How to set up a PVC cage (AP T8) With Pictures!

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If I get the a T8 for 2 juveniles to split(with the divider), and put the undertank heater in the middle. How easy is it to move the undertank heat strip when i upgrade to a second enclosure?

I see that it's pretty much taped down, does the tape ruin the heater if you take if off later - about a year or 2 from now?

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Originally Posted by kmanpwnudwn

If I get the a T8 for 2 juveniles to split(with the divider), and put the undertank heater in the middle. How easy is it to move the undertank heat strip when i upgrade to a second enclosure?

I see that it's pretty much taped down, does the tape ruin the heater if you take if off later - about a year or 2 from now?

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It's not hard at all. Just take off the foil tape and tape it somewhere else.

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I'm wondering what kind stands people use for their T8's? I'm going to be ordering mine soon but I cannot seem to find something that fits the dimensions well enough for the cage. Any suggestions?

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Originally Posted by Rob6656

I'm wondering what kind stands people use for their T8's? I'm going to be ordering mine soon but I cannot seem to find something that fits the dimensions well enough for the cage. Any suggestions?

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Animal plastics makes a stand, that's what I use. Same pvc material and color

Awesome! Thanks so much.

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I should look into this system for my new Baby Sunglow CA boa...

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Aaron you seem to be the master of tanks right now maybe you can help me what is the benefit of a T8 over a regular tank? It is probably somewhere in this thread I haven't had a chance to read all the way through it yet though sadly.

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Originally Posted by LunaLupa92

Aaron you seem to be the master of tanks right now maybe you can help me what is the benefit of a T8 over a regular tank? It is probably somewhere in this thread I haven't had a chance to read all the way through it yet though sadly.

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I'm not Aaron but I can tell you that a T8, or any pvc enclosure, is much easier to maintain heat and humidity compared to a tank. I wish I had never dealt with tanks in the first place and started out right away with the t8s I have now, it would have saved me time and money. I also like the way they look compared to tanks.

Just got two T8's and I love them. They are set up with radiant heat panels with the average 80 degree cool side and 90 degree basking side. My bedding is aspen and I have a large water bowl under the RHP. My issue is that all three enclosures are holding humidity at 35%. Should I cover some of the vent slots to increase the humidity?

If your heat is on in your house it's gonna be a little dry in your cages. You can try switching to Cypress mulch, misting twice a day, or providing a humid hide with sphagnum moss.

I have been misting and my cages are in the basement, the heats only at 65 down there.

I noticed since moving to my new house where the basement is far less humid, that I have to mist more often. I use Cypress Mulch and I normally tip a some water into the substrate and then just quickly spray. I do this once in the morning and once in the evening. My basement humidity at the moment is between 24 and 35 %

On each side of my T8 I put a clear plastic deli cup filled with sphagnum moss. The container and the lid has holes drilled through it. This, in addition to the water bowl kept the humidity right around 50-55%. Currently they are removed because the house is sitting at 60-65% humidity since the heater hasn't been kicking on as much. So with just the water bowl in the T8, my humidity is staying between 60-63%.

I like the sphagnum moss and picked up some deli cups with lids. How many holes worked best for you? Also with the restricted height of the T8's what's the best pooper scooper? I was thinking something along the lines of a spatula.

Just get some paper towels and pick up the poop. Wash your hands afterwards.

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Originally Posted by BornToHerp

I like the sphagnum moss and picked up some deli cups with lids. How many holes worked best for you? Also with the restricted height of the T8's what's the best pooper scooper? I was thinking something along the lines of a spatula.

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I think I put 4 holes around the cup and 3 in the lid. I only fill the cup about 1/2 way with the damp sphagnum moss.

Thank You

I've also had wicked humidity issues was great for a bit .. but I found my house was averaging 20-25% ( 40's in the enclosure) ..yikes no wonder the problem got a humidifier from amazon and the last 2 day been great in the house, everything back in the 60% for my snake friends :snake:

Can I use my existing UTH & thermostat for the hot spot?

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Originally Posted by pbyeerts

Can I use my existing UTH & thermostat for the hot spot?

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As long as it's the right size. It won't anything for ambient temps so that's something you will want to consider. I believe most people would suggest flexwatt if you don't use an RHP

Yes, I've ordered a RHP for ambient heat. I see a lot of people discussing FlexWatt, and wanted to be sure existing UTH is ok. Its the right size

If you have an RHP you won't need a UTH unless the ambient temps in the room where the cage is get very very low.

