Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm really interested in the Boaphile, but am uncertain if the ventilation would be adequate for a BTS. The only ventilation is a gap around the door ( I believe it's 1/4 inch):
www.boaphileplastics.com/cages.html

The showcase cages have a 16x8 screened vent (some have more than one).
www.showcasecages.com/single_unit_cages.htm

I'm looking for something that allows me to stack another cage on top of it - that's why I'm not looking at aquariums.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks!
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i would certainly put either of my skinks in that cage with confidence...looks like a nice product.

Thank you - I was really hoping the boaphile would work for me.

Now I just need to figure out the lighting and heat. I can purchase overhead heat or belly heat. Which is better for a BTS?

Thanks again!
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i was looking at the specs of that cage...even though bts dont really need much headroom, that cage is already very low, so in that scenario i would go with the flexiwatt heat pad, but i would also get a low profile flourescent light for regular lighting...the heat pad is cheaper anyway, and as long as your bts will be able to adjust his/her body temp,they will be just fine...try to make it about 90-95 on the warm end and low 80's on the cool end. good luck tiger, let me know how it works out.

Thank you, I was thinking about the under tank heat too.

Have a great day!
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If BTS's are diurnal wouldn't the light intensity play a role in it's overall wellbeing? I'm just curious because I know with beardies it plays a HUGE role with their health. I'm not just talking about the UVB, I'm talking about light intensity.

Oh yeah, I have a boaphile plastics for my python and I think they make an awesome enclosure. Everything seems really well designed and built. Very aesthetically (SP?) pleasing as well.

You are aware boaphile can put an incandescent light fixture in there aren't you? Just checking.
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Rob Talkington

I looked back at my posts and realized I didn't explain my thinking clearly - that's what I get for being on the Internet at work! LOL.

What I was thinking about was having the under tank heat installed and an incandescent fixture (probably for a Powersun). I was thinking both would be used for daytime and just the belly heat at night. I planned on putting the under the tank heat on a thermostat so that it didn't get too hot, but was considering both additions as maintaining heat might be a bit of a challenge as I plan to place against an outside wall. I figured by going with these 2 sources, that night time temps won't drop too much due to the outside wall. If my thinking is wrong, please by all means let me know. I do plan on getting a Boaphile for my Ball Python in the next month or so (before the one for a BTS), so that may give me an opportunity to see how the cage does against that wall and allow me to make a better decision on the BTS cage heating/lighting setup.
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>>I looked back at my posts and realized I didn't explain my thinking clearly - that's what I get for being on the Internet at work! LOL.
>>
>>What I was thinking about was having the under tank heat installed and an incandescent fixture (probably for a Powersun). I was thinking both would be used for daytime and just the belly heat at night. I planned on putting the under the tank heat on a thermostat so that it didn't get too hot, but was considering both additions as maintaining heat might be a bit of a challenge as I plan to place against an outside wall. I figured by going with these 2 sources, that night time temps won't drop too much due to the outside wall. If my thinking is wrong, please by all means let me know. I do plan on getting a Boaphile for my Ball Python in the next month or so (before the one for a BTS), so that may give me an opportunity to see how the cage does against that wall and allow me to make a better decision on the BTS cage heating/lighting setup.
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>> Check Out My Albums
>>
>>1.0 Ball Python
>>"Aragorn"
>>
>>1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
>>"Gimli"
>>
>>0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
>>"Kira"

I think the fixtures they put in the boaphiles are for a max of 60 watts. I also think any powersun is going to be too much heat. Something to keep in mind is the amount of heat you are going to need a light to produce is going to be a lot less than if you are using an aquarium with a screen top. The boaphile is going to be completely enclosed and I think a 60 watt with your UTH will be plenty of heat. I'm not positive on that but I'd put money on it (maybe $5.00 or so).

I though about using a boaphile for my beardies and I was planning on using a reptisun 5.0 for the flourescent fixture with a 60 watt spot for the other light. but then how do you get your skink close enough to the flourescent for it to do any good? At the same time are you worried about your skink getting UVB? I've seen different opinions on this and have zero experience with skinks so I can't really comment on that.

I'd talk to the guys at Boaphile plastics. I think his name is Bruce and he will help you out on what you are going to need to make everything work right. Just let him know what the requirements are and you guys can probably come up with something good.

BTW, if you do come up with something good please let me know!
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Rob Talkington

You're right about their incandescent fixture only taking 60 watts. I'm thinking you're also right about the powersun being too much (I think they start at 100 watts anyway)since we're not talking about an open aquarium with screen top.

I figured I'd rather play it safe and add the UVB. Even if they don't need it (since it is debated), I haven't seen anything saying it could be harmful - please, someone let me know if there is such info out there.

The cages are only 11.5 or 17.5 inches in height (I'm thinking of the 17.5) so I don't think the issue of getting them close enough to the flourescent is any more an issue with the Boaphiles than it is with any other caging method.

I did find out the measurements of the ventilation (the gap around the door) is 1/10 of an inch.

I will contact them for suggestions on this setup and let you know what I find out.

Thanks!
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Since you said the cages don't offer much height, I wanted to clarify which cage you were looking at (the 11.5 inches high model or the 17.5 inches high model - or both) and how much height is good for a BTS?

Thanks!
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
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1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
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"Kira"

Really, just looks so happy, like hes smiling for the camera

COOL

Eve