I think the sliding hood is very nice (a bit expensive)but will still need wire screen around the bulbs to protect your snake from possible burns.
I have my female BP in a 100 gallon very thick glass fish tank.
there is a 10.5" waterbowl (105 ounces of water) and an 2.5' long arched driftwood she climbs on a lot.
the tank is located in a corner of the bedroom so two sides are against the walls.
I glued 3 hollow XL sized log "hides" together to increase the overall length, then one end is covered with Aspen bedding for privacy and enhanced warmth.
I have owned her since April 2010, however she is 50" long and weighs 5 lbs.
So I am guessing she is 3 years old aproximately.
She came to me in a 45 gallon "critter cage" with a 15 watt under tank heat pad.
The woman that gave her to me did not know the correct species, she told me it was a burmese....
So I am learnimg a lot.....I went to a reptile show to find out she is a BP.
The screened hinged lid is all they sell to fit a 72" by 18" tank, so that is what I have.
I have 4 undertank pads, 24 watts each to maintain temps in high 80's degrees on one end and high 70's at the water bowl.
I have the water bowl/ cool side covered with an old bath towel. (dry, not wet)
I have no heat lights at all, so opening the lid is a breeze.
Now I am reading a lot about how BP's hate large enclosures, However mine seems to cruise around the tank a lot some times she will lay around out of her hollow log hide, she is really comfortable in her tank.
I hope all this information helps, I think 1 overhead inferred heat lamp is enough, no light emission type is best.
even though I have no lamp ( just undertank heating) and my BP is content.
I feed her a large rat every 14 days (may have to extend the timing because she is quite thick bodied)
Harry
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