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

First post here, and I just wanted to say thank you for this article. I owned a BP many years ago, but I've found that after reading through this forum, there's a lot that I've forgotten lol. I haven't picked up my new BP yet, but I'm hoping to within the next few weeks. So this thread was a huge help to me. I've been looking for something that would give me room to grow, and I think this T8 fits that perfectly. I made the mistake of not doing that the first time, and ended up spending more to upgrade a couple of times, than it would cost to get the T8 with a few options added on. I also made the mistake of going with tanks, not realizing that there were better options out there. Do you think that starting out a small BP on half of the T8 with the divider would be a good way to go? Or perhaps give him/her a space even smaller than that?

Look forward to speaking with you all, glad to be here and can't wait to have my BP soon :)

First off welcome to BP.net, I hope you enjoy your stay!

I start my little guys out in half of a T8. As long as you provide good hides such as the reptile basics hides that I use, you shouldn't have any issues.

If needed you can put the divider in the cage so that instead of splitting it 50:50 it could be split 60:40 or even 70:30 to make the cage smaller for difficult hatchlings.

Thanks for the welcome and for the reply Aaron.

Looking at the enclosure, I didn't realize you could use the divider in different areas, thanks for the heads up. But if you've done 50/50 successfully with good hides, I'll probably go that route as well.

It's been about 7 years since my last BP. I loved the little/not-so-little guy. For some reason, he didn't like other people holding him, but he never had a problem with me doing it. So, I'm really looking forward to getting a new one that I'll hopefully have for years to come. Thanks again for this detailed article, it answered a lot of questions I had when I first found this site.

For the T8, are there any of the added accessories that you'd recommend? Or would you buy them from elsewhere? Here's what I'm currently looking at

T8 Black: Sliding Glass
Sliding Door Lock
Flexwatt Belly Heat
White Flourescent Light
Basking Shelf
POP IN, POP OUT DIVIDER

I get almost the exact same set up. (so yes I buy the add-ons from AP)

If you get the divider you will need to get 2 White Fluorescent lights

I have never purchased a cage with both the divider and the basking shelf...I'm not sure how that would work out. (I've purchased cages with dividers and cages with the basking shelf but never both in the same cage) I would call AP before you order and make sure that you can use both at the same time.

Yeah, I was wondering how large the basking shelf actually was. My plan for now is to only use half the enclosure, maybe less, and then move the divider as my future BP grows. So I'll just get the shelf later on.

Thanks for the reply, and glad to know that I was atleast looking at the right stuff lol.

Wow!
Awesome set up! And thanks for all the details and information on options such as heating for this type of enclosure. Sweet, humidity is where I'm usually most concerned, too, so this type of housing will be a lot easier on my nerves! :P

So I received my T8 today and am about to go back in to seal it and get all the thermometer and probes in place.

I was wondering what in the world do you do with all the extra wire on the Acurite probes?

Do you mount the probes right next to the divider or just off of it a few inches?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aizkora

So I received my T8 today and am about to go back in to seal it and get all the thermometer and probes in place.

I was wondering what in the world do you do with all the extra wire on the Acurite probes?

Do you mount the probes right next to the divider or just off of it a few inches?

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I drill holes in the back of the cage and stick the excess on double sided foam tape

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0451.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0453.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0452.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0446.jpg

Will the T8 you listed be big enough to hold a full grown BRB? I have no doubt that it can hold a ball python will ease. I'm definitely going to go this route, you convinced me. I may need to pick your brain more (99% sure of it..) just to make sure I'm ordering everything that I need, etc.