Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am planning out my cage as best I can before I build it. I have the basic structural stuff figured out .. most of it is going to be 3/4" plywood with outdoor polyurethane sealer. What I'm wondering is aside from the obvious lamps, how and where would I put a heat mat on the thing? Yeah I could put it under the bottom but thats alot of wood between the mat and the interior of the cage and I just don't think it'll do the job right. Any suggestions?

Tom

0.1 BCC red tail

Radient Heat Panel..... such as those from Pro Products.

http://www.pro-products.com/
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Jeremy

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

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

I also recommend a Radiant Heat Panel from Pro Products. However, I definitely DO NOT recommend an exterior polyurethane for the inside of a snake cage. Unless you mean one of the few waterborne exterior urethanes, then I think it would be okay. But even then you'd want to use an interior product. The exterior products have to have UV inhibitors added and be more flexible to deal with the exterior environment. I know it seems counter-intuitive but this actually makes them less water resistant, which is what you really need in a snake cage.

I can go into this more if you like, but I may not have internet access until this weekend.

Whatever you do, try to avoid using an oil based polyurethane on the inside of a snake cage.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Malaysian locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

What I did in my home made cage was to cut out an area of the bottom slightly larger than my flexwatt (at least two inches in from each edge). I then routed a grove for the electrical wire and the thermostat line. I cut a piece of FRP (from Lowe's) and glued over the inside of the bottom and sealed the edges with silicone. I then stapled Reflexit (Lowe's) under the bottom to cover the flexwatt. This is just another option if you wanted to try. lol, Dave

Very good suggestion, although not the most economic it works great.

One problem traditional FRP is textured and can make cleaning dificult. There is a company that makes smooth FRP but I can't find the link. That would be a better skin or PVCX is another option.
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Jeremy

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

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

I agree with Chris harper on the sealer. I used an interior water based sealer and it worked great. Have had the tanks for 2 years now with no problems. It was expensive though but worth it.

I personally think overhead lighting is best in a wood cage. Radiant heat panels are also good but are more pricey. I wouldn't be comfortable wiring flexwatt on the bottom even if it was covered. I'm sure it could be done safely but to me it doesn't seem worth the risk, especially when overhead heat works so well.