Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone, I am moving towards the keeping of sand boas for the first time, and I am planning on setting up the cages before the purchase of animals. I have been keeping herps for 30 years, but have never kept boids for any length of time (I kept New World, temperate venomous).

So now I have to set up cages for animals that require belly heat. I am going to be using 10 gallon aquariums and was hoping that people could recommend good sources for providing belly heat. I see that there are a number of companies that offer such products, but I am interested in hearing what is tried and true.

So, what are your opinions, what products have you used that have given good results? As I don't have a rack system set up I guess that undertank heat pads would be preferable to heat tapes? And I tried flexwatt tape before, and it damn near started a fire due to a hotspot.

Thank you, Alex

I use one ZooMed heat pad under one end of a ten gallon tank. Works well for me. I buy then off Ebay. When it get cold in the house I use a 60 or 75 watt light bulb with a reflector on the tamk screen lid for extra heat. I live in Northern Minnesota where it gets every year to at least 40 F below and the house has chilly spots at night. I use a Zilla metal mesh cover. Be sure to use lock downs at each end of the screen.

For 10 gal tanks heat pads are probably easiest. If you get the same type for all tanks (same watt-density), then a single temperature controller can be used for all if you want.

I like Ultratherm heat pads (see The Bean Farm) alot. Not only are they functionally solid and well-priced but also come in various sizes for almost any setup. Any heat pad out there will work however. I have some Intelli-Temp from Big Apple. Great pads as well (those use 3-prong plugs FYI).

You must use temperature control. I think proportional is best for heat pads and other underbelly heating. Set it and forget it. Well, set it and check on it periodically is actually what you do.

Keep in mind that heat pads/tape will not help with air temps in open-screen-top cages. Sandboas are all belly anyway and heat up nicely that way. Still, you may need to keep air temps at least at or above 70 deg for best results with those snakes. A room space heater is probably best for that, or else cover most of the tops of each tank during cool times of the year so heat from the heat pad stays in there better.

I had a young sandboa escape. He spent the Winter somewhere in the house. Temps in the house varied over Winter but got into the low 50s inside alot. Found the boa in early Spring in the same room he escaped in, and he was just fine. Looked like nothing happened. I could be wrong but it even seemed like he was a tad larger than when I lost him. Tough snakes for sure.
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Antaresia maculosa
Antaresia childreni

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