I need some ideas... BP Enclosure

I want to build a nice BP enclosure (that holds the King as well in a seperate enclosure, but all one unit)...

However I am having a hard time figuring out how the under tank heating pads work with a wooden enclusure.. is it OK to put the pad directly on the "floor" of the cage?

I am looking for ideas, or examples on how you guys did it!

Any input is much appreciated.

I would not put any heating device inside the cage where the animal can come in direct contact with it and burn itself.

ya thats kind of what I was figuring..

Anyone have any ideas on how to incorporate one into a wooden cage? Or do I need to make the bottom plexiglass?

I built a wooden enclosure around a glass tank with the UTH between the glass and the wood on the bottom.
Check out my pictures for some ideas.

Umm...simple. You place the UTH on the inside of the wooden floor (i.e. on top of it) then cover that with plexiglass or vinyl flooring. Adding ventilation holes in the wood underneath the UTH gives the circulation needed. Then you just make sure the cage has risers if you intend to stack them.

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Umm...simple. You place the UTH on the inside of the wooden floor (i.e. on top of it) then cover that with plexiglass or vinyl flooring. Adding ventilation holes in the wood underneath the UTH gives the circulation needed. Then you just make sure the cage has risers if you intend to stack them.

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i've heard this is the way to go. some people use those vinyl tiles that look like stone. looks nice, i might try it sometime.

It is more expensive, but you can use a radiant heat panel. You can put them in the cage, and they won't harm the snake. They work great too, especially in cooler rooms, because they heat the ambient air as opposed to just a hot spot like the UTHs.

Ya I found those things last night (Radiant Heat Panels) pretty cool! But there were no prices listed on the website so Im scared there LOL

So... Adriana I think you might be my hero LOL that totally sounds like the way to go :)

One question... You stick the tile down... So you actually stick it to the UTH?
What happens if the UTH goes bad and you need to replace it? Just tear up the tile?
How do you use the temperature probe with that? Just stick it on top of the tile?

OK that was more than one question :D

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Originally Posted by OFRD_GRL

Ya I found those things last night (Radiant Heat Panels) pretty cool! But there were no prices listed on the website so Im scared there LOL

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They're around $65 each.

Well thats not AS bad as I was thinking :D

I wouldn't sandwich a heat pad between tile and a wooden cage without some air flow between the heat pad and the cage, especially if you are not going to use flexwatt. Heat pads can, and do, short out. I think you may have better luck housing the BP and the King separately in the long run.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OFRD_GRL

Ya I found those things last night (Radiant Heat Panels) pretty cool! But there were no prices listed on the website so Im scared there LOL

So... Adriana I think you might be my hero LOL that totally sounds like the way to go :)

One question... You stick the tile down... So you actually stick it to the UTH?
What happens if the UTH goes bad and you need to replace it? Just tear up the tile?
How do you use the temperature probe with that? Just stick it on top of the tile?

OK that was more than one question :D

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:) No, the tile is NOT stuck to the UTH. The UTH is placed on the wood, in which there are holes drilled for air. The vinyl flooring is in one piece - the thicker stuff without adhesive - and is placed on top of the UTH and siliconed in place at the Edges. :) This makes it easy to lift up the vinyl for any replacements/repairs, and it gives an extra space between the vinyl and UTH for air flow.

I have seen it done with other wooden cages and it works quite well. If you think about it, that is sort of how RBI does it with their cages - they sandwich the flexwatt between the plastic layers of the floor. :)

Awesome! It all makes sense now :)