Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am having a wooden enclosure made for me and should be ready in the next few days. It is a double with two enclosures in one solid unit. It will be 8'x3'x18". There are two cutouts on each level for dome lights. I don't want to use CHE's or bulbs as the sole source of heat. I was thinking of heat rope or cable on the backside of the unit. The back piece of the unit is 1/4". Belly heat is tough because it is 3/4" birch, so I don't think heat tape is an option. Any suggestions on heating this enclosure would be appreciated. Thanks.

You could do belly heat, I'm sure others can go into detail as they have done this. What I've seen done (never done it myself as I go a different route usually) is they cut out a portion of the floor the size of a section of heat tape or an ultratherm heat mat, and put a piece of 1/4" or 1/8" expanded pvc over the cut out section, that way its thin enough in that area to allow for belly heat to be effective.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

Thats eggzactly what i did...i cut a hole 6 X 18 to fit my heat tape..i cover the 3/4 plywood entirely with 1/8 plastic sheeting that i got from a local sign shop...they can cut the plastic in any size you want...and they cut it with a machine i think, much straighter than what i could have done..i think the 4x8 sheet cost me 30 bucks...hope this helps...

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1.0 Albino Ball Python
0.2 normal ball pythons
0.2 normal Redtail boa
1.1 100% Het Albino Redtail boa
1.1 Bearded Dragon
0.1 GF Eryn (WC)

I am thinking of using one of t-rex new ceramic heaters. It is supposed to be cool to the touch. Or get a red light buld. I found a buld cover at a farm store and thought that might work.

Wood enclosures heat beautifully with CHE's or bulbs.

Plus, if this cage will be housing large tropical snakes (I'm guessing by the size of the cage), you need to heat a large area, not just a heat pad on the floor.

Radiant heat panels work very well in large enclosures. They screw into the ceiling - that simple. Use a controller.

www.pro-products.com for info on heat panels
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Mark

A month ago, I switched my wooden cages over to RHP's from Pro-Products. I really like them and they seem to work great. My cage sections are smaller than yours but they do make RHP's in many sizes and wattages. You can't just buy one, they will ask you all about your cage, animal and rooom remps and let you know which one would be best for your specific application.

Old pics of my cages (Pre-rhp)

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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I also looked into those, but the initial cost was prohibiting. I will still probably end up with those. Todd

I thought of the idea of RHPs but was told they may not be best for high humidity (ie..retic and burm). Cutting out a piece of the floor wouldn't be my first option but sounds like it might be the most effective. I appreciate all the replys. Thanks