Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Over the winter months Im going to start building my own cages.

I figure I'll start buying things here and there and after Christmas start my project (I should have everything purchased by then)

My question is, what is the best/most cost effective/safest heating source to use with a cage built of most likely of 3/4" oak plywood? Radiant Heat Panels?

I would like the enclosures stackable, so I think that eliminates any light or emitters from the equation. Altho if the emitters work best I could always find a way to work around the stacking issue.

Just curious and would like some input.

Thanks!

RHP's all the way. They're safer, more efficiant and produce radiant heat that reptiles love. They may cost a little more off the bat but quickly pay for themselves.
Nate

My question is, what is the best/most cost effective/safest heating source to use with a cage built of most likely of 3/4" oak plywood? Radiant Heat Panels?

It depends on the species and the temperature of the room, etc. For some diurnal basking lizards a RHP might not be enough.

So what is going in these cages?

I would like the enclosures stackable, so I think that eliminates any light or emitters from the equation. Altho if the emitters work best I could always find a way to work around the stacking issue.

I have used both lamps and ceramic heat emitters in stackable wood enclosures. I either built a guard or used a false ceiling.
-----
Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Right now a Bull, a Ball, and a Corn. In the works on a Russian Rat and would expect to have her before I begin building the cages in January.

I would prefer to go with a single heat source per enclosure rather than more than one and try and keep them uniform.(ie if I use RHP for one, id like to use them for all. I understand this might not be possible, just a preference tho)

I'm still in the very, VERY early process of this. So dimensions and whatnot havent been drawn up and most likely will have several different sizes of enclosures. Bull cage will be larger than the corn cage, etc.

I have a good friend who is a carpenter and is assisting me when it comes to the building of the cages, so I just need to get everything I need, give him the drawings and let him go to work.

The false ceiling idea I hadnt thought of, thanks! I'll keep that in mind if RHP is not the way to go.

I think a RHP would be ideal for your situation & species.
-----
Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Forgot to answer temp of the room.(I get absent minded sometimes)

Its a heated/AC room. So temps wouldnt flucuate too much even with the changing of the seasons. 70-75 or there abouts.

The only things with running the heater, etc would be keeping the humidty where it needs to be, but with the species I currently have I dont see much issue. However if I end up getting a BRB down the line, Im sure I may have to take steps in providing something alittle bit different.