If you set up a t8 correctly with hides, would it be too large for an adult female ball python? I know the larger the space, means more stress, but my girl never leaves her hides. Just looking for opinions.

Thanks,
Steve

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Originally Posted by Stearns84

If you set up a t8 correctly with hides, would it be too large for an adult female ball python? I know the larger the space, means more stress, but my girl never leaves her hides. Just looking for opinions.

Thanks,
Steve

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A T8 is perfect for an adult female or male. It won't be too big

Great looking setup! What LED strips did you get from Lowes? Looking to get myself a couple T-8s soon and would rather have LEDs with color changing options rather than just red or just white so I can change them for day and night viewing. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

Great looking setup! What LED strips did you get from Lowes? Looking to get myself a couple T-8s soon and would rather have LEDs with color changing options rather than just red or just white so I can change them for day and night viewing. Thanks!

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I have the Sylvania brand led strips. Pretty cheap and have a good mix of color options and you can dim them too

I got mine amazon 16ft 25bucks Walmart has them for 34.00

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Question re: installing the LED strips. I just received my T8 and want to install them. AP did cut the channel for them for me but it's a pretty small channel and from what I'm finding online the strips are going to be too wide for it. So if I just install the strips normally how do you do it? Do you just stick them on and not worry about them coming off or do you actually glue them down? I don't want them to fall down and have it possibly stick to a snake. Suggestions??
Thanks!

Run a bead of silicone done the back of the lights. Let it dry before ya put snakey in there.😉

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Thank you Spikell! Guess I could've thought of that....brain fart!

Just wanted to add this for people who get LED lights installed. Next time I'll probably just order the different colors from amazon and install it myself but if anyone is looking for an on/off switch and/or dimmer I just got this one today. It's cheap but it gets the job done. http://www.amazon.com/TORCHSTAR-DC-1...ilpage_o00_s01

That is one cool looking cage. I am getting my snake a new enclosure for Christmas and I haven't made up what type yet. I have a 125 gallon aquarium left over from when we raised fish so I thought I would probably go with that since he is living in a 55 gallon tank right now... but would have to buy all new stuff for it anyway. Your PVC cage looks so awesome that the scales are tipping that way. Are they really expensive and is the upkeep much harder? Thanks, elysheva

AP is having a sale on T8s right now... debating on if I want to get one or see if I can build a bigger one for the same price or less. There is something to be said about it arriving and then 10 minutes later its together...

That sounds good, Scotty. How long does the sale last?
______________________________________________
Marius from Interior decoration

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Originally Posted by ScottyDsntKnow

AP is having a sale on T8s right now... debating on if I want to get one or see if I can build a bigger one for the same price or less. There is something to be said about it arriving and then 10 minutes later its together...

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Can you build a PVC cage the size of a T8 for less than $150? Yes, if you can find a source for the doors. I had trouble finding glass doors that were the same quality and had smooth edges. I could not get those locally. If you build it yourself, will it be just as good as the AP T8? Unless you're using a CNC machine and/or have build things like this before, NO.

My opinion, if you don't mind the 3-4 week wait, order one from AP. I did, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

Can you build a PVC cage the size of a T8 for less than $150? Yes, if you can find a source for the doors. I had trouble finding glass doors that were the same quality and had smooth edges. I could not get those locally. If you build it yourself, will it be just as good as the AP T8? Unless you're using a CNC machine and/or have build things like this before, NO.

My opinion, if you don't mind the 3-4 week wait, order one from AP. I did, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

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Well I'm going to give it a shot but going to try to make a cage like a Proline which is just tongue and groove cuts which I can do no problem. And HD has a piece of 24x48" plex that looks like it will work and that will make two doors when cut in half. Priced everything out for a single cage well under $150 actually. I should be able to make two for $200. Here's hoping...

I have my first T8 ordered, and am looking at what to set it on. I have in my garage a piece of cabinetry with countertop on it that use to hold a sink, which I am thinking of converting to a stand/table. It has cabinet doors in front where I could store cleaning supplies and such. I need to put a new top on it since currently it has a big hole where the sink was, and that's where my question comes in. The T8 is going to have heat tape on the bottom, and I need to know if I should do anything different than just setting the cage directly atop the wooden top (which I will build) of the stand? I am both thinking of safety, as in the wood potentially getting too hot, (although Herpstat should prevent heat tape failing in the "on" state, so maybe shouldn't be an issue?) as well as how to best direct the heat up into the cage. Like, should there be some kind of reflective or insulating layer between the cage and the stand. If my questions seem dumb, it's because I've only had my BP a few months and my only experience so far with under tank heating is the smallest UTH produced, very low wattage, and it's currently on a ceramic tile countertop. So I don't really know how much a heat-taped T8 bottom actually heats up.

