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I am thinking of building a 4x2x20" cage for my boa out of melamine. I am looking at 3/4" melamine, but am concerned about using a heat pad on the outside of the bottom like I do in his glass cage right now.

Will the heat permeate through 3/4" melamine? Would it be safe to install the pad or some heat tape inside the cage secured to the floor? How does everyone else do it?

I would use a radiant heat panel with some sort of temperature regulating device. That keeps the snake from laying on it and will provide the heat needed.
Just my two cents.
-JT

That seems like the best option. I have a RHP in my monitor cage, hooked up to a rheostat and it provides a nice basking area and also keeps my hot side hot enough.

I've also read that there are heat mats that can go under the substrate inside of the cage. I am guessing they are waterproof. Also, flexwatt can go inside?

Kane heat mats work very well inside a cage. Cage must be deep enough. For example, the 18inch Kane heat mat needs about 22 inches of depth to allow for the power cord grommet to fit.

I also think RHPs are the easiest way to go with big snakes.
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Mark

With RHPs, how do you heat the substrate on the warm side if there is a warm side hide? Won't it just heat the hide?

I'm thinking of a 4'w x 2'd x 20"h cage for my salmon boa

RHP heat energy radiates downward. Depending on the distance from RHP surface to the object below, it will heat objects below surprisingly well, even go through some hides like cereal boxes and such. You will be surprised. Many kinds of snakes love this type of heat.

I would go with at least a 12 inch high cage if using an RHP. For a 20 inch high cage, you may or may not need a platform or branch for the snake to be able to get a bit closer to the RHP. Depends on how cool the room is. I had a 20 inch high cage at one time with a male boa. During Winter i put a wood platform in there to get him closer. In Summer, I took it out.

Here's a female under an RHP.

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Mark

What about terra cotta hides? Will the RHP heat through that? I could just do a kane mat under the substrate too. Both ideas are manageable.

>>What about terra cotta hides? Will the RHP heat through that? I could just do a kane mat under the substrate too. Both ideas are manageable.

Will heat the terra cotta. The snake will then warm up if butted up against the inside top of the hide. Can't tell how much or how little, so much depends on the ambient conditions and the distance between the heat panel and the snake.

What I can tell you is that every RHP configuration I have used has heated the snake nicely, with much more of a heat gradient compared to a heat pad. Heat pads are hot over the pad and cold everywhere else. For a kingsnake, the abrupt hot to cold (heat pad) is fine. For a large boid, it can work well if the room is kept a reasonable temp already so the cold is not so cold. IMO, gradual hot to cold is better.

Kane will work because its large enough for the whole snake. Boa can defecate on it, you can spill water on it or mist it. Just don't immerse it under water.
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Mark

>>I am thinking of building a 4x2x20" cage for my boa out of melamine. I am looking at 3/4" melamine, but am concerned about using a heat pad on the outside of the bottom like I do in his glass cage right now.
>>
>>Will the heat permeate through 3/4" melamine? Would it be safe to install the pad or some heat tape inside the cage secured to the floor? How does everyone else do it?

If you are like me and have tons of heat tape on hand and little surplus cash for RHP's then perhaps another solution may work.

Many keepers have cut out the floor of a melamine cage for the heat heat tape. Yes I mean cut a hole all the way through the product. After the floor has the hole they cover the entire floor from the inside with another material. This could be 1/8" PVC, FRP, tileboard, or I've even heard people using formica and linoleum.

The point is to use a product that heats easier than melamine.

Another option is for those using heat rope to route a groove in the melamine to lay the rope. Then cover that with the thinner product.

There are lots of options, I prefer the RHP however I have tons of heat tape on hand. So I can understand why people like to stick with in. I also have heat rope. The important thing to remember is the need of the animal and the safety of the product used. Heat tape needs to breathe!

Best of Luck
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.0 Ghost
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0.2 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Anerthrystic
0.0.1 Normal

0.1.1 Morelia Viridis