Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am undertaking a big project for my snakes. I’m building a multi sectional, wood and glass, display for my 7 snakes. The individual enclosures will be appropriately sized for the individual species. I am going to have timers and thermostats for each cube. I completely understand the importance of a temperature gradient (hot and warm side). My question is what type of heating element would you guys use in a wood all around except the front panel and who makes a programmable multi sensor thermostat for use in this type of setup? What kind of slick lighting would you all use (for viewing except the Bearded of coarse)?

Thanks for your input!

1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.0 Irian Jaya Carpet Python
0.1 Corn
1.1 Ball Python
1.0 Blood Python
1.0 Bearded Dragon

For heating in a wooden enclosure, RHP's (radient heat panel) would be sweet, not cheap but are made to last.

pro-products.com/

For t-stat, I have picked up a couple of the Herpstat Pro's Each with four seperate probe/output proportional heating.

Try www.beanfarm.com/cgi-bin/store/agora.cgi
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
12.24 BRB
11.13 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I would use Radiant Heat Panels or Ceramic Heat Emitters inside the cages. If using CHE's, make a wire mesh barrier around it so the snakes and your arm cannot touch the hot element.

Also if using CHE's, use a ceramic socket. I use the little ones made for lamps (with 2 wires attached) instead of those big outlet box models. I use epoxy paste to cover the contacts where the wires are connected, and then I bolt it (#6 screw) to a 1/8 thick 1" wide x 6 long" piece of aluminum extrusion (Home Depot). The aluminum acts as a heat sink. Mount the socket/aluminum assembly to the cage ceiling with bolts and spacers so the aluminum bar does not touch the wood directly.

I'll post a pic in the near future. This setup doesn't heat the wood very much compared to a flush-mount socket.

your idea for the ceramics sounds great definately try to post some pics,i want to make sure i do it right,thanks