Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am planning on finishing a room in my work barn for my snakes as my ball python collection and breeding efforts grow. I live in the northeast and the winters get quite cold so i was planning on insulating the crap out of the walls and and the room is about 100 sq ft. I was thinking of heating it with a thermostatically controlled propane gas heater rather than electric heat. Has anyone done anything similar or have any advice on heater models or run into any problems?
Thanks very much

This may not be much help at all. I live in minnesota so I get to deal with the same wintery crap. Anyway, Some of my friends have outdoor workshops that they heat with the in floor heating. Its run by a water heater with a grid of hoses that are in the concrete. The room can be temp controlled from the water heater. This works excellent and will keep any size building warm on the coldest days

One disadvantage to propane is that you'll get a strong layering effect from top to bottom in your room. This can be a good thing if one is keeping a variety of species but may not be desirable for a room that primarily holds ball pythons.

I also think propane is quite expensive in the Northeast.

If you have the capacity my first choice would be large radiant heat panels run on 220V.

My snake room is in the back of my garage in South Dakota and I use electric radiant heat at 220V for heat. Even when it's below zero outside I can heat that room for probably just a couple of cents an hour.

When you finish this room make sure you insulate the floor, especially if you plan to use radiant heat. Also be sure to use a foil faced insulation.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

0.0.4 Rhynchophis boulengeri

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

0.0.1 Rhamphiophis rubropunctatus

0.0.2 Morelia viridis (Aru & Merauke locale types)

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

>>I am planning on finishing a room in my work barn for my snakes as my ball python collection and breeding efforts grow. I live in the northeast and the winters get quite cold so i was planning on insulating the crap out of the walls and and the room is about 100 sq ft. I was thinking of heating it with a thermostatically controlled propane gas heater rather than electric heat. Has anyone done anything similar or have any advice on heater models or run into any problems?
>>Thanks very much

I live in North Dakota. Its been below -25° ambient this year. My garage 20' x 22' insulated and running "The Hot One" a electric wall heater from Menards. Hasn't been below 55°F...take into consideration the thermostat is set at that point...LOL

Heater is on Low and turned almost all the way down.

The nice thing with Electric...no fumes or worry of CO poisoning.

Cheers
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile
Specializing in Boa Morph's

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic