Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Who here has Boaphile cages (or any cages similar; total enclosures, basically) and what sources of heat do you use (given that you cannot provide overhead heating)?

Is it common just to use under-tank heaters or something else?

Thanks
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Adam

"I wish I were wise! I wish I were wise from the heart of me, like my serpent!"

I use flexwatt heat for belly heat and also have the herp room heated with an oil filled heater. Works great.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

Just wondering if you can drill a lot of air holes in Boaphile and AP cages?

Mike

>>Just wondering if you can drill a lot of air holes in Boaphile and AP cages?
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>>Mike

I have found that XPVC is easy to machine in all regards.

The only suggestion I would have on drilling would be to use a drill guide of some sorts or at least start the hole with a punch to prevent drift if using conventional high speed twist bit.
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Larry Stroud - Fort Pierce, Florida

If you use one of those step-bit drills, like the Unibit product as an example, you will get a perfect no-burr hole in any plastic cage.

If you desire more ventilation though, a good approach is to cut a hole (hole saw, router or jigsaw) and silicon some screen over it.
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Mark

As Larry and Mark said, yes you can. I'll even go a step further and say AP cages absolutely have to have it done. Otherwise the terrible design regarding airflow will result in stagnant air in the enclosure. I had to drill an additional 20 or so 1/4" holes in my AP to get the air to anywhere near an acceptable level.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

I have Boaphile cages and Jeff does have UTH heating options. I think in three sizes so you can tailor your heat to your needs. He also has a RHP option but I have not seen/tried it so have no valid oppinion.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

The Flexwatt installed by Boaphile works well when your room temperature is above 72 deg or so - this assumes we are speaking about keeping boas. The installation is really nice. They make it so cages can be stacked while each has undercage heat. And it is replaceable.

Radiant heat panels (RHP) work nicely in any plastic cage, so you can use overhead heating if you want. I like RHPs because they are safe to touch, easy to install, efficient, heat a wide area and allow the reptile to fine-tune its basking needs, being that the gradient is, well, more of a gradient than a heat pad surrounded by unheated floor. Price is high unfortunately. Such is life.
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Mark

>>Who here has Boaphile cages (or any cages similar; total enclosures, basically) and what sources of heat do you use (given that you cannot provide overhead heating)?
>>
>>Is it common just to use under-tank heaters or something else?
>>
>>Thanks
>>-----
>>Adam
>>
>>"I wish I were wise! I wish I were wise from the heart of me, like my serpent!"

I have AP cages with heat cord and flexwatt this does not provide enough heat in a room that is below 68 degrees. Right now I am using a 58 watt RHP and keeps the warm side 86-89 degrees and the cool end 68-70. This room is only heated to 60-65 degrees.

My AP racks are in the same boat 80-83 is the highest temp that I can maintain in a 60-65 degree room using flexwatt and a Helix control set to 90 degrees. Flexwatt, Heat cord and UTB heat pads from zoo med do not work well in temps lower then 68 degrees.
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Jason A.
"Long time Herper, first year Breeder `07."
My 2008 Care Sheet & The BRB Stats. Username: brb@kingsnake.com