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I'm about to invest in new cages. I've always liked overhead heat because I felt it was more 'natural', But I'm finding that humidity is way too low (in the 20's). I have to struggle to maintain humidity. Will under belly heat help reduce humidity loss? Which do you prefer? thanks, Ruben

I believe belly heat is almost always a preferred heat source with Boa keepers.
If your talking about Heat lamp/light or CHE ? You'll find they always dry
the enclosure environment out creating possible humidity challenges.
I believe over head heat panels exist also ,
I'm not familiar with their efficacy.
. . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

belly heat is better, you can also put a big water dish over it to create more humidity.

The direction the heat is delivered from has no impact upon your humidity. The quality of the design of the cage has everything to do with the humidity you are able to, are not able to maintain. Cages designed well and made from the best materials, hold heat and humidity very well. That being said; Boas prefer heat that comes from above. I have many cages with shelves in them and without exception, the Boas cages with shelves, that have another cage above, will favor the shelf below the bottom heater on the cage above to the bottom of the cage where their own bottom heater is located. It is certainly more "natural" for heat to come from above. I don't think that is arguable. However, if you use properly designed cages that are stacked, the bottom heater of one cage becomes top heater to the cage below it. My own cages have the heaters on one end. The heat from the cage above radiates downward as well as upward. This gives the gravid female a warm spot that is fed heat from above and below. Perhaps the best of both worlds. It's great stuff and fun to fine tune everything.

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I use vision cages for my adult boas, I have 40 watt incandescent bulbs for overhead heat and supplemental belly heat for the colder parts of the year and constant belly heat for the floor cages.

As far as humidity is concerned overhead lights do tend to dry out the enclosure, I can control that to some degree by blocking off portions of the ventillation screen in my cages.

I think the best method to control humidity is a slight misting two or three times a week, this also alows you more contact with your animals.

Depending on the style of cage you will be investing in you eill probably find most of the better quality cages will hold humidity much better than your old set up.
What cages are you considering?

Joel

Thanks everyone for the help. I currently use the showcase plastic cages. I have 1x4footer, 2x2footers. They are similar to vision cages. I think I could probably improve the situation by just closing more of the vents. I started obsessing over the humidity once I got my first Suriname a few weeks ago. I could continue adding to my current cages but they are so pricey. I'm thinking of switching over to good ol' boaphiles.

i used both for a while

and i perfer the radiant heat panels
its much more natural and snakes(in my opinion)
use the heat better from above than below
and you do not have to worry about depth of substrate used

the humidity level can be adjusted several ways.
by room method of by cage
i use a large digital room type to adjust basic humidty

if you want to rap about it just give me a call!
1-540-529-0976
mark@boamaster

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Mark Venhorst
venhorstrocks@aol.com
www.boamaster.com