Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm in the process of trying to get a cage set up for my next snake.

I am thinking of buying a Kane heat mat and I'm wondering if those of you who use them like them.

In particular, how hot do they run? Too hot to use without a thermostat? What thermostat do you use? Can you use it as the sole heat for the cage?

I know there are incidences concerning snakes getting burnt on hot rocks. Is there the same problem when talking about these heat mats? And what temperature is too hot for a boa, so I know ahead of time?

Is the 18"x18" heat mat big enough for an adult boa to utilize? It seems like it would be, but I figured I'd ask anyway.

Thanks.

And of course, any other aspect that I haven't mentioned that you can contribute concerning the use of these mats would be greatly appreciated.
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alstiver@hotmail.com

Currently own:
1.0 '01 Hypo snow cornsnake (Tesla Coil)
0.1 '02 Ghost (pastel) cornsnake (Banshee)
1.1 '02 Bloodred cornsnakes (Desi and Luci Too)
0.0.2 Goldfish (Isamu, and Yuki; RIP Kabuki)
1.0 '99 American Eskimo mix (Rusty)

Next to be added:
0.1 '03 or '04 Hypo Nicaraguan boa
1.0 '04 or '05 Type II Anery Nicaraguan boa

I use them but they are very expensive and they need a good dimmer or a thermostat. Mine came with a dimmer but on the lowest setting it got to 115. I also have been using flexwatt heat tape that is allot cheaper and just as effective and I prefer it over the kane's heat mat

Well, the problem with using heat tape is it wouldn't work well in a melamine cage (at least so I've heard), and that is the type cage I'm planning on using.

I've considered radiant heat panels, but the ones I have found that look to be made the best are twice the price compared to a Kane heat mat.

If anyone has any other heating ideas I'd be glad to hear them. (I do know about the possibilty of using ceramic heat bulbs, but I've had problems with them in the past and would rather not use them.)

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alstiver@hotmail.com

Currently own:
1.0 '01 Hypo snow cornsnake (Tesla Coil)
0.1 '02 Ghost (pastel) cornsnake (Banshee)
1.1 '02 Bloodred cornsnakes (Desi and Luci Too)
0.0.2 Goldfish (Isamu, and Yuki; RIP Kabuki)
1.0 '99 American Eskimo mix (Rusty)

Next to be added:
0.1 '03 or '04 Hypo Nicaraguan boa
1.0 '04 or '05 Type II Anery Nicaraguan boa

for 2 or 3 times the price of a big kane heat mat you can get a 4' long boaphile plastics cage with heat biult in shipped to you for free.
Just a thought...
won't have to worry about or deal with the melamime...
LOOOOOOOOTTTTTTSSS of advantages of the Boaphile's over the melamime...
check it out....
http://www.boaphileplastics.com/
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'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo

Another option for actual cages are the Moonstruck cages advertised in the KS classifieds - $199 shipped for their 4' X 2' X 12" cage. Here's a link to the ad:

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=22&de=147714

They also come with a built-in heat source. I'm seriously considering them for my next cage purchase.

Raven

I lay them on one side and drill a hole through the back of the cage for wiring. I have had good experiences with them, except for one.
They generally heat up to about 100 degrees or so without a thermostat. SEVERAL layers of newspaper and/or thin rocks (shale/slate) will dissipate it a bit to a perfect level.
They do throw off warmth, just enough to warm the whole 6' ventilated cage to about 82-86.

MY ONE PROBLEM was that I had one plugged directly in the wall without a thermostat and somehow the thing malfunctioned and shot up in temps until it melted and twisted the heat mat!
I smelled burnt paper, looked in and saw orange/brown paper burns. I touched the newspaper and burnt my hand - the newspaper registered at 241 degrees!!! imagine the heat mat!!!
I don't know how long this went on for, I had checked in the cage because my female was shedding.

I did notice some white burn marks on my females back, very visible after her shed.
Could this have been happening and cause her to go into shed? or did she do it naturally and just happen to burn herself in the process? don't know....

I contacted the person I bought the mat from and they replaced it for me, hoping to send the faulty mat to the manufacturer.

Hope this helps.
Joe
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'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo

Hi Amanda,

I use the 18" x 18" Kane heat mat on all my wood cages.
I think they are the best heat mat you can buy.
The mats on my 3 cage unit have been turned on for over 5 years
and they still work just like new.

I mount them to the underside of my wood cages. I do not put them in the cage.
When using them this way you do not need a rheostat or dimmer switch.
The floor of my cages are 3/4" plywood and the Kane mats heat the cage up just fine.
I find I do not even need any other heat source for my cages. My cage temps are 88 to 92 on the hot side
and 72 to 75 on the cold side. If you do use them in your cage you will have to get a rheostat or a dimmer switch.
As they will burn your snake. I have had the mat by its self get over 115 degrees.

I used to use ceramic heat emitters in my cages too with the heat mat but now all I use are the heat mats.
If you can not find the Kane heat mat where you live, I do sell them on my for sale page on my website.

Take care,
Tom McCarthy

McCarthyBoas.com

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McCarthyBoas.com --------- Thanks & Take Care Everyone