T8 shopping list help!

[Plasma]

So after getting convinced to try Animal Plastics instead of getting an exo terra (they both look amazing but the pvc will make me and my bp happier) i have some questions. First off I've decided on a T8 with sliding glass doors,lock,and white fluorescent lights. but I'm having some trouble deciding on heating. I've looked at the sticky but i want to know what you guys think. I was thinking of getting an Ultratherm and a herpstat 1 (possibly a radiant heat panel depending on what you guys think)

In the summer air temps are at 76-82 but in the winter 68-72. I've heard the lights can give off some heat and you can be good with that but I wanted to check in with you guys to see if that would be enough or if I'd need a radiant heat panel. all suggestions are welcome especially since I'm new to pvc enclosures

[Sauzo]

I would personally call Ali at AP and get the LEDs installed instead of the fluorescent lights. They are nice.

As for heating, i would go with a RHP if you room gets that cold in the winter. The lights arent going to heat that much and flexwatt isnt going to heat that much either as you want to keep the cool side around 78-80F.

I have 3 AP T25s, 3 T10s and 3 T8s and i ordered them all the same. Sliding glass doors, locks, shelves, LED lights and flexwatt. I keep the room around 80F so i can get away with flexwatt alone. I would definitely order locks, shelf and LEDs. You can also order the RHP from Bob at Pro Products and have it drop shipped to AP and then will install it for you. Here are what the LEDs look like.


They are recessed into a routed channel so the snake cant get to it and pull it down.

[SDA]

So call them up and get the LED lighting option. $40 but totally worth it. Much better than the florescent tube thing they have. It's not on the website but they do offer it.

I highly recommend the T10 over the T8 but if you have done your research the T8 should be fine as well. The T10 is 3 inches higher which really does make it easier to access, give your snake more climbing room, and makes it easier to decorate and gives more head room for the RHP.

Get the flexwatt option. It is cut to fit the recess they have and prewired. You also should have a radiant heat panel as an UTH will not do anything for ambient temperatures. If you only want one heat source, the RHP is the minimum you want. Some will say you do not need a UTH but it is a great secondary heat source and I know my snake loves it.

Your two options is pro products or reptile basics for radiant heat panels. Both are equally solid options and either will serve you well. Pro products asks a ton of questions so be prepared for that. If you choose to upgrade the T10 the 80 watt reptile basics RHP is the best option. You can get away with a 40 watt on the T8 if you heat the room the cage will be in but an 80 watt will do as well. Bob from pro products will try and convince you that an UTH is not necessary but we have been using them for many years and they do offer a benefit in cool winters. So if you house gets into the 60s in the winter, it comes in handy.

I highly recommend either the herpstat 2 or the new herpstat ez2 if you want to save a few dollars. Either way go to upgrades and get the steel tip options, you won't regret the $2 upgrade.

[L.West]

I have 3 AP T8 cages and all have an 80 watt rhp. I find the rhp work great. I'm a fan.

[Sauzo]

Generally you wont need both belly heat and RHP but you can go for it if you want. As for wiring it up, pretty much anywhere that sells the stuff will crimp the plug wire on for you if you ask. You pay for the clip kit and plug kit of course. And to be honest, you could get it cheap from RB. Its just 2' of 11" flexwatt. And heck you could crimp yourself but the tool is kind of expensive and channel locks kind of sucks to try to do it with lol.

Like i said, if your room drops down to 68-72F in the winter, there is no way flexwatt is going to keep your ambient in the high 70s.

And i do agree, a T10 is easier to clean lol. I use T8s for my baby boas as it seems to make them feel more secure but then again, I'm kind of crazy and order lots of cages and have them laying around haha. Since this is going to be for a BP, i personally would order a T10 as that is what i have my pied girl in with the shelf and she has fun in it. If it was for a boa, I would personally say got for a T25 72x30x18 cage and be done with it

[Sauzo]

Forgot to add this. Here is a pic of my T8s, T10s and T25s all together so you can see the size comparisons. Since this is for a BP, you wont need a T25 unless you really want lol. The cage stack on the left has 3 T8s on top and 2 T10s on the bottom.