Heating a wooden cage?

I guess another possibly stupid question would be, can I use a piece of flex watt directly underneath the substrate? Granted it would be used with a thermostat. Would it hurt the snake at all? This is the last issue I need to solve before I start building. Thanks all.

HC,


I can't find the right site's bookmark.:oops: :mad: As for putting the flex UNDER the cage on the outside, yes, it's safer for the snake, but the wood would be too much insulation, and the inside won't get enough heat.

I had that problem with Freddie's tank. It's a big acrylic 65+ gallon that came with him. For him, I got one of the Scotland made waterproofed UTHs and using the aluminum tape (yes, it CAN come free and hurt the snake if you're not diligent) and taped it to the bottom. the wire cord is up and out of the tank. If you make a wooden one, you can still slit near the bottom, and then the cord doesn't have to be inside the cage at all.

I've taped the thermostat probe right on top of the UTH, in order to keep it from getting too hot and burning. There's aspen bedding about 3/4" thick in the tank. That helps insulate too. He uses both hides, so I know he's thermoregulating and I handle him often enough and check for any redness, just to be safe.

He's large enough and his own personality is such that he DOESN'T burrow in the bedding, but every time I clean and change bedding, I do a careful inspection of the probe, UTH/tape to make sure there aren't any spots that could hurt Freddie.

If I find the link, then I'll send it on along. I'll keep searching, but I've hit so many in the past months, it may be one I "hopped" to, and forgot to bookmark. :rolleye2:


RuLyn :sunny:

Thanks, great advice. Sounds like I will be building soon.