Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Any help will be greatly appreciated. I am in the process of building a cage for my first boa[this time] when her time comes. The cage measure 4ft/2ft/18in.There is a shelf on the left and side back corner which measures 1ft by 2ft. The cage is constructed out of 3/4 in cabinet grade plywood. There wasn't any 5/8 in.available. With tracking for sliding glass doors not yet installed.
I will be heating this cage with a 24in piece of flex watt controlled by a helix. There is no way that the flex watt can heat through the plywood. Some say to router out an area and lay linoleum or plexiglass over it. Doesn't the flex watt need to have air to it? I was thinking of cutting a hole in the bottom and overlaying a piece of plexiglass over the entire bottom of the cage and attaching the flex watt to the underside of the plexiglass. Would this be strong enough to hold an adult female? Should this be put under the shelf or on the opposite side? Oh the cage will be lighted with a 14in florescent light installed in the top center.
Any idea and the answer's to my questions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for any and all help.Hope everyone had an amazing new year. Thank you again.

Eric & Heather Baker

I would rout two levels, an area to fit a piece of glass of appropriate size so that the glass would be flush with the cage floor, and within that area so as to create a lip for that sheet, a deeper area that I would put a bottom layer of glass or ceramic tile and the flex watt like a sandwich. Then you would have a smooth-top snake heater. The flex doesn’t need air. You could use sheet metal, but the glass would be easy to clean, waterproof, and I think it would look pretty cool. I wouldn’t use plastic. You might consider this whole thing something you could build and attach to or set on the floor instead of routing into your plywood floor.

I like that idea, Thank you. Would you put it under the shelf or on the opposite side of the shelf? Awaiting wood putty to dry in screw holes. Will take pictures when cage is done.Thanks again for your help, It is very much appreciated.Hope every one has a wonderful day. Take Care.

Eric & Heather Baker

I was thinking of cutting a hole in the bottom and overlaying a piece of plexiglass over the entire bottom of the cage and attaching the flex watt to the underside of the plexiglass.

I have done this but have not used plexiglas. Instead I would recommend 1/4" expanded PVC or maybe even FRP, both of which are known to be better at transmitting heat than acrylic.
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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

Thank you for your help Chris. It is very much appreciated. Hope all is well with you and yours.Have a great weekend.Pictures of the progress coming soon.

Eric & Heather Baker

Have you seen the available radiant heat panels? So much easier. A 40 watt panel will do nicely in your cage. Just look on the classifieds or on the banner on this page!

If you do use Flexwatt under the floor, I agree to use expanded PVC. In the cage plywood floor, cut out a rectangle about 2 inches longer/wider than the Flexwatt. Cover the entire floor with the PVC. Tape Flexwatt to the underside of the PVC in the cutout. Use aluminum tape. Or velcro dots.
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Mark

Thank you for your help Mark. It is very much appreciated. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Eric & Heather Baker