Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone. I am not new here by any means I just don't post much. Anyway I am starting a new two enclosure unit. The outside dimensions will be 56" W X 40" T X 24" D. I know the width and height sound odd but it will be made to fit a niche in my house. The unit will be horizontally divided to create two units approx. 20" tall each. I have a baby granite burm and this will serve as his home for about a year. Also a Peruvian red tail will be housed here for a while. Anyway my question is about an RHP. I have never used these and I wondered if the heat would transmit from the bottom unit to the top very well. I will be mounting the RHP to the top of the bottom enclosure (which is also the bottom of the top enclosure) confusing huh?

Also I am looking for more natural ways of putting water in than just a plastic tub. Any ideas?

Lastly, I am interested in some different types of lighting, I dont like the look of flouresent, and the thought of a naked light bulb inside there sort of makes me cringe.

Sorry so long and thanks for the help.

>>Anyway my question is about an RHP. I have never used these and I wondered if the heat would transmit from the bottom unit to the top very well.

A true RHP will transmit very little heat to the above enclosure, assuming it's 3/4" plywood. Which brand are you specifically going to use?

>>Also I am looking for more natural ways of putting water in than just a plastic tub. Any ideas?

I have built cages with subfloor hide boxes and water bowls. Basically thing of a single row of a lidless rack below the cage. Some acting as hides, some acting as water bowls. You can cover the front with a false drawer front.

But it sounds like you won't have room for this if you're only limited to a total of 40" of height.

>>Lastly, I am interested in some different types of lighting, I dont like the look of flouresent, and the thought of a naked light bulb inside there sort of makes me cringe.

There are some compact fluorescent fixtures and halogen fixtures that are supposed to be suitable for cage interiors and provide better lighting than typical fluorescents. I don't know much about them however.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

2.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

4.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

I dont know what type of heat panel I will put in what do you suggest? Also what other types of heating would you suggest trying in a low profile cage like these?

I like Pro Products RHP's, although I have to admit I don't have an RHP of any type at the moment. More than anything, I like the degree of customer support that comes a long with the product.

Any cheaper ideas than RHPs?

There are probably a lot, but that's not really my area of expertise. Light bulbs are cheap but you will get some heat transmission. And you also have to build or buy some sort of ugly guard to protect the snake.

There's always flexwatt under a plastic floor, but I'm not a big fan of that option.

The cheapest option is to use what you have available, if anything.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

2.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

4.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

hi

I believe I have used these as well as Kane heat mats during my zoo days. They are very nice and durable but can get extremely hot. Make sure you have a controller with the appropriate wattage rating.

ultratherm heat pads from bean farm. use them in my two 54"Wx32"Dx18"H cages that house my boa and burm.