heating in a wooden cage

[jimmyg]

i'm probably going to have to build my cages out of 3/4" ply wood
it's going to be a tower with 3 or 4 enclosures, my problem is i don't know how i'm gonna heat them!
right now i have my boas in 40 gal. breeders heated with a light over the screen lid or a human heating pad under the tank
i don't think i can use the dome lights because the enclosures will be stacked on top of each other and i don't think the heating pads will heat through 3/4" plywood!?
this will be my first attempt at building an enclosure and i want to do it right the first time
if you have any suggestions at all they will be greatly appreciated
i really want to have a game plan before i start cutting the wood
[addsig]

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[ss26969]

i would use a ceramic heater [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
[addsig]

[jimmyg]

that's it???
i thought i would get more ideas here
[addsig]

I use the radiant heating panels in such cages here.
[addsig]

[Barrin]

Thanks for askin the question dude...
I just made my own cage today.
It is 4feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide and 1 1/2 feet high.
I cut a big hole in the top and stapled screen onto it and
I am just gonna place a heat lamp on it.
it looks really pimp! I spent the whole day on it...
but it seems as though you are buildin a diferent style... yours sounds like it is gonna be really cool. you might wanna put a heat light or a ceramic heat emiter and just use some sturdy screen material as a barrier. like in the corner or on top and screen arround it so the snake wont burn itself. Good luck dude, and I if you would send me a pick after you finish...
Peace. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
[addsig]

[XzyluM]

Sounds like you're building sort of like a rack. I really don't have any solutions except for a CHE. I'm building a 4' x 2' x 2' enclosure with wood and sliding glass doors in the front and I plan on using a Thermostat and CHE.
[addsig]

	Ceramic Heat Emitter Ceramic Heat Emitter: A porcelain heating device that screws into a standard porcelain incandescent socket

[NYCSpeedcore]

I would suggest getting a good marine sealer and put like 4 good coats on the wood before you put it together. I am not a big fan of wood cages, even melamaine ones. Glass and plastic is the only way I would go, they are much more sanitary and easily cleaned. Anyway, as far as heating goes definatly go with a radient heat pannel and a flouesent light with caps for lighting. This way you can keep the ballest and whatnot outside of the tank and only drill two small holes. To heat the bottom... I hate putting any heating pad inside the cage, but you don't have an option with wood. I would buy a T-Rex Cobra heat matt since it is completely sealed and put pleanty of paper and substrate over it in addition to a reostat.
[addsig]

[NYCSpeedcore]

One thing I just realized I did not add... you should fill in every joint and corner with silicon when you are done as well. Make sure you let the sealent air out for about two weeks before assembling the cage. It takes awhile for acrylic for example to fully cure and stop giving off vapors. If you put the cage together too soon it takes even longer for the smell to go away.
[addsig]

[jimmyg]

thanks for the advice
yesterday was my birthday and i got all the materials to start this project
will start first thing in the morning i've been planning this for about two weeks can't wait to get at it!
i'll let ya know how it turns out
[addsig]

[steelegrrl]

Howdy,

I just finished building my Boa a large (some may say excessive) cage. It is wood and Plexiglass and is 6'W x 4'T x 4'D. He is spoiled. I have been traveling alot and felt guilt at leaving him cooped up for so long is his old 4x4x2 cage.

He gets to move in next week when the sealer and silicon stop sending out vapors.

I heat the box with CHE's and a spot basking light. He also has a Cobra pad near his heat box.

I am using real plants in the new cage for better humidity.

I am having trouble locating a fixture that will hold a 48" Reti Fluorescent Light. Does anyone have any suggestions?

If I had built stackable cages (if I lived in a home with 30 foot ceilings) I would have put all the CHE's and lights in the back and made a box around them too. I use heavy screen and place the heating elements a couple of inched off the screen so he can not burn his nose. His last owner not only improperly heated him, but also fed him live rats, so he has scars on his body and nose from old wounds and burns.

Also, I line the cage with newspaper (only about 4 pages) and then cover it with smooth river rocks. I find that I only have to clean a few rocks and a small piece of newspaper if he makes a mess in between the major cleanings. The rocks seem to dam up much of the mess.

Hope some of this helps,
Sherry


[addsig]

	Ceramic Heat Emitter Ceramic Heat Emitter: A porcelain heating device that screws into a standard porcelain incandescent socket

[Brad_J]

They have 48" light fixtures at Home Depot or Lowes for under $10.00 [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
[addsig]

[fullofbull]

You could always wire in some 4" flex watt heat tape and secure it to the bottom of each cage.

[addsig]

[Ed_r]

In my 4x2x2 I just use a CHE with a thermostat and mounted a flourecent lamp. Simple and easy
[addsig]

	Ceramic Heat Emitter Ceramic Heat Emitter: A porcelain heating device that screws into a standard porcelain incandescent socket

[Relayer]

Are the flourescents necessary or will regular room lighting do?
[addsig]

[impermanentrage]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>Are the flourescents necessary or will regular room lighting do?
_________________

</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Well your goin' to get quite a few different answers to that question. So many variables in that i don't know where to begin. Most snakes however require very little in the way of direct lighting, and IMO i believe it can be detrimental to their overall well-being. Think about it, when was the last time it was 90F at mid noon and you saw a snake sitting in the middle of your yard soaking up light? Right. Very rare. Natural room lighting should be adequate. Most snake species avoid intense light , for obvious reasons.


<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>I would buy a T-Rex Cobra heat mat </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>


I wouldn't see why a human heat pad for the lower back set on low or medium wouldn't be sufficient under the same conditions, for trhe same purposes. Just try to ensure that you take precautions. Although, i've yet to have a human heat pad set on low get anything above mildly warm.


_________________
&quot;We are destined to become the most well informed society to ever die from our own ignorance.&quot;
Edward Abbey

	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion