Radient Heat Panel Help

[Reptimom]

Hello all,

I'm working on upgrading my 2 y.o. Ball Python's tank and am pricing/figuring out what I need in it.
I am getting a cage from The Reptile Factory, and I was trying to figure out what heat source to use. I shouldn't put a heat mat inside the cage (corrrect?) so I was looking at radiant heat panels, but was wondering what you guys would suggest and how to set up the heat source.
I'll be getting her a size up in hides and switching her substrate to cypress because (correct me if I am wrong) it holds humidity way better than shredded aspen. I'll get her new decorations and thermostat too but the heat source is what I am confused about.

Thanks guys!

[donnadudette2003]

Hello all,

I'm working on upgrading my 2 y.o. Ball Python's tank and am pricing/figuring out what I need in it.
I am getting a cage from The Reptile Factory, and I was trying to figure out what heat source to use. I shouldn't put a heat mat inside the cage (corrrect?) so I was looking at radiant heat panels, but was wondering what you guys would suggest and how to set up the heat source.
I'll be getting her a size up in hides and switching her substrate to cypress because (correct me if I am wrong) it holds humidity way better than shredded aspen. I'll get her new decorations and thermostat too but the heat source is what I am confused about.

Thanks guys!

Correct, do not put the mat inside the tank. Snakes don't often decide "this is too hot" on their own and will cook themselves to death happily.

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[Reptimom]

Thank you for clarifying!

[MissterDog]

You are correct that heat mats should never be inside the cage.

RHP's on the other hand, they would actually go inside your cage at the top/ceiling. Best recommended ones are from Reptile Basics http://www.reptilebasics.com/rbi-radiant-heat-panels

Or from Pro Products
http://pro-products.com/pro-heat/

For Pro Products just talk to Bob and he will consult with you which model/wattage is best for you according to your cage dimensions and what it's made of.

[BR8080]

You are correct (as the others have stated) in that the heat mat should not be inside the enclosure. Also good for you to know it HAS to be controlled by a thermostat.

IMHO Bob at Pro-Products offers the best and safest RHP's on the market. He will talk with you and explain why as he is a wealth of knowledge and a snake keeper himself.

I started using cypress mulch for bedding on the advice from the local reptile guy but switched to coco husk from Reptile Prime/Herptopia after doing my own research. I feel it is a better choice for many reasons; keeps humidity very well, VERY absorbent, easy spot cleaning, absolutely no odors, and most importantly....my snakes can burrow in it - they never did with the cypress mulch. Youtube has a ton of good vids on it and comparisons.

Good luck to you, it sounds like you're on the right track by doing some homework and research.

[Reptimom]

Missterdog:
Thank you so much! I had looked at the Reptile Basics, I will check out Pro Products next.

BR8080:
Thank you, yes I have a thermostat for her (I've had her for a year+ now) and I plan on getting a new/better one along with the rest of her upgrades.
Thats awesome Bob helps that much, I will get in touch with him. And I will check out the coco husk too, my girl LOVES to burrow and destroys her tank almost every night in the process. Thanks again! I try to find out what I can.

[L.West]

You can't go wrong with using an RHP. I love them. That is all I use. Mine are from Reptile Basics and I have had no problems whatsoever.

[DLena]

Slight derail: if the cage has a RHP, do you still need belly heat? The ambient room temp is 72-78 (winter-summer).
...for bps, Dumerils, DRMB, SD, Cubans, Dwarf Burm, Childrens

[Reptimom]

You are correct (as the others have stated) in that the heat mat should not be inside the enclosure. Also good for you to know it HAS to be controlled by a thermostat.

IMHO Bob at Pro-Products offers the best and safest RHP's on the market. He will talk with you and explain why as he is a wealth of knowledge and a snake keeper himself.

I started using cypress mulch for bedding on the advice from the local reptile guy but switched to coco husk from Reptile Prime/Herptopia after doing my own research. I feel it is a better choice for many reasons; keeps humidity very well, VERY absorbent, easy spot cleaning, absolutely no odors, and most importantly....my snakes can burrow in it - they never did with the cypress mulch. Youtube has a ton of good vids on it and comparisons.

Good luck to you, it sounds like you're on the right track by doing some homework and research.

Is this the substrate? https://www.reptileprime.com/purchase-here

[treaux]

A lot of your decision will depend on where you will keep the ambient room temp. If the room gets colder then 75ish degrees, you will likely need more than just a heat mat under the cage. Since it sounds like you are getting a PVC enclosure, you can have either a heat mat (or preferably tape) or an RHP inside the cage or both. If you are able to keep your room warm enough, the heat tape will be plenty to provide a hot spot through the PVC cage (you place it on the outside bottom with the thermostat probe between it and the bottom of the cage - many cages have a probe cutout routed into them for this purpose).

Heat tape won't do much for ambient temp, however, and BPs generally need this to stay around 75 degrees or so minimum. This is where an RHP can be very useful. By placing the RHP on one side of the cage, typically the warm side, it will also heat the ambient of the cool side to around where you want it (this depends on the cage side and the RHP size). In my 4x2x1 PVC cages, I use one 80 watt panel offset on the warm side and it gets me a perfect 90 degree hot spot and 75-80 degree cool side.