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best way to heat big cage

J

Jakeb

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I'm going to build a 6x2x2 melamine cage for my 5 foot red tail boa, but im not sure on what to use to heat it, any suggestions welcome
 
My personal preference in that setup would be a radiant heat panel. There are a number of good ones out there, but I'm partial to ProProducts (ProHeat) because of the wide selection of wattages and sizes. That isn't the cheapest option - but the RHP will most likely outlast that cage.
Alternatively, you could rout a channel under the floor and install heat tape. The room temp should help keep the ambients in an acceptable range
 
i was looking at those also, but will the heat pannel just heat the basking area, or the whole enclosure?
 
also, should i put the heat panel in the inside of the cage, or on the bottom outside the cage?
 
Heat panels get installed inside the enclosure.

I would reconsider making such a large cage for your red tail boa. 48" x 24" x 18" is plenty big enough for boas. The smaller enclosures are easier to keep up with heat and humidity.
 
I'm also in the process of building a large terrarium and was advised to use a radiant heat panel. Mine will be installed inside the enclosure at the top which will provide not only a basking opportunity, but a range of temperatures from top to bottom with the top being the warmest, of course. The snake would then be able to go up or down in order to regulate its temperature. That works for beauty snakes like mine, but I don't know much about boas.

A mod on this site tested reptile basics radiant heat panels for them and was pleased with the results. He has a link to that info on my Terrarium thread in this same section. If you call reptile basics and describe you terrarium, type of snake, and the ambient room temperature they can suggest the wattage you will need.

Good luck and post pics!
 
Tom: I understand that a smaller cage is easier to heat and keep humidity, but please keep in mind that the snake would prefer to stretch out and move around. I do breed snakes and realize when you have a lot of snakes a cage 6' x 2' x 2' is large. But I also care more about the snakes welfare then my room space and money constrictions. If you are not able to have a cage that is appropriate for such a large animal, then you shouldn't keep large snakes. I do not believe that keeping an adult red tail boa in a 48" cage is appropriate.
 
Radiant panels are safer than flexwatt or heat mats but both will do a better job than heating top down. Heat rises, no way to beat science.
 
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