Animal Plastics cages..few questions

[MikeG]

Hey everybody!

So im now looking at getting an Animal Plastics cage, but i have a few questions about them and figured you guys would be faster than an email to the company

Im wondering how the flexwatt belly heat is installed? And ive read the diffrence on the website about belly heat and indirect belly heat, but its not makeing to much sence to me..does someone have a pic of this?

Im also wondering if you would recomend bell heat or a RHP? My temps can get pretty low (around low 60's in middle of winter) and ive heard that RHP is the way to go to keep the ambiant temp's up. I will be using atleast one herpstat.

and lastly, what size would you recomend? The T1 or T3? My bp is about 6months old and i feel i should go with the smaller one, but when he gets bigger i dont want to have to dump another $200+ for a little bit bigger cage.


Thanks for any input!

Mike~

[ThyTempest]

I dont know anything about the different AP sizes. As far as I know, indirect belly heat is when the tub is (typically) suspended above the flexwatt, so the heat is from the belly, but has a slight gap in between the flexwatt and the bottom of the tub. Direct belly heat is when the tub actually rests on the flexwatt, which I think is more common, and I would hazard to assume way more electrically efficient.

I have never used RHP's, but I have heard nothing but good things about them, so if you can afford the extra cost, I would go for it. Another option is to heat the room with a space heater and use back/belly heat. This is often a pretty efficient way to keep the heat bill down while not increasing the electricity too much. Just make sure the room you use has decent insulation and a good door...no windows would be a plus in most cases.

[DutchHerp]

I recommend the T3... but they make custom cages! Whatever you like, really.

Like I said in the PM, an RHP is definitely the way to go. They work great with my Herpstats.

You can get the larger cage right now, and keep her in an appropriately sized tub put inside the cage. This way she's not stressed by too much space and gets the perfect temps!

[MikeG]

I recommend the T3... but they make custom cages! Whatever you like, really.

Like I said in the PM, an RHP is definitely the way to go. They work great with my Herpstats.

You can get the larger cage right now, and keep her in an appropriately sized tub put inside the cage. This way she's not stressed by too much space and gets the perfect temps!

hmm..never thought of putting the tub inside of it. I would think that it would be hard to control the temps though because the tub is so much smaller??

Im actually looking at maybe having them build a 3'Lx17"Wx12T Think that would be a good size? Im just worried that 3x2x12" would be way to big for my little guy, even when he does become full size. I know a lot of people on here recommend around 32qt tubs for full grown males and that T3 is at least twice that size.
I was looking at the T1 but that seems a little to small?

Thanks for the reply's!

Mike~

[Michelle.C]

You can always get/make a divider and use it for the T3. You could also get the T1 now, and when it comes time to switch him, buy the T3. You will have the empty T1 to put something in!

With the indirect belly heat (at least with the racks), they use heat cable and slide it into a groove. So the actual heat cable does not touch the bottom of the cage/rack.

I bought the rack with the indirect belly heat, and I hated it. It ended up frying my helix thermostat. I replaced the heat cable with flexwatt.

[MikeG]

You can always get/make a divider and use it for the T3. You could also get the T1 now, and when it comes time to switch him, buy the T3. You will have the empty T1 to put something in!

With the indirect belly heat (at least with the racks), they use heat cable and slide it into a groove. So the actual heat cable does not touch the bottom of the cage/rack.

I bought the rack with the indirect belly heat, and I hated it. It ended up frying my helix thermostat. I replaced the heat cable with flexwatt.

I was thinking of a divider for the T3 but i was worried about what the temps would be then. I want to go with a RHP because my temps can get so low and if i used a divider im pretty sure that would mess things up.
And i would buy the T1 then upgrade when he got bigger..but seeing as this whole thing is going to be around $350-$400 and im a college student, it would be nice to only have that price come up once lol.

Thanks for your reply and advice on the heating!

Mike~

[MikeG]

Now that im looking more into it... The T1 is about the same size (a little bigger) as a 32qt sterlite!

I Think i will go with the T1

DutchHerp- you'll be getting a PM


Mike~

[DutchHerp]

DutchHerp- you'll be getting a PM

You'll be getting a reply.

[Oroborous]

I was thinking of investing in an Animal Plastic cage since they are having a killer sale right now on the 4'L 2'D 15''H model. But the heating options kind of unnerve me since they are not specifically made for reptiles and can malfunction. I was wondering if I bought a large heat pad, (like a "T-Rex" Cobra heat mat) would I be able to heat a four foot AP cage with that and a thermostat? Can anyone with an Animal Plastic cage give me suggestions on how to safely heat one of these cages?
Thanks in advance.

[Michelle.C]

I'd suggest using a Heat Panel. They are a bit expensive, but they are probably the best option for heating those type of cages.

http://www.beanfarm.com/store/agora....20Panels&xm=on