Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi
I wanted to set up my two Ca kingsnakes in larger enclosures. They are housed in 20 gallon longs and was going to get them each a 55 gallon.
I recently saw two very large clear plastic storage boxes 45 inches long 24 inches wide and high.
My question is can plastic be heated with a regular under tank type pad? . I would like to use these boxes and simply stack them.
Ofcourse I intend to use a temp controller. I know many here use flex watt but for just two storage boxes didnt want to bother with that not to mention I have no electrical ability at all lol.

>> I recently saw two very large clear plastic storage boxes 45 inches long 24 inches wide and high.

The largest tub I know of is the Xmas tree storage box from Iris but it's about 53" x 21" 14".

You can see it at:

http://reptiletubs.com/ve_series.htm

Is that the same box?

You're saying yours is 45"x24"x24"?

>> My question is can plastic be heated with a regular under tank type pad?.

Yes. The only issue with this is when used for tropical species in relatively cool rooms. In that case it's best to have some thermal mass in the cage to help distribute the heat around the box.

For a California Kingsnake this should not be as big of a problem. What you want to avoid is having your warm area get too hot in order to heat the distant parts of the box to appropriate temperatures.

If you find this is the case you can add things like rocks, clay flower pots, and heaver ceramic water bowls to the cage to help disperse this heat.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Thanks for the info. I was thinking of using cobra heat pads which is what I use now and very happy with them but wasnt sure if okay for plastic.
I emailed the co but got back one of those answers which dont really answer anything.
I was planning on setting the temp for the pad like 90 on the warm area the pad runs steady 100 not sure if thats to hot for plastic.
The site you gave me isnt the box this box is clear . I saw it Sat at area hardware store . They had a few stacked . I didnt measure it but those were the measurements on them and they looked it.
Thanks.
Luis

>>I was thinking of using cobra heat pads which is what I use now and very happy with them but wasnt sure if okay for plastic.

Those are supposed to be among the best for plastic - they don't get so hot.

>> I was planning on setting the temp for the pad like 90 on the warm area the pad runs steady 100 not sure if thats to hot for plastic.

No, not too hot for plastic. But if the T-stat is controlling the hot spot for 90* and the temps drop to 65* as soon as you're away from the pad, that's no good. Conversely, if you have the T-stat probe controlling the cool end for, say, 80* and the pad is running hot to do so, that's no good either. Of course in your case the Cobra pad will probably never run dangerously hot, but it may not be able to heat the far ends of the cage.

Again, that's not a huge deal for a Cal King as your room would have to be pretty cold for this to be a problem. But it does describe how a T-stat does not guarantee proper temps throughout a cage.

>>The site you gave me isnt the box this box is clear.

When you buy the box post here and let me know the brand and model number.

Thanks.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Yes as soon as I get them I will post them. I will set the pads at 90 but yes the other side of the enclosure will be 68 .
Thats pretty much what it is now . I heat half the 20 longs with cobra pads but the room I keep them in is 68 degrees.
Both snakes are a yr old now and seem to do well like this and big eaters . They go in and out from warm area to cool area and I have hide areas in both ends of the tank.
These enclosures will be longer tho I intend to use bigger heat pads . Do you think thats to much cool area ?
Thanks again.
Luis

>>These enclosures will be longer tho I intend to use bigger heat pads. Do you think thats to much cool area?

I'm hardly an expert on Cal Kings. I've kept them but have more experience with Florida Kings, which I did keep warmer.

If that is too much cool area you can always set clay pot hides over the warm area and crank the heat a bit. This will do wonders to disperse the heat to the cool end without the hot spot changing much.

You can also put the heat pad between a layer of Reflectix insulation and a layer of PVCX. The cage will sit on top of the PVCX. Both should be about the same size as the cage floor. You can even make the Reflectix a bit wider and wrap it up the sides a bit.

The heat pad will probably have to run a bit hotter but you won't have to worry about the hot spot getting so hot and the heat will be dispersed. But I'd try the clay pot hide idea first.

Just play around, you can get it to work.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Thanks for all your great help/info. The clay pot hide areas for heat is great I never thought of that. the other ideas are great to.
My wife does clay pottery and those are easy enough to make even for her (lol she doesnt read these posts).
I use now the ESU cement type hide caves but will add clay caves with the longer enclosures once I get them.
If I dont get out of work to late today will pick them up.
Thanks again for the help.
Luis

Those ESU cement hides should also work well.

But have you wife build a bunch of hides, especially ones that are long and can be half-on/half-off the area over the heat pad.

You should have no problem unless these boxes will be in a very cold room.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

For plastic cages you are safe to use either the Cobra Heat Mat made by T-Rex or the Dragon's Lair Mats by Big Apple. Both are made so that the temps never get hot enough to cause a problem. There are several brands on the market you should stay away from for plastic units. Zoo Med and Hagen mats are amongst the mat brands that I would not recommend for plastic cages. For additional safety use a thermostat with the mats.

Winston