Wanting to upgrade enclosure for my BCI

[Neal]

Neal, may I ask why you are committed to using the lights at all? I am not being critical in the slightest - I just wondered because most boas and pythons do not need lights, uvb or not, and many do better without one. But are you working with a particular species that does need uvb? Or do you feel you need a light to raise ambient temps? If that's the case, there are alternative that won't affect the humidity.....

I'm only asking because a) it will help us understand your point of view and b) that may be why Ed was resistant to customizing his cages in this manner - he's a boa guy and 98% of his cages are designed with boas in mind....

Again, just curious - no offense intended!

If it were a python or a boa I would use a ceramic heat emitter and a UTH. I don't like the FW and I've not dealt with RHP. I'm wanting a 32x23x20 enclosure so I can put my two rufous beaked snakes in there. They are a Diurnal snake so I use a bulb to heat slightly, but mainly for light and at night I turn on the moonlight bulb as I call it which I run both on a dimmer so I dim it so it gives off a faint blow glow to mimic the moon. The temps in the room are well regulated so I don't need to use anything else, though I may add an UTH eventually. I've had a Rufous Beaked Snake before and he was the happiest camper in a 10 gallon with the same setup. That's why I'm set on having the two holes for light fixtures.

[rocknhorse76]

Seriously dude, you don't need a light or CHE in one of the commercial snake cages. A RHP or FW will heat it perfectly, and if you're dead set on having a light, put a fluorescent fixture in it. You can get lamps for them that are very dim to mimic moonlight, or just go with a blue LED fixture. Don't ruin the humidity and heat retaining qualities of the cage by cutting holes for light fixtures that are absolutely unnecessary.

I also mean no offense!! FYI

[Neal]

Seriously dude, you don't need a light or CHE in one of the commercial snake cages. A RHP or FW will heat it perfectly, and if you're dead set on having a light, put a fluorescent fixture in it. You can get lamps for them that are very dim to mimic moonlight, or just go with a blue LED fixture. Don't ruin the humidity and heat retaining qualities of the cage by cutting holes for light fixtures that are absolutely unnecessary.

I've kept a lot of snakes, it won't ruin the humidity. Trust me I know how to properly upkeep the humidity on snakes that I need to. I don't want to put lights on the inside of the setup, and I don't want FW or RHP. If anything for additional heat I use an UTH. I'm just staying small this time around with two snakes. I already have lamps from when I previously had my snakes along with the bulbs and UTH's. I'm not going to cut holes in it myself either, that's why I want to buy one with the wholes precut and screen on them. So I can set the fixtures on top. It wouldn't do any good for me to do the holes because if that was the case I may as well stick with my 20 gal long and do the same setup I did a few years ago.

I had an 7ft Yellow Anaconda on cypress mulch in a 65 gal long tank, with a ceramic heat emitter and an UTH and I kept temps perfect and well around 80% humidity, so as long as you know how to properly setup things humidity isn't an issue.

[I-KandyReptiles]

What's the point of buying any PVC or plastic caging if you'll just be cutting holes in the top for heat lamps? If that's what you want get wood ones.. Or use a fish tank.

[Neal]

What's the point of buying any PVC or plastic caging if you'll just be cutting holes in the top for heat lamps? If that's what you want get wood ones.. Or use a fish tank.

I am using an Aquarium, but I would prefer a PVC enclosure. They don't look bad, and I don't want a wooden one. The size wood one I would want would weigh more then the Aquarium. So the point is to having a PVC enclosure customized the way I want, because it'll last longer, it's not glass and it looks nice. I just like to do things my way because my way works and I've never had problems with it.

[Gio]

This is my Pro-Line 48" X 23" x 14" cage from Constrictors NW.



If you like Moon Light, I installed the Arcadia Moonlight LED fixture for night OPs.


Here is my write up of the cage. $230 SHIPPED to my door. I added a few things like a lock and perch holders.
http://www.reptileinsider.com/showth...tures-enclosed

My boa likes his cage.

[Marissa@MKmorphs]

This is my Pro-Line 48" X 23" x 14" cage from Constrictors NW.



If you like Moon Light, I installed the Arcadia Moonlight LED fixture for night OPs.


Here is my write up of the cage. $230 SHIPPED to my door. I added a few things like a lock and perch holders.
http://www.reptileinsider.com/showth...tures-enclosed

My boa likes his cage.

Your setup looks fantastic! Mine would just have 2 hides and a water bowl on newspaper lol


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[Gio]

Your setup looks fantastic! Mine would just have 2 hides and a water bowl on newspaper lol


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Thank you. I have a lot in there right now because he's small (3 1/2 feet to 3' 9") since I like to buy the lifetime cage early on I clutter it a bit. Eventually I'll have just 2 hides instead of 4. I like the plants and vines and always have a large and smaller water dish. The perches are utilized a lot by him and 3 sets of perch holders were $15.

This cage has been fantastic. I HIGHLY recommend using a RHP. Pro-Products will customize it to suit the enclosure. Just be ready to give cage type, cage size, and night and day temps of the room the cage will be in and if the room is finished or not finished as in concrete floor or not.

Its my only heat source although I have a water filled space heater in the room.

I'm going to link a Youtube video of a guy with a wonderful snake room. He has the same cage I have. This gives you a live look at the Pro-Line and also the Boaphile cages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqD_ZK_Ye5M

[Gio]

I was a bit confused after reading the whole thread as to who wanted a new cage, but it looks like 2 people.

Neal, I truly understand the feelings you have about glass cages. I still have my son's Royal in glass. I insulated it, put a nice background in, and have had success using it with the Ultratherm UTH and an overhead heat lamp.

However once you give the plastic cages a run with some of the updated heat sources you will be surprised how easy it is to come to "The dark side" LOL!

Seriously, I'm considering changing to a Pro-Line for the Royal as well. I hate cleaning cages from the top, I don't like heat light running 24/7 even on a Herpstat. I keep great humidity in the glass, but I feel its dated and the cords all have to come in from the top, and then there is the big light.

Absolutely no knock on how you do things, but once I tried the plastic cage I felt like I stepped into a new world.

Like anything there is a small learning curve but you seem dedicated.

[Neal]

I was a bit confused after reading the whole thread as to who wanted a new cage, but it looks like 2 people.

Neal, I truly understand the feelings you have about glass cages. I still have my son's Royal in glass. I insulated it, put a nice background in, and have had success using it with the Ultratherm UTH and an overhead heat lamp.

However once you give the plastic cages a run with some of the updated heat sources you will be surprised how easy it is to come to "The dark side" LOL!

Seriously, I'm considering changing to a Pro-Line for the Royal as well. I hate cleaning cages from the top, I don't like heat light running 24/7 even on a Herpstat. I keep great humidity in the glass, but I feel its dated and the cords all have to come in from the top, and then there is the big light.

Absolutely no knock on how you do things, but once I tried the plastic cage I felt like I stepped into a new world.

Like anything there is a small learning curve but you seem dedicated.

Yea, I'm a bit old school on that I don't budge on how I do things unless I notice a problem, lol. See for the most part I keep my reptile room already the proper temp, and the light is only to mimic their lifestyle, I usually put a 50w day bulb, and a 25w night bulb and I keep them dimmed real low, but enough so it gives off the lighting. Then again I may need to switch if I were to go with a PVC enclosure, but as I was thinking about it, it wouldn't be fun to clean.

Gio, I love your setup also, could you take some pictures of the top inside of your setup so I can see what you did? I'm curious to see how you mounted your lights. Because I may do that way when I get ready to get a PVC enclosure, or if I do decide to get one.