Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My family has taken on the project of building my 7 foot boa a new habitat. Her current habitat has just a heating pad and rock in it, but in her new one, we'd like to put basking lamps. We were thinking about putting an aquarium-type canopy on the top, hiding the basking lamp resting on a wire top. But Sandy (the boa) is constantly running her nose along the top of her current habitat, and we worry that she will burn her nose on the wire since it will be so hot from the heat lamp. Are there any setups that have a good guard on them to keep her from burning herself, or will she naturally avoid burning herself? (I'd like to give her some credit at least!)

Liz

Follow the link below to see a bulb guard.

Or you can build a false ceiling. A false-ceiling is where you have a frame and the top 8" of the cage (or thereabouts) screened off. The lights and heating elements are above this screened area. In my cage the lights are then accessed from the back of the cage.

I won't go into this any further as it sounds like your boa is a nose rubber. Screen may not be the best choice.

Lastly, radiant heat panels are safe, effective ways to heat cages. They will not burn your animal. This would probably be my first choice for your cage. They do not produce any visible light (at least to humans) and therefore can be left on at night.
Bulb Guard