Animal Plastics T8 question

So I currently have two T8's, the issue I've noticed is the top enclosure gets very warm above the bottom enclosures RHP'S. Like hotter than I feel comfortable with. Currently I've raised the top enclosure on some 2x4's to give a gap to help. Is this normal?? Kinda defeats the point of being able to stack.

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Originally Posted by chakup

So I currently have two T8's, the issue I've noticed is the top enclosure gets very warm above the bottom enclosures RHP'S. Like hotter than I feel comfortable with. Currently I've raised the top enclosure on some 2x4's to give a gap to help. Is this normal?? Kinda defeats the point of being able to stack.

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Yeah, this is typical. You can do a couple things -

1. Do nothing, some people I have seen use this setup to get a "hot spot" in the cage above them. Typically the backside of an RHP is somewhere around 88-92 F in my experience, which is good for a variety of species.

2. You can raise the top enclosure like you have done, some cages like Constrictors NW actually have a designed gap between cages, but AP does not.

3. You can put some space between the RHP and the top of the cage when mounting it. A gap between the RHP and the cage top will allow heat to dissipate more easily. If you take this approach, I would go with something small like 1/4" so the snake can't get up there between them (it will try).

I have mine stacvked too and noticed that. I have separate thermostats for each of my setups so I just lowered the temp on the top cages thermostat but still maintain the appropriate hot spot using the excess heat that comes thru from below.

As the other posters have replied - see if you can utilize that energy as belly heat for the snake in the upper enclosure.

I actually have my T10's stacked according to heat needs. I figure heat rises so I have my BRB on the bottom with the ball python hot spot above the BRB's RHP and my boas on top all that.

Hope you figure it all out with the suggestions here.

Thanks all. I'll do some adjusting on temps to help balance it all out!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chakup

So I currently have two T8's, the issue I've noticed is the top enclosure gets very warm above the bottom enclosures RHP'S. Like hotter than I feel comfortable with. Currently I've raised the top enclosure on some 2x4's to give a gap to help. Is this normal?? Kinda defeats the point of being able to stack.

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Look at my Past Threads. Ive had this problem for months.. I finally have it set since maybe mid Dec with two pieces of 1/2 inch 2'x4' insulation foam board in between. I tried wood like you without success. That would work for a few hours and then by 24-48 hrs later the above enclosure floor would heat up to 97-98. The kind of insulation sheets used for basement walls or under vinyl siding for a house is what I went with. They are already cut to 4x2. I then bought a dowel from lowes and cut 1" pieces to replace the metal pegs (same diameter) that hold the two Enclosures together. I had to cut 2-3 times getting the correct length but i got it. My top enclosure RHP I moved to the cool side now. It runs very seldom and is set at 82 which keeps ambient cool side 78-80. The Hot hide is completely heated by the lower enclosures RHP thats on the Hot side to 91/92.7. However when I measure with the laser it is never above 90.7. My probe is under the Paper substrate so I know its A-OK.. This same problem drove me nuts and everyone else as I couldn't stop talking about it hahahahaha. Thank god I solved it.
Good Luck.


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I had actually thought about trying that, good to know it'll work. Thanks!

There are a few ways one can reduce the rate of transfer from one cage to another. Creating an air gap between cages using various size spacers will allow the heat to dissipate. The amount of gap needed will depend on the size and type of heater, type of material the energy is transferring through and the ambient room temperature. Another option is to use a piece of foil faced insulation to reduce the rate of transfer. The foil will create a radiant barrier, so is more efficient than using a piece of foam without the foil. You can place this between cages for various types of heaters or when using a radiant panel, can cut the foam to the same dimensions as the panel and sandwich it between the panel and the top of the cage. This is especially helpful when the stack is a modular unit with only one horizontal divider between each section. A piece of wood or plastic trim can be glued around the foam to hide it.