Upgrade Questions

[April1199]

Hi all - new here!

I'm upgrading my BP from a glass tank to a 4x2x2 wood Reptihomes enclosure. Someone in the neighborhood was selling one lightly used and in great shape, and I got it for a good deal. My BP's current setup includes a CHE with a dimmer and an UTH with a thermostat. The 4x2x2 I picked up came with a light and what appears to be a radiant heat panel (picture of the disassembled ceiling attached).

So, some questions. I apologize if these are commonly asked. She's my first reptile and I did a whole butt load of research on her current glass tank setup before getting her, and this upgrade is happening in a time of the year that I'm super busy. I would love some input from experienced keepers directly instead of doing hurried research and getting things wrong.

The light - if I keep it, I plan to keep it off for the majority of the time. I think it would be convenient lighting when I need to clean the cage. I know my BP is going to try to climb it sooner or later though. Is it better to just remove the light entirely, or find a way to cage it so she can't wedge herself in between the mount and the bulb? Any easy safe way to do this?

The radiant heat panel - I'm not at all familiar with these, to be honest. I assume it works since the seller didn't say it needed to be replaced, but I'll be test running everything before my BP gets added. Will have a thermostat of course. Is this a reliable way of heating the whole tank or are other supplemental heat sources needed? Where is the ideal thermostat probe placement?

The vents - there are two of them, one on each end. I plan to just leave them as is for now and see how the humidity holds up when I test run the whole cage for a few days without my BP in it. I suspect it will be too much ventilation to retain humidity well, though, and I might have to cover them up somehow. I'm sure I can figure this out on my own, but if you have a particular recommendation for partially or fully covering them if need be, I'm all ears.

Otherwise, I plan to seal the inside edges where the panels meet and get things rolling. Thanks!

[Homebody]

Is it better to just remove the light entirely, or find a way to cage it so she can't wedge herself in between the mount and the bulb? Any easy safe way to do this?

Is this a reliable way of heating the whole tank or are other supplemental heat sources needed? Where is the ideal thermostat probe placement?

The vents - if you have a particular recommendation for partially or fully covering them if need be, I'm all ears.

That looks like a pro heat 80 watt radiant heat panel. If I'm right, it will be more that sufficient to heat your enclosure. I would change the orientation to run from front to back. I'm concerned that, the way it's currently oriented, you won't have enough of a heat gradient. My probe sits on a fake plant 2-3" below the panel. My set up's a 3x2x2 plywood build. If you want to have a look at it, you can check it out here.

I would lose the light. If you want light, LEDs are cheap, efficient, and easy to install. They look better too.

As for the vents, I think you should plan on filling them. I can't see them in this picture, but expanding foam should take care of it.

[Homebody]

I can't see them in this picture, but expanding foam should take care of it.

Oh! I see them now. Rather than expanding foam, I would replace those vents with pieces of aluminum flashing.

[April1199]

Thank you so much!

Just measured the heat panel and it's half an inch too long to be rotated 90 degrees. I'll ditch the light. Actually, I just realized I can use it for another non-reptile-related project so it works out great. And yes, sorry about that, I initially intended to post a picture of the vents too but got distracted learning the weird format of this website. I'll go ahead and replace them.

[Homebody]

Just measured the heat panel and it's half an inch too long to be rotated 90 degrees.

I knew it would be close. Oh, well. That orientation worked for the last guy that had it, so maybe it'll work for you. Good luck.