I'm planning on buying a new cage for my ball python, but there's so many options that I'm a bit confused. I was hoping that some people with experience with plastic cages could give me some advise. My bp is a year and a half old and has been in a 30 gallon tank up until now. At the time I bought it, I didn't realize how terrible glass tanks were (and was pretty ignorant of other options), but after struggling with the temps and humidity for a while I see first hand how bad they are. Despite that, my bp is pretty happy and healthy. I've decided to go to plastic, and up the size.
The two cage brands I've been looking at are Animal Plastics and Boaphile Plastics. I'm really leaning towards AP right now, but could still be pursuaded in the other direction if anyone thinks that Boaphile cages are better. If I go with an AP cage I'll be getting a T3. Whatever brand I end up with, I want to heat it with a radiant heat panel, probably from Pro Products. I'm thinking of getting belly heat as well since bp's like belly heat, but I know there's no way that will keep the cage warm enough by itself. I know that plastic cages are better at retaining heat and humidity than glass tanks, but my previous experience with UTH is that it does practically nothing to heat the air. I've heard nothing but good things about radiant heat panels, though. I was wondering, if I were to get both, should I put them on opposite ends of the cage? The same end? Or keep the UTH on one end and the radiant heat panel in the center?
If anyone has any experience with this, please share. Money isn't really an object, but I want to make sure I set everything up correctly since these things aren't cheap.