30BR setup opinions wanted.

[jack jones]

I anticipate upgrading to a 30BR Zilla Critter Cage within the next few months since my boy is now at about 3 ft long and is living in a 20L with two Exo Terra Large reptile caves.

I've done well with the 20L keeping foil on the screen and an overhead infrared lamp. Cool spot/ambient runs 73-78 (night/day), heat mat keeps warm hide at 90-92. Humidity is always 55%-70%. He tends to favor his cool hide and I believe part of that is because the lamp is near the hide and I'm sure it absorbs some of the heat.

I was going to go with a similar setup for the 30BR, but with extra large Exo Terra reptile caves, and a larger heat mat. However, since the 30br is 6 inches longer and 6 inches wider, I am curious as to making sure the temps are up. I don't know what wattage lamp is there now, but I was thinking with the 30br I will need at least a 100w lamp.

Does anyone think I would need two lamps (one at each end)??

Thoughts and opinions are welcome.......

[Coluber42]

It will depend on the temperature of the outside room, and on whether you add any insulation around the tank. A 30-gal isn't really that much bigger than what you have, so it shouldn't need THAT much more wattage to heat it.
But that said... a 30 gal isn't all that much more room for your snake, either. We're you planning on this being another intermediate size, or a final adult home? If it's an intermediate size, I'd say don't bother and just get whatever you're thinking of for a forever adult home, and worry about how to heat that.

[jack jones]

This was going to be the final home for him. I didn't think he would need that much more room than that since I thought males don't tend to grow much more. He doesn't seem unhappy in his 20L, but I need more room for bigger hides.

As I said, I'm open to options. I don't want to go Animal Plastics because the expense of outfitting it is more than I want to spend right now. If there are other suggestions, go ahead and say.

[Coluber42]

You'll get differing answers about how much space is appropriate and whether tanks are any good. I'm of the opinion that assuming temperature and humidity requirements are met, more space is a good thing. The space additional space does mean you need more hides, vines, branches, etc - not just empty space. So personally I would say that if you go the tank route, get a 40 gal at least. This time of year it's also easy to find gigantic christmas tree storage bins, which I've heard recommended but haven't used.

Glass isn't as good at retaining heat as plastic is, and screen tops aren't good for humidity, BUT it is totally possible to heat and humidify a glass tank appropriately. If you insulate it well on three sides plus the bottom and cover the screen over, it's not going to be any worse at retaining heat and humidity than anything else. Insulating it is easy and cheap and you only have to do it once.

It varies from individual to individual, but plenty of males exceed three feet. If he's only recently gotten that big, I wouldn't necessarily assume he's done growing.

[Eavlynn]

On the size topic, I have a male that's pushing 5 ft. It might take a while, my smaller boy's growth rate slowed when he hit about 3 ft, but they keep growing slowly. Before you know it, a year has passed and your 3 ft dude is now a 4 ft dude.

As for housing, I can't say too much about glass enclosure modifications. Once you go bigger than a 20, it gets harder to maintain humidity. I finally got fed up with glass and converted all of my pythons and boas to AP PVC enclosures with RHPs. It's by far the best thing I've ever done for my little humidity lovers. They're more active at night, seem to feel more secure without 4 walls of reflective glass, and their scales look phenomenal. I could preach PVC enclosures for days! Haha

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[jack jones]

For what its worth, I do cover 3 of the 4 sides. All I can tell about a 40 gal is that it is higher, so there's more air and space. No need for that.

I haven't insulated it. I will likely put a post asking about that next. Unfortunately, I simply can't justify an ATP with all the amenities in the near future. It would likely top out at close to $300. Nor do I have the time to look into heat tape, RHPs, etc....I wish I did.

Anyone know a company that makes custom non-pvc tanks?

[Coluber42]

Having more height gives you more room to add shelves, branches, platforms, etc, all of which create a little more floor space in addition to providing climbing opportunities. Another thing people sometimes do with glass tanks that are taller than they are deep is to turn them on their side and build a new lid with a front-opening door in it.

I don't think you're going to find a custom cage of any kind for cheaper than a stock PVC one, unless you build it yourself. But if you're remotely handy and/or creative, you can definitely build something yourself for cheaper than a stock PVC cage out of melamine, wood, or even PVC if you can buy it locally or find a place with cheap shipping for it. Also keep an eye out on Craigslist and similar for used cages.

Another suggestion is something like this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite...Black/43393267
Lots of people like tubs, and at that price you could go to town on modding it out and still come out ahead. You can't see in, but one thing you could do is cut a big hole in one flat side and mount a piece of plexiglass so that it has a window in front. You'd need to make air holes and holes for cords from heating devices and so on, but it's easy to drill or melt through the plastic. You can still mount a RHP to the top, you just need to put a piece of wood behind the plastic so there's something to drill into. If you poke around online, you can find some really nice looking setups people have made using tubs like those, even including perches, shelves, plants, lighting, you name it.