Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi!
Quick question, everybody...
For those of you that breed boas in Boaphile 421s-what size heat do you use? I know they come in the 9 inch (x1), the 13 inch (x1.5) and the 22 inch (x2).
If you use the smaller two, do you ever have problems with large (and especially gravid) females not having a large enough basking spot?
If not, what’s your setup-ambient room temps, etc..
I'm using the x2 currently, but thinking of switching to the x1.5.
Thanks in advance!
Aaron

I use the 11"by12" flexwatt.I also use a Ranco thermostat to controll the heat of the flexwatt.I keep air temp at 82 and the heat spot is at 92.Bottom line,you should invest in a thermostat if you do not have one,it makes it easy to keep the heat at a desired temp.Hope this helped!

M/ and T/

-----
www.junglestruck.com

Thanks, Junglestruck!
I appreciate it. I use Helix DBS 1000s for all my cages right now. I used to use dimmers and, when I switched, I didn't know how I ever lived without them!
I’m really just wondering about the size of the basking space. It’d seem like 13x22 might be a little small for a big gravid female, but a lot of my rack systems have small strips for heat. It just always seemed to make sense to have a good sized basking area…still pondering though…
Thanks again!
Aaron
Oh, also, I sent you a message.

I have 2 boaphile cages. the first one, 4x2 and 17.5 inches high required several heating sources (top, bottom and back) because the height made it a little difficult to heat on its own. The second one I got was 4x2 and standard 11.5 inches tall. When stacked, the bottom (smaller) one helps heat the taller one on top. I called Ron when ordering the second one and he was very helpful in helping me decide how much heat to get. I think they both are 1.5 flex tape on bottom and both have a radiant heat panel. Although the 11.5 inch high one is easier to heat, it offers less of a temperature gradient than the taller one. Hope that helps. Either way, I like my boaphile cages and the important thing is the snakes are healthy.
Donna

Thanks, Donna!
What's the ambient temp of the room you're keeping them in?
Aaron

I live in TX so temps are not too extreme. Had the cages against an outside wall at first and could tell that they lost heat that way. Now I have them on an inside wall and they seem to help heat my room! Must conserve energy on the whole house, so ambient temps 60s in the winter... when I'm home I run a small heater in the room. I'm able to run both cages off one thermostat. My boas are pretty smart. After feeding, they head to the warmer side of the cage. Othertimes, they hang out on the cool side. Or in between. If I find them on one side too often, I adjust the heat.

I use 1.5 and have had very good luck. If your ambient drops too low, the really big girls will have a problem staying warm enough. I have 35 boaphiles, and I don't use a themostat on any of them. Craig

Thanks, Craig!
That's exactly what I was worried about. Right now I don't have the luxury of a separate room, but that's coming soon.
I have the thermostats, but was really more worried about the surface area.
Thanks again!
Aaron

We don't use the 421s, we use the 5322's because we have larger females which appreciate a little extra room. Because the cage is higher and longer the heating option will not give the proper gradient (cold side is too cool unless the hot side is too hot)so we use a small space heater in our (small) snake room to keep the ambient temps around 78-80. We actually hooked the space heater straight into the thermostat, and it turns on to heat the room whenever the temperature inside the cages drop, and it has worked very well for us.
-----
1.1 96, 04 Het Albino - "Suzie" & "Lumpy"
0.1 03 Poss. Het Albino - "Ami"
0.1 05 Super Salmon - "CreamSicle"
0.1 04 Anery Het Snow- "Squelchy"
1.0 04 DH-Sunglow - "Dwayne"
1.0 06 TH-Moonglow - "Gargamel"

Gracias, senor! (Had to do it-I'm a Spanish teacher at a community college!)
I was thinking of getting some of the 6ft cages if I had any female get really big as I have a bunch of suris, guyanas and peruvians that I'm raising up.
Also, I was also planning to implement a space heater pretty soon as well. Normally, the room temp stays about 80, but since we're in between cold temps and warm temps, lately, it's been dropping lower than I'm comfortable with, but not low enough to merit the heat.
Thanks again!
Aaron

