Radiant heat panel

[strikerball21]

gonna make a new tank for my izzy! its gonna be huge 55inch long 30 inch deep 36 inch tall.. all out of cell plexi.. to heat the bottom what should i use? UTH or radian heat panel?

[RichL]

UTH for the bottom ( hot side ). I would suggest a RHP to regulate the ambient. Reptile Basics has a thermostat that will control two individual zones at once.. You could use that to control the UTH and the RHP while only buying one stat.

I plan on doing something similar and this was how I was going to control everything.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I would sugest making it much shorter. Ball pythons don't need more than 12 inches in height. I have both 12 inch tall enclosures and a 24 inch tall enclosure. I had the 24 inch enclosure first and realized that it was very difficult to keep the proper temperatures and humidity levels. I love my 12 inch tall enclosures. If you really want to have a 36 inch you will probably need both a UTH and a RHP. I would have one large RHP to keep the ambient temperature and a UTH to provide a hot side.

[kitedemon]

I agree too tall! 12 to 18 inches max, higher is just complicating the whole thing for no reason. Well designed you should be able to manage with a UTH and perhaps a fluorescent light only.

[strikerball21]

24 be to high also? my snake seems to love climbing which was why th 3 feet was height

[wwmjkd]

I agree too tall! 12 to 18 inches max, higher is just complicating the whole thing for no reason. Well designed you should be able to manage with a UTH and perhaps a fluorescent light only.

see above.

however if you do decide to opt for the taller enclosure and need a heat panel, make sure it's connected to a thermostat. and look to RBI first. they have some of the best options for RHPs and excellent customer service.

[OhhWatALoser]

well ill say this first, there really no need to make something that tall, I mean most ball pythons like to hide all day and never be seen, thats why most of us use racks, it's perfect for them. You might be disappointed with how much you actually see your snake in your new enclosure.

But if your still set on what you want to make....If you get the correct RHP, you don't need anything else. I use them to heat my carpet cages, which are 36x30x14. The arboreal people are in love with them because they do such a good job of heating bigger cages and getting the correct heat gradient.

Pro-products is usually considered top of the line when it comes to RHP. Call them and tell them the size of your cage, what material it's made of, your room temp, and what type of animal is in there. They got a formula they plug that into and tells them the right RHP to get you to do the job. obviously with it connected to a thermostat.

also beware when comparing the cost of an RHP + custom cage to flexwatt + 41 qt tub (which is perfect for an adult ball python)..... your looking at quite a difference.

[Mike Schultz]

gonna make a new tank for my izzy! its gonna be huge 55inch long 30 inch deep 36 inch tall.. all out of cell plexi.. to heat the bottom what should i use? UTH or radian heat panel?

Just so you know, radiant heat panels are meant to go in the top of the enclosure and "radiate" heat downwards (simulating the sun)

I would honestly go with an undertank heater for a ball python, they hide in holes in the ground and don't spend a lot of time basking under sunlight.

RHP's are great for semi arboreal snakes though, like carpet pythons, some boas etc.

[strikerball21]

i have about 1 inch of substrate on my UTH izzy pushed all of it out in her hide so shes layign right on the pad. pretty cool.. think i might switch to coconut dirt from repti bark tho to help with hummidity.. and thx for all the replies.. so did some thinking and 3 feet is much to big im thinking 18to 24 high is sufice.. what type of uth? the pads are expensive.. then there is thermal tape.. and thermal tape looking stuff..

also think im going to go with a controler from spyder robotics... and making it out of 1/2inch thick cell plexi.. vids on youtube oh how to make them even water tight for aquariums.. VERY simple to do and looks fantastic

[The Serpent Merchant]

i have about 1 inch of substrate on my UTH izzy pushed all of it out in her hide so shes layign right on the pad. pretty cool.. think i might switch to coconut dirt from repti bark tho to help with hummidity.. and thx for all the replies.. so did some thinking and 3 feet is much to big im thinking 18to 24 high is sufice.. what type of uth? the pads are expensive.. then there is thermal tape.. and thermal tape looking stuff..

also think im going to go with a controler from spyder robotics... and making it out of 1/2inch thick cell plexi.. vids on youtube oh how to make them even water tight for aquariums.. VERY simple to do and looks fantastic

I use the Herpstat 4 from spyder robotics and love it. All of there Products look great. I would use 11 inch flexwatt. You can purchase 11 inch flexwatt in just about any length at reptile basics. You can even have them wire it up for you. The cages I have are made from 1/2 inch thick controlled density PVC plastic and the 11 inch flexwatt on the hot side combined with a RHP to regulate the ambient temp works great. I use 2 thurmostat channels per enclosure. Some people would consider this overkill but then again I am OCD LOL.