Reptile & Amphibian Forums

so i've spent a lot of time here doing research on which type of caging i'd like to go with, and the ones that seem to best suit my needs are animal plastics. i'm in college and really havent settled on an apartment i'd like to stay in, so the collapsability is perfect for moving around a lot, and i also like the general style, and design. i'm planning on getting some of the 48"Lx30"Wx18"H model T13s for my blood pythons.

anyway, i'd like to heat them with radiant heat panels, but have a few questions. if i remember correctly RHP's can only be used with on/off thermostats, but i'm not positive so if someone could give me a definite yes or no on that it'd be great.

i like to keep my bedroom (where the cages will most likely go) about 72 degrees F, are radiant heat panels going to be able to give me enough heat? i'm looking at about 82-88 degrees F.

and my other main concern would be what size to get, should i get one that runs the entire length of the cage because theyre narrow and allow for a gradient from front to back? or should i get one that will only cover a portion of the cage to allow for a gradient from side to side?

the reason i would like to go with the panels as opposed to the built in belly heat is that i've had some bad experience with UTHs and figured if they couldnt lay on top of something (seeing as it's attached to the cieling) there's almost no possibility of burns.

and finally, i believe they're completely sealed, but, will they hold up under the amount of humidity required for bloods?

any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks

-voodooh

The problem with radient heat panels or any above heat sorce is that it robs you of humidity. I just got done removing all my above heat and then heated my entire floor with heat pads set with a thermostat to 80-85 degrees my humidity is way up and my air temp is good as well. As for light I use as small of wattage as I can get 25watt just for lighting. With Bloods I would not go with above heat at all.---Eric---

Hi.

I can't help you with Blood Python related info but I sure can help you with RHP info since they're all I use.

I use RHPs with proportional thermostats. Have been doing so for about 10 years.

My typical room temp ranges from 67 - 68 to 72 or so. I am using RHPs in various size plastic cages ranging from 24 x 12 x 12 to the 6-foot custom Neo (67 x 30 x 18). I also have the 4-foot custom Neos which are the same dimensions that you list -- 48 x 18h x 30.

In that size cage I use a 12 x 18" RHP mounted towards the rear of one end, and I also have a small 6 x 12 panel over the center of the cool end. I may disconnect the little panel for the warmer months.

Ideally you will not have wide open vents in the cage -- that's a sure way for the humidity to leave your cage. (FYI, humid air has a different pressure that drier air and the humid air will seek to equalize with the outside air through openings in the cage.) So if you have just the vent slits in the back that would be much better than a wide open lamp vent that acts like a chimney -- letting the heat and humidity right out.

As you probably know already, belly heat alone will do little if anything to warm the cage air. With belly heat, unless you have a nice warm room all you'll get is a cold cage with a hot spot. So the RHP will let you get the temps you need in the cool end as well as provide a nice basking area.

Since you have Blood Pythons you will need to monitor your cage humidity more closely than with other boids.

The RHP manufacturer should be able to answer any and all questions about their RHPs and specific applications. Whenever I need advice I just give them a call.

Regards,

Bill