I am using 96 of the 421D Sized cages. Na na na boo boo Craig... The cages that size, that are in the center of the room, and not against outside walls, are stacked tight front and back and end to end with other cages. The room is kept at 76 degrees. I have a smaller sheet of the same low wattage Flexwatt that the Boaphile uses in those cages that is only 21" X 6" and that seems to work very well. This Flexwatt is held about 6" away from the end and is controlled with a double thermostat, another igneous idea developed by that Boaphile guy. The bottom line; my experience is that talking with "Ron", that Boaphile guy, while he is a little annoying and seems to think a lot of himself, he is very informative. I think he has put together by far the best looking cages I have ever used and my Boas really seem to love them. I have had to clean out so much baby Boa goo out of these cages that we have started making a syrup from it. Very SAHWEEET as they say and really sticks to the ribs. I think the Boaphile guy must be a genius really and good looking as well. HEHE By the way, it's a good idea never to take one's self too seriously...
-----
Boaphile Home
All Original/Boaphile Plastics
The Boa Network

sniffing the glue ........ again!!!

Whatever his name is Ron, Joe, Jeff etc. listen to him, he does make a great cage and does seem to know what he's doing.
-----
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 was hoping to hear from you on this one as well.
It looks like it was late last night when I posted and I didn't get everything across.
I'm TOTALLY sold on the Boaphile cages in general. That's what I'm already using. However, I'm currently using the x2 heat which is 22 inches wide. I was thinking of getting some NEW Boaphiles with the thinner 13 inch heat and/or converting my old Boaphiles TO the 13 inch heat but was concerned about the size of the hot spot.
Dave, I know you have a lot of Boaphiles and I know a little about your thermostat setup from previous posts. What size heat did you get though?
Thanks for your response!
Aaron

I have the 1.5's. I don't think it really matters as long as you have a thermostat. The boa will move around to warm herself as she wants. IMO if I had 2X's I don't think I'd cut them down. Again, a thermostat is the only way to go. The larger heat elements are really only needed if your room temps are low. But again with a thermostat, more element than needed is no big deal.
-----
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

Thanks, Dave!
...and I appreciate your thoughts on not cutting the x2s. I may not. I think you may be right. I'm going to try cutting them down a few degrees. I find a lot of my cages have to be on outside walls because of the logistics of my living situation.
Also, I put in the space heater. It has its own little thermostat and has been working great. It’s keeping this particular room much warmer than the rest of the apartment. The only bad thing is the office is in here, too!

oh, yeah...and EVERY cage in the room is under a thermostat. I agree on that one!

Here I am after a long day of glue sniffing!

Boaphile after gluing!
-----
Boaphile Home
All Original/Boaphile Plastics
The Boa Network

n/p

Hey, Jeff!
Thanks for your response. I replied earlier, but can't seem to find it now!
Here it is...maybe it was pulled. I'll try to clean it up...

Hey, Jeff!
Thanks for the response. I was hoping you'd show up before too long. It's Aaron from the "knack vs. intelligence" and the "what-the-[BLEEP]-is-a-router?!!!" conversation.
I'm still kicking the idea around of switching to a smaller sized heat pad, but may not have the luxury of avoiding the outside walls. I do have another question for you though: We talked about installing heat where there was none before, would it be possible as well to remove a larger heat pad and replace it with a smaller one using this magical "router" tool you speak of?
Thanks, man!
Aaron

You can cut about 1/3 of the Flexwatt off and badda boom badda bang! 1.5X Heat or cut off half and you have 1X Heat. You can cut that with a utility knife or scissors. After cutting it off you will need to put electrical tape at the points where it is cut off just like you see at the end where you are cutting it off. Have fun and be careful with that router!
-----
Boaphile Home
All Original/Boaphile Plastics
The Boa Network

So all I have to do is cut the Flexwatt and cover the end in electrical tape?
No router at all then for that!
Can I just cut it straight or do I need to follow any patterns?
Thanks, Jeff!
Aaron

That's all you have to do if you already have 2X heaters on the cages. Just cut those puppies down a bit.
-----
Boaphile Home
All Original/Boaphile Plastics
The Boa Network

Unplug the heaters first!
-----
Boaphile Home
All Original/Boaphile Plastics
The Boa Network

ha!

Wherever you cut, make sure there are no partially complete heat elements. Some zigzag and others are angled. Make certain any that are cut into are cut completely through.
-----
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

Thanks, Jeff! That's great. That shouldn't really be too hard. So the 6 inch strips are enough to keep your big girls warm?