Old thread I know, but hoping someone can tell me how the lighting is mounted if it's desired. I know AP pre drills holes for the cords but do they install light fixtures too?

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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

Old thread I know, but hoping someone can tell me how the lighting is mounted if it's desired. I know AP pre drills holes for the cords but do they install light fixtures too?

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You can order with a light fixture, they'll predrill a hole for the cord, and the holes to mount it. You'll just have to do it when you're assembling.

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Originally Posted by Neal

You can order with a light fixture, they'll predrill a hole for the cord, and the holes to mount it. You'll just have to do it when you're assembling.

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Thanks bro. ... I'm about to put Hulk in one. Probably going to order it right now actually!


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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

Thanks bro. ... I'm about to put Hulk in one. Probably going to order it right now actually!


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No problem. If the lead time is still accurate you're looking at 3-4 weeks before you get it. I happened to get mine within a week because of a customer changing an order and them forgetting to pull the work order, well it just so happened they wanted the exact same thing I did. That worked out great for my benefit.

:OWOW!!:O

Aaron I cannot say thank you enough for all of the valuable information you shared here. I am 100% novice (I'll try to read an entire thread before asking a question as to avoid duplicates) and this is going to be a big help in setting up a proper enclosure for my bp. Now I have an excuse to get at least 2, the T8 will fit them quite comfortably.


Off to hit the overtime boards at work...this is going to get a little pricey at first, but well worth it I think.

[QUOTE=The Serpent Merchant;2243544]No screens required, the fluorescent lights are installed inside the cage. AP installs a single light in the center of the cage:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...jpg%7Eoriginal






I will preface my question with this quick statement...I'm NEW so please don't crucify me. I just want to set up the best possible habitat I can afford for future residents.

I will order dual florescent fixtures just as you did but I'm also wondering about the other items pictured here...I can see one of them is a heating element or sorts but the other is just an open air vent? Does it stick out of the top? Flush mount? I live in Western NY and the house stays a comfortable (for me) 65-70 degrees year round so I KNOW the enclosure will need adequate heat for my snake(s). Thinking Flexwatt & Radiant Heat Panels will be necessary controlled by a Herpstat 4. I like the Acurite thermometer you have, I realize this thread was started 4 years ago (a real testament to it's helpfulness) and it's probably not available any long so I'll have to figure something out.


Again, forgive me if I missed the explanation or other thread.

What's not available any longer? T8 cages? They definitely are. Animal Plastics is doing very well as a company and their cages are actually on sale right now. Call them and speak with Ali. They will customize the cage just how you want it. :)


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The Acu-Rite thermometers are still available too, I bought one on Amazon just a month or two ago.

Thanks for responding.

I was refering to the thermometer but it seems they are still available as well. I'll have to expand my amazon search as I didn't see it the first time.

After speaking with Bob at Pro Products about the RHP I think I'm going to forego the Flexwatt and just go with the Pro Heat panel and keep an eye on things from there.

Wow, thank you so much for this detailed post!
I am hoping to get a T8 for my BPs soon and this answered every question I had!

Ready to place an order for a boa with a very similiar setup....here is my shopping list and a few thoughts I had.

• AP T8 with sliding glass doors
• Sliding glass doors lock
• 2' long, 12mm wide RGB+W LED strip
• RGB+W LED switcher+dimmer
• Either a Reptile Basics or Pro Products RHP (28W, 40W or whatever Pro Products recommends)

Things I am debating...
I own 4 different sizes of Ultratherm UTHs but I read earlier in this thread that they aren't all that helpful for under belly heating on AP PVC cages. Is this true? I would have to get an alternative UTH heating source i.e Flexwatt or THG heat tape when I already have a solid UTH option. I am set on using UTH as primary heat source and using a small RHP to keep ambients where I need them to be in cooler months and colder nights.
I'm deciding between which thermometer/hygrometer to get. I already have a few (non-mountable) https://goo.gl/uPKBmF and a few https://goo.gl/6CYnHV but do want a similar one to the first one but a mountable version. Debating between https://goo.gl/QI06O9 , https://goo.gl/mKD6H9 and https://goo.gl/57Wz15 . Who here has had experience with any of these?

Thanks!

If i was getting 1 ball python what size should I get?

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