Just purchased an animal plastic T12

Purchased but obviously it hasn’t arrived yet. Going with the heat panels, door locks and LED lighting in red. Originally I was going to go with the basking shelves since my young BP is very curious and likes to climb. But last minute I decided not to go with the shelving in case she matures into a more terrestrial animal and if I ever needed to add more enrichment it’s easier to add then dealing with removing the shelves.
Anybody agree or disagree with my choice? I have Plenty of time before the T12 arrives So feel free to chime in. Thanks!


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I agree with skipping the basking shelves. They're not actually as usable as wood or cork hardscape is, since they're slippery.

Door locks are a must-have, in my opinion. I had a rainbow boa push his sliding door open somehow, and I added showcase locks to all my AP cages and have not had a repeat performance.

Acrylic or sliding glass doors? Where did you order your heat panel from? Regardless, I'm sure you'll be very happy with your purchase. And you got it on sale!

https://i.imgur.com/8YiTwR4.png

I have a basking shelf in an 8'x30"'x30" enclosure that I used for a large female Burmese python. The shelf is kind of a pain because she's learned to use it for leverage when she doesn't want to come out of the enclosure. I bought the enclosure used and the shelf came pre-installed. At the time I didn't think anything about it.

My girl does use the shelf though, usually after she's made a mess she'll climb on it and glare at me like "I MADE A MESS. CLEAN IT UP!"

Thanks for the sweet advice. Do most of you guys have or recommend more then one zone for your heat panels for these big snake enclosures.
Definitely looking for versatility and ease of control for this permanent home

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Originally Posted by D-.No

Thanks for the sweet advice. Do most of you guys have or recommend more then one zone for your heat panels for these big snake enclosures.
Definitely looking for versatility and ease of control for this permanent home

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I'm not sure what you mean by "more than one zone." I use more than one heat source (RHP & heat tape) to create separate temperature zones. If that's what you mean, then I do recommend it. It does, as you suggest, add versatility and ease of control to your enclosure.

When I speak of zones I mean one plug for the warm side and one plug for the cool side in case I have to lose the cool side due to environmental changes. Your RHP is just driven by one power source and thermostat correct?


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Originally Posted by D-.No

When I speak of zones I mean one plug for the warm side and one plug for the cool side in case I have to lose the cool side due to environmental changes. Your RHP is just driven by one power source and thermostat correct?

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's two thousand (and a couple more) words describing my set up.
https://i.imgur.com/JEC2vyx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XTewfsK.jpg

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Originally Posted by Homebody

Acrylic or sliding glass doors? Where did you order your heat panel from? Regardless, I'm sure you'll be very happy with your purchase. And you got it on sale!

https://i.imgur.com/8YiTwR4.png

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I went with the sliding glass doors. And of course super happy I scored my desired enclosure on sale. Spoke to the guy at PRO-HEAT (AP’s recommended source) to get my heat panels ordered, do most of it everybody on the board skip the belly tape/UTH when going with installed heat panels?
Makes sense that with proper ambient heat and achieving desired heat gradient seems unnecessary but it’s worth asking.

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Originally Posted by D-.No

do most of it everybody on the board skip the belly tape/UTH when going with installed heat panels?

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If you're going with hot and cool side radiant heat panels, you probably won't need heat tape. If you do, it should be easy to install yourself.

You might need a dimmer for that led. They are cheap but the LED is bright.

Also you can add sticks, or even silicon and spray foam on a perch here and there. Many options vs a shelf.

Thanks guys. And smart about the dimmer for the LED. Really wanted to go blue but I have heard negative effects from blue LEDs. Truth or Internet BS?


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About that red LED, I have noticed my girl takes notice to the red beam coming from the heat gun when I am inspecting the gradient. Even in shed, she seems to acknowledge it. Aesthetically I definitely would prefer the blue, but went with the red because I was under the impression that royals are essentially blind to that color stimuli. But I’m starting to have my doubts. I’m only a couple months into my animal plastic order so I’m assuming I do have time to change if anyone can chime in s as ms give me reason.
Sorry if this concern is redundant, but anytime I look into it, I get multiple opinions.


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I've always assumed that the closer we can get to "natural" light spectrum and photoperiod, the better. A little searching suggests that monochromatic light causes defective eye development in some animals (here), and the light sensing cells that regulate circadian rhythms are weighted toward certain spectra of light (here). Whether or not an animal can consciously 'see' a certain wavelength doesn't entail that those wavelengths don't affect it. It seems as if the pit organ of at least some species can sense light far down into the "visible" spectrum, too (here).

Is there some benefit to the snake from the unnatural lights, or is that just a novelty thing? Sincere question.

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Originally Posted by D-.No

About that red LED, I have noticed my girl takes notice to the red beam coming from the heat gun when I am inspecting the gradient. Even in shed, she seems to acknowledge it. Aesthetically I definitely would prefer the blue, but went with the red because I was under the impression that royals are essentially blind to that color stimuli. But I’m starting to have my doubts. I’m only a couple months into my animal plastic order so I’m assuming I do have time to change if anyone can chime in s as ms give me reason.
Sorry if this concern is redundant, but anytime I look into it, I get multiple opinions.

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I think it matters how you're going to use the LEDs. For occasional viewing, I doubt it matters whether your LED is red or blue. If you're going to use it to provide a day/night cycle, then they're going to be on for hours. In that case, I imagine it matters much more.

I used a LED strip in by BP's enclosure, but I only used it for occasional viewing. Even then, I used it on the dimmest setting. I imagined a shy snake, like a BP, would be stressed by bright lights.

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Originally Posted by Malum Argenteum

Is there some benefit to the snake from the unnatural lights, or is that just a novelty thing? Sincere question.

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Some have mentioned that the red LED has some benefit, but they are in the minority. For me, it’s strictly for viewing, and I can’t imagine it being on for more than an hour even on low set dimmer, of course.


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