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Heating 3/4 wood cages

hodgepodgepython Sep 06, 2009 12:58 AM

I know this has been touched on before here, but with the way things change, maybe there are some new ideas out there.

I have aquired some really nice 5ft by 3ft by 3ft cages, i want to dived each one in half making 2 cages each for ball pythons, more room than a 32 q tub for sure...

I need to heat through 3/4 inch plywood and I do not like the idea nor do I have immediate tools to make a false bottom or cut out a spot for heat tape. i have experience wiring Flex, but im not sure what would be best in this case and how flex would heat through for one and how it would handle the weight from the cage.

any new ideas?

Replies (3)

tokaysrnice Sep 06, 2009 09:43 AM

I like Radiant Heat Panels.

chris_harper2 Sep 08, 2009 10:33 AM

For that big of a cage you'll probably need something more than "belly heat" anyways. RHP's would be my first choice, bulbs in some sort of guard my second.

The larger Stanfield and Kane heating mats would be a distant third and even then I would only use them if the cages were going to be in a room warmer than 75* during the day.

>>I know this has been touched on before here, but with the way things change, maybe there are some new ideas out there.
>>
>>I have aquired some really nice 5ft by 3ft by 3ft cages, i want to dived each one in half making 2 cages each for ball pythons, more room than a 32 q tub for sure...
>>
>>I need to heat through 3/4 inch plywood and I do not like the idea nor do I have immediate tools to make a false bottom or cut out a spot for heat tape. i have experience wiring Flex, but im not sure what would be best in this case and how flex would heat through for one and how it would handle the weight from the cage.
>>
>>any new ideas?
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Currently keeping:

3.5.5 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)
0.0.3 Rhynchophis boulengeri
0.2 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata
0.2 Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae
0.0.3 Rhamphiophis rubropunctatus
1.1.1 Morelia viridis (Aru & Merauke locale types)
1.0 Morelia clastolepis
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

markg Sep 10, 2009 12:06 PM

Without cutting the floor (and I don't blame you for not wanting to), you have 2 options:

1. A heat pad inside the cage, like the Kane 18x18 or the Stanfield or Ultratherm.

2. Overhead heating, in which case the Radiant Heat Panel is the easiest and probably safest to deploy and control.

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Mark

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