Soon-to-be BP owner with some questions

To answer your question. Yes you can use 2 heat sources for the winter as long as you keep them regulated. Another option might be to get a space heater to keep the ambient room temp up...



Rob

Thanks for the replies everyone. I just spoke with Rich from Reptile Basics and got the mini cage ordered with two ultratherm heat pads rather than the included belly heat.

I just saw your thread and I was gonna say you could drive to Vision in Southern Cali and save on shipping.

http://www.visionproducts.us/htm7/cages.html

They have some nice cages that are a little shorter, you dont need height for a BP. Either way if the cage you get is too big for a hatchling (which you said you are getting) I would set up a tub, 6 quart or larger depending on snake size and put it in the enclosure until the snake is larger. I have several Vision cages that now I use for my new quarrantine arrivals and when I have a hatchlings I just put them in tubs inside the enclosure. I put part of the tub over the heat source for a warm side. The enclosure can make a micro climate were you can control ambient heat and humidity much easier and thus in the tub as well.

If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me and I would be happy to help.

If the temps on the cool side drop below 80, I would get a second heat source. I drop temps on my BPs to 80 in the winter, and I'm sure at that time the cool side is in the 70s, but that's cooling for breeding, not general maintenance. The males go off feed, and some of the females do as well. I never cool animals that are not breeding, it would be an unecessary stress on them.