Boaphile display case heating

[sgarelick]

Good morning all,

I'm new to this forum and also new to owning a BP. After doing a ton of reading, we just purchased a juvenile CCB BP. I currently have him in a 10 gallon glass aquarium with UTH heating but am finding that it difficult to maintain 2 temperature zones as well as humidity levels. We have 2 identically hides that are sized appropriately for the size of the snake.

I've been looking into plastic display cases and am leaning towards one of the boaphile cases. I'm a little confused about the various heating options and thought someone here could help. It sounds like the have 3 "Under Cage" heating options. X1, X1.5 & X2. Can someone describe the difference between these better than the website does; I'm confused.

Right now I will only have 1 cage and it will be in a room where the temperature fluctuates between 65-68 (in the winter) and around 74 in the summer. Which heating option would be best in this type of situation?

Also, the website almost makes it sound like the flexwatt runs the entire length of the case; if this is true, how do you maintain a warm and a cool side? Wouldn't the whole tank be the same temperature.

I'd like to buy one case that can be used with the snake for it's entire life. I'm guessing that a 36" long case would suffice but wanted to get others opinions.

Thanks in advance for you help.

--Steve

[Schlyne]

The difference between x1, x1.5 and x2 is the length of the flexwatt. x1 is one foot, x1.5 is a foot and a half, x2 is 2 feet.

How long of a cage are you looking to get?

If it's a 36 long, I think I'd go with 2 feet, considering the temps you quoted. It may be harder to maintain your cool side temp properly with anything shorter in the wintertime.

I'm heating a boaphile 421D (which is 48") with 1.5 feet, and It turned out that was not enough heat with the environment in my house to keep the cool side warm enough for my black blood python. I had to put extra flexwatt in on the cool side to warm it up a bit.

I'd want to know how big the cage is that you're trying to heat before I give you an option on how much flexwatt you'll need.

Btw, boaphile tends up to a month longer than advertised to get the cages/racks to you. They are fanastic cages, but the wait time is horrible (I have almost everybody housed in boaphile racks/cages).

[sgarelick]

I was thinking about a 36" cage assuming that it will be big enough to house an adult BP; which from what I've read, sounds like it should. I was thinking about the 321D or the 322D with the shelf. I don't have a ton of room but can go that big if needed. Could I get away with a 24" cage for an adult?

If I stick with the 36" case and go with the 2 ft. flexwatt option, then there will be a 1 foot cool side and a 2 foot warm side. Is there any chance that the cool side will be too warm if I get the warm side to the desired temperature?

Other than sacrificing the snakes comfort for a few weeks (which I'm not looking forward to doing), I don't mind waiting the extra time to get the case as long as it's worth the wait. I was also looking at Animal Plastics and RBI plastics as well. Are there enough differences between them and the boaphile to justify the wait?

--Steve

[Schlyne]

I keep my balls in the "ball room racks" sold by boaphile which are 36" long. I would go with the 36" over the 24". Without a theromstat, it may get too warm on even the hot side with 2 feet of heating, but I don't think the cool side will be too warm. You may want to call Jeff directly and ask about his opinion, he's been building cages for a long time.

I've never bought anything from the other groups, somebody else will have to chime in on that one.

[dr del]

Hi,


I'm a little confused but why can't you use the 1 foot section as the hot side and the 2 foot side as the cool side?


dr del