New Boa Enclosure & Belly Heat

Been awhile since I posted.

I ordered an AP T10 back in August. So, should be getting it soon. Planning on eventually housing a Colombian Boa in there. While I didn't order the belly heat tape, is that something that the boa might benefit with? Taking the advise here, I do not use belly heat for the ball python and Mexican black kingsnake, and they're doing great! But, I seem to read people using belly heat more so on boas.

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Originally Posted by Charles8088

Been awhile since I posted.

I ordered an AP T10 back in August. So, should be getting it soon. Planning on eventually housing a Colombian Boa in there. While I didn't order the belly heat tape, is that something that the boa might benefit with? Taking the advise here, I do not use belly heat for the ball python and Mexican black kingsnake, and they're doing great! But, I seem to read people using belly heat more so on boas.

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Are you having the T10 delivered with an RHP? That's what most users and myself use. I know a couple people like Daski use both and RHP and a UTH which gives them an extra piece of mine if something were to happen to one of the heating units.

The RHP has been doing a great job in my T10 since I set it up a couple months ago. You just have to give yourself enough time to find the proper probe placement and dial in the temps using your thermostat. While it's not heating from the bottom, the RHP will still generate enough heat to get the surface temps where you need them to be (i.e. 88 degrees). Good luck!

They need a heat tape or heat panel, your choice

Thanks, ckuhn003 and RickyNY.

Sorry... should have been a little more detailed. Yes, I have a Pro-Products RHP being installed. So, the question was whether or not the belly heat would be beneficial if I already have the RHP installed. And, from the responses, seems like its not necessary.

What temps do you have the hi/low set to?

I use both and for both for many of my snakes. You will get mixed responses but as long as you have a warm spot and it’s controled with a therm you should be good.

As an aside. Does your mbk fast at all or go off food in the winter ?

I'm a fan of UTH for all my snakes. Much depends on how cold your house or room is, as to whether you'd need to use both. Since heat rises, UTH has always
seemed more logical to me, & when I had a large BCI for many years, I installed UTH under a little over half her cage (keeping it regulated for proper warmth)
and also used overhead heat to keep the ambient cage temps where she needed them, as in so large an enclosure, the UTH could not do it all. ;) She did
appear to enjoy the UTH (it ran under her custom-built 'warm' hide which she used a lot) & she never lacked for sufficient heat for good digestion. It's really up
to you & each situation is a little different...either way you are mimicking nature that heats from sun overhead & which heats up the ground/rocks they lay on.

The only "difference" I can see for your new Colombian though is that they are larger & heavier-bodied, so they'll be eating larger prey...not something you'd
want to risk having them regurgitate. I've never kept one though, fyi.

I use back heat on the majority of my boa racks and have for years.
Belly heat is good but not "necessary" so long as your overall temps and temp gradient are provided.
Good luck!

I guess I'll throw the belly heat on. Won't hurt, and can only help, especially since the basement tends to get colder than the rest of the house.

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

As an aside. Does your mbk fast at all or go off food in the winter ?

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She's a year and 4 months old. She's fasting now for the first time. Last meal was 10/14/18. Although I still offer food once a week. When she doesn't take off the tongs, I leave it overnight in the enclosure.


https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...0-11-33-17.jpg

[QUOTE=Charles8088;2659297]I guess I'll throw the belly heat on. Won't hurt, and can only help, especially since the basement tends to get colder than the rest of the house.... [QUOTE]

Using both will help balance the warmth so either one alone doesn't have to be SO hot. :gj:

He's a question, probably more specific to those using an AP enclosure with the belly heat pre-installed...

Where are you placing the thermostat probe? I'm guessing inside the enclosure? Probably can't place it between the tape and enclosure, since it is preinstalled, right?

My APs didn't come with the heat tape already taped to the enclosure so I don't know if they do it a different way, but there's a slot under the enclosure where you can put the probe that nests it between the tape and bottom.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

My APs didn't come with the heat tape already taped to the enclosure so I don't know if they do it a different way, but there's a slot under the enclosure where you can put the probe that nests it between the tape and bottom.

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Yep, thank you. Just got off the phone with Ali from AP, and that's what she said... heat tape get taped on by me. They just include it in the order! So, should work out then!