Heating DIY Enclosure

I'm just finishing up a 3 cage unit, but before I attach the sides, back and doors I was wondering how most people heat a wooden cage like this.

The picture is without the sides, back and doors on. Also, the sides have a 3"x6" vents on each side of the cage.

Currently I have have 2 heat pads for each of my glass cages I have the snakes in now. My idea is to stick these UTH to the under side of the wood for the bottom 2 cages. If that would work fine that what I'd like to do. The problem is I can't do that for the top cage, because if I stick a UTH to the underside of the top cage, it will be inside, on the ceiling of the cage below it.

Does anybody have any ideas for me? And will my idea for the bottom 2 enclosures work fine?

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...Picture276.jpg

I'd say just do a trial run and see if the UTH's will work. I can't imagine a UTH on top of another cage would affect the temps much, at least it doesn't with my leo setup (stacked sterilite drawers.) In my wooden cage, the wood was too thick and a UTH wouldn't have worked. I ended up investing in a radiant heat panel and attaching it to the ceiling, but this option would be too pricey in a three enclosure setup.

I just dont want the snakes living in the bottom cage to burn himself on the UTH for the cage above him

Why not just lay some flextwatt on the wooden shelves and you wouldn't have to worry about the heat transfer through the wood? It's super cheap stuff, and you can get it from Matt pre-wired.


Matt - My commision is 20% :)

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Originally Posted by ddbjdealer

Why not just lay some flextwatt on the wooden shelves and you wouldn't have to worry about the heat transfer through the wood? It's super cheap stuff, and you can get it from Matt pre-wired.


Matt - My commision is 20% :)

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where are you suggesting I put this heat tape?

Because as you look at it, I'm going to close off the sides and the back and put doors on the front. I dont want to put the heater inside the cage. Im not sure if thats what you meant.

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

I just dont want the snakes living in the bottom cage to burn himself on the UTH for the cage above him

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You can put some plexiglass on the bottom of the enclosure... that would keep the snakes from coming into direct contact with the heating element and would also make cleaning alot easier :) Alot of people that build wooden enclosures will recess the flexwatt into the floor than just put some plexiglass on top of it so that the floor is even but your heating element is in place.

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

You can put some plexiglass on the bottom of the enclosure... that would keep the snakes from coming into direct contact with the heating element and would also make cleaning alot easier :) Alot of people that build wooden enclosures will recess the flexwatt into the floor than just put some plexiglass on top of it.

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on top of the wood floor, but under plexi glass?

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

on top of the wood floor, but under plexi glass?

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Yep :) Make sure there is alittle air gap between the flexwatt and the plexiglass and make sure that any liquid in the enclosure can not come into contact with the flexwatt if spilt.

ok, but Im not sure how I'd make that gap between the heater and the wooden bottom.


Also, everybody talks about flexwatt. I have a couple of those UTH with a sticky side, is it pretty much the same thing or what?

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

on top of the wood floor, but under plexi glass?

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Yeah, just router in a recessed area on the wood to put the heating eliment and then lay plexiglass over the top of that to fill in the recess.

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

Also, everybody talks about flexwatt. I have a couple of those UTH with a sticky side, is it pretty much the same thing or what?

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Flexwatt is super skinny. You wouldn't need much of a recessed area. It's also called heat tape because it's flat, like tape and comes bulk in a roll. You can order 3" wide, 4", 11", there could be other widths too that I don't know about or am forgetting.. Here's a link to see it/order it:

http://www.mgreptiles.com/flexwatt.html

Do you think it would not work well just sticking the UTH matts that I have under the wood on the bottom cages?

What about the top cage, could I stick one on the back? Although Im not sure it would provide enough heat.

I like the idea with recessed bottoms, but I think I might be too far along on the project to do it.

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

Do you think it would not work well just sticking the UTH matts that I have under the wood on the bottom cages?

What about the top cage, could I stick one on the back? Although Im not sure it would provide enough heat.

I like the idea with recessed bottoms, but I think I might be too far along on the project to do it.

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Heating through wood can be a pain and unsafe. Putting the flexwatt or whatever heating element inside the cage is your best best with wood. Most home depots will cut the plexi to any size you need so all you will have to do is drop it in and seal it off. Just remember you will need differnt thermostats for different size heating elements.. Hope this helps,
-Matt

Ok, in that case I can just make the my whole floors out of plexi. I don't have a router or anything, so I'm not sure how I would make a wood/plexi floor with the heater in between...

I would just leave your floors as wood as it is easier to work with(cracking) and just cover the element with the plexi..

what about space between the heat pad wood and plexi?

Not needed as long as a thermostat is used:)

Ok, I've never used a thermostat. Would I then need a seperate thermostat for each enclosure?

Well no not really. You woudl need a themrostat for each size of cage or for each size of heating element.. Also if you will have different specie that require different temps than you will need seperate thermostats for that.. If you like email me your phone number and we can figure it out..

What width of flexwatt would you recommend for this set up? Its 20" front to back

11" would work for ya

ok, how thin are the connections and wires and what not, will my plex lay flat over it all? And am I gonna need to have a whole cut in the side of my cage for the wires to come out?

I'm looking at the website to order it, and it I'm thinking the is by the foot, so if I get 6 feet, can I cut it anywhere I want?

bump plz

Yes you can cut it anywhere you want i believe so. Atleast i did and im using a thermostat and all is well . . .

what about the wiring, is it a problem where the wires go? I'm planning on laying a piece of plexi over the heater at the bottom

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Originally Posted by Griggs2121

ok, how thin are the connections and wires and what not, will my plex lay flat over it all? And am I gonna need to have a whole cut in the side of my cage for the wires to come out?

I'm looking at the website to order it, and it I'm thinking the is by the foot, so if I get 6 feet, can I cut it anywhere I want?

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Yuppers you will have to drill a small hole for the power cord to enter... Yes sir you can cut it to any length you need:)