Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is what I'm thinking. Two 8'x3'(D)x2'(H) pine cages. Each cage will have: Two plexiglass doors that swing down from the front (Boaphile style.) Sealed interior with Helmsman spar urethane. Lineoleum floor sealed with aquarium joint sealer (as well as the other interior joints.) Drilled vent holes on each side about 3 inches up from the floor. Now my question is, do I just use a Kane heat mat inside with a thermostat, or how difficult is it to use flexwatt between the lineoleum and the floor? Cobra heat mat? Has anyone done this?

While there are manufacturers that seal the Flexwatt into the cage, Flexwatt is not supposed to be sealed in, it's supposed to have some air flow. I just built a melamine multi-cage unit and used the Ultratherm heat mats mounted on the interior wall of the cage ( www.beanfarm.com carries them) with a Helix thermostat. So far it's worked very well and I'm pretty pleased. By the way, the dimensions on each of my cages is 4'L X 2'D X 11"H. Also as an idea for the vents, I used 2" aluminum soffit (sp?) vents from Lowes (on the Ventilation isle) and they look professional and work really well.

Good luck with your building project.
Raven

I live in Florida and I keep my house around 75 degrees. I have a Boaphile 321 that does O.K., but I have to raise it 4 feet and put it in the warmest room in the house (around 78.) My new cages will go in a room in the center of the house where it's the coolest.

i like to keep my room temp at 85 ,but thats just me.some keep them cooler,but if its just a pet then i see nothing wrong with being 78 as long as it can get to some kind of heat like in the 90's and a cool side of 78,,,,,,sorry i couoldn't rite more i'm running late

I keep my snakes in the living room, and the ac for the house is usually set between 70-75F. The melamine cages are set on 94F with a Helix thermostat, which gives me a cool end around 80-83F and the heat pad itself at 94F /- on the warm end. Now my Vision cages are heated with heat lamps and I have to use a higher wattage bulb in the bottom cages with decending wattages as the cages get further from the floor. The plastic cages are great in a lot of ways, but the wooden or melamine cages do hold heat better and are easier to regulate. Personally I don't think you'll have any problems controling temperatures in the wooden cages no matter where in the house you put them.

Raven

A

say not to saturate the pads in the manufacturer's literature. They can handle humidity and a wipedown with a damp cloth, but shouldn't be submerged or misted. Even so, I've had no problems at all with them being mounted on the side wall of the cage and occasionally misting the substrate. Here's a shot of what it looks like mounted (with double-sided mounting tape) to the wall. I've had no problems at all in the time I've had it set up (around a month now I guess). The Ultratherm pads came highly recommended by a friend who's used them for years with no problems.

Raven

I only mist 4 days or so before a shed, so I think I'm leaning now more towards the Ultratherms. I just won't spray directly on them-they're made in Scotland, so you'd think they could handle a little dampness!