Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking to heat two different cages:

1) An Animal Plastics cage for a burmese python. Do I need the belly heat or can I get by with a dome lamp for heat? He stays hydrated (trust me on this one!) and I'm looking to save $$ on my electric bill. Plus, if Animal Plastics installs heat pads on the inside of the cages, I always think this is a potential risk, even if it is covered, etc. This particular snake drinks a lot and seems to urinate every other day (urates and liquid).

2) A boa constrictor, BCI, who lives in the garage. He does well outside because he enjoys the FL humidity. We get great ventilation in there with the windows and the screen door. He is in a heavy wooden cage with a screen running the length of the back and a screen door along the front. This cage is new for him this year. I need to heat it this winter and I'm not sure of the best way to go about it. Perhaps a RHP and covering the screen would be best? I am in Central FL and the temps do not get very cold, but I want to protect him from cooling and having any health issues. I don't have any room for his large cage indoors, but I have considered purchasing an additional, smaller AP cage and stacking them.

If anyone has any best case scenarios for these boys, I'd appreciate it!!

I would get an AP for both. If your boa is a male, once it is mature, if it isn't now, it will likely rub its nose raw on the screen trying to get out looking for a mate. You don't have as much to worry about without a female, but I would still remove any ability for him to injure himself, and the current cage you described is a hazard in that department.

The Cable installed by AP in their cages is not inside the cage. It is snaked through a groove in the bottom panel. If you flip the cage over you can actually see it on the bottom. When you place the cage on a solid smooth surface there is a slight air space that allows some circulation around the cable. This is a good thing as any fully enclosed heating device has a higher chance of causing a fire. The cable is also designed for radiant heating in homes and as such I feel is the safest available for reptiles. Though as you mention, it will cost more to heat a cage using this than other methods. Though both RHP and Lights are high wattage to get the right temps.
You will also need to top quality thermostat, either Helix or Herpstat.
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I live in central Fl. also. My porch boxs have ceramic emitters on a thermostat, and caged. I use peg board instead of screen. On those cold nights I just put a heavy blanket over it, you'll have to experment with overhang to get the temps right

Belly heat is usually the most economical method of heating. For large snakes, it is not as effective if the room gets cold. Looks like where you live, that is not as much a problem, so belly heat could work for you.

If using belly heat, like Flexwatt under the AP cage, make sure you elevate the cage up a little for air, use a thermostat/controller and you will be fine. Proportional controllers are the best for belly heat, hands down, period, and keep your energy usage to a minimum. Also, use a thin layer of substrate if using belly heat.

Overhead heat is a great way to heat large areas and big snakes, and you certainly can go this route, as it is often alot easier to deploy in a big cage or wood cage. A ceramic heat emitter with a wire cage around it makes a great heater. With a proportional controller, you will reduce energy usage compared to an ON/OFF thermostat. Radiant heat panels are also great, and you do not need a wire cage around them. Red heat bulbs work well too. For plastic cages, radiant heat panels heat the cage top the least, so I advise that for AP cages.

If using bulbs, make sure to mount the bulb fixture on a metal outlet box. This helps to heat-sink the cage ceiling. ESU Reptile makes a Bi-Light fixture. You can mount it to the inside ceiling of the cage (use washers to space it so it doesn't touch the cage top directly), clip some screen across the opening, and you're good. You can use 2 bulbs with it, one for day and one for night if you get timers. Or use both with low-wattage bulbs (like 40 watts) and use one controller for both.
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Mark