Advice on heating for a vivarium inside a hardwood armoire.

I recently purchased an armoire off Craiglist because I'd heard it's an inexpensive and attractive setting for a vivarium. I plan to construct sliding glass/plastic doors (more on that later) and do a bunch of other stuff to make a comfortable environment for her.

I am worried, however, about the heating situation. The UVB bulb won't burn her, I don't think, but she could definitely burn from the heat bulb. But being as this is a hardwood armoire with closing doors, I have to put a heat source somewhere inside of it.

I have read advice given to other people not to use bulbs at all, whether or not they're outside the container, but I've also heard that other heat forms can go awry. The dealer I got my python from said that heating mats or rocks (one or the other) can malfunction and the snake can simply burn itself alive. So I'm at somewhat of an impasse.

For what it's worth, the usable interior space of the armoire is roughly 48" by 38" by 20", that being height, width, and depth respectively.

Anyone have advice? I can sell the armoire if I absolutely have to, but I'd rather not if it's possible to do something.

Also, is lexan fine as a sliding door material? I'd heard someone say that it can leach a very slight amount of toxic substances into the vivarium.

No matter the bulb they get hot. Any bulb in the cage should be inside of a proper wire barrier.

Plastic sliding doors are going to scratch easily. Also large ones will flex and may not be as secure as you need. Glass would be better and IMHO is not very excited to get cut.

The main issue with wood enclosures is the high humidity causing issues with it(bubbling, mold, etc) and being hard to thoroughly clean.

Thanks for the response. Is there any way I can replace the light with a mat or a rock, or something else?

Is there a minimum number of holes for ventilation I should use as a baseline? I'm fully willing to drill into the armoire.

EDIT Also, I can certainly do glass. I had just heard it wasn't as good of a heat insulator.

The ventilation is gonna need to be adjusted as you go. Just start with a few of why at all.

You certainly can use a mat but it is not going to be a simple plug and play procedure. The uth needs to be kept from direct contact of the snake. You don't want urine and other fluids on it.

Also a uth is not going to do anything for your air temp.


Depending on the height of the enclosure a radiant heat panel may be a good option. They seem to work well in wood enclosure as the wood holds the heat well.

Thanks for the advice. I actdually bought such a panel just before I read your post, and it arrived yesterday. My enclosure space is quite high so I think it will work well.

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Originally Posted by Kinstrome

Thanks for the advice. I actdually bought such a panel just before I read your post, and it arrived yesterday. My enclosure space is quite high so I think it will work well.

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Most rhp are great in low cages no more than 15 inches high. They work well in my taller arboreal cages but that is because they are really only heating the perch 6 to 7 inches below it and not the cage floor.

If you try to get a hotspot with a rhp mounted too high the rhp will have to work hard and in most cases over heat the air temp. If you are only wanting some added ambient temp it may work but beware it may not.