs just don't figure into my future plans - just so dang pretty and easy to keep!

Besides, Scrubs have a funny way of growing really big really fast, which will necessitate another big ole' cage in 2 years or so!

Bill

Never thought I'd hear you say you're considering selling the Moluccan Scrub for some radiant heat panels, LOL.

Come on man, put a light bulb over the Spilotes and keep the Scrub. Are you nuts?

Hey, if you need cash sell me your Gonyosoma!! That should give you enough towards a mate for the scrub and some RHP's. I'm actually serious about this, although I doubt you'll do it.
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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)

Hah! Thanks Chris for helping me make up my mind! Ths Scrub stays! No way I'm selling the Goynos! These, like my Calabars, are my "labors of love". After all the tinkering etc. to get them to breed reliably I'm hopelessly devoted to the buggers. Nothing is cooler than a newborn Calabar, though baby Goynos rank about as high.

I did trade some baby Bearded Dragons for an adult male Emerald today! Well acclimated import that I'll dose once more for parasites, then feed him for 2 mos. or so and start the cycling! His arrival puts me at 2.5 ETBs so it should prove to be a very interesting Winter!

I'll snap some pics of the IJs soon. I figure I'll just buy the panels for the Spilotes and wait for the Amex bill to hit my wife's pub table. That ought to give me enough time to fabricate a great excuse or two!

Bill

Bill,

Glad to hear you're keeping the Scrub. I don't keep any but I'm actually a huge fan of the Indo-Australian pythons. White-Lipped, Timor, Olive and Scrub python are among my favorite species, although of those I have only kept White-Lipped long term.

There is an outside chance I'll be getting a group of Australian Olives but that decision has not been made yet.

If you need any help pairing up that Moluccan Scrub let me know. I have a friend who gets to hand-pick through Indo shipments and he might be able to help you out.
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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)

You should post some pics of those IJ's
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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
0.0.10 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
1.0 Child -coming soon-