Couple of Quick Questions Regarding PVC Cages

[mebigbadbrat]

I am looking at this site for a cage: http://boamaster.com/products/pvc_30..._12-105-5.html

Right now I am dealing with the lovely tanks that are crap for heat and humidity. I was told by a friend to invest in a Boa Master pvc 30" by 18" by 12". Right now my biggest girl is in a 75 gallon (4ft long by 18 in wide). Would dropping down to the 30" one be too small? She is 2050 grams and still growing. She is four and a half feet long.

Do I need a heat panel and flex watt or one?
My room is usually like 65 degrees in the winter time.
Has anyone used this type of cage? Good or bad? Which thermostat works best? And where is the best place to get those black thermometers everyone has? I keep looking but have yet to find one.

Also what size would be good for a 120 gram albino? I mean he will be growing so I want something that will last a while.
Thanks
Nichole

[The Serpent Merchant]

Checkout this thread I wrote on PVC caging, it should answer most of your questions:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!

To answer a few of your questions:

1. You want about 1 square foot of floor space in the cage per foot of snake

2. Either or both will work, I cover both in detail in the thread I linked to above. I would suggest a heat panel for you

3. I don't use this brand, but I do use PVC cage (I prefer Animal Plastics cages)

4. The Herpstat tine of thermostats currently have the most features and are the safest.

5. if you are referring to the acu-rite (pictured below) then you can order them on Amazon or at Walmart

6. I start out my little guys in a 24 x 24 x 12 inch cage (L x W x H) as long as you have good hides there shouldn't be any problems

[kitedemon]

The 30 inch would be fine I have a 3800 gm in a 36x24 enclosure. I would choose either UTH (flexwatt) or RHP not both they do exactly the same job heat surfaces neither heat air. Most PVC enclosures have lights in them and the lights actually ad to the ambient temps in a fairly substantial way. A 120 gm I would keep in a tub. And move to a 24x24 later.

The safest thermostats on the market are the herpstat 1 or better. The other herpstats are great too but for the extra cash I would go with the one. The other T-stats on the market some have great features (not reporting and email alerts and such) but for safety the herpstat has it all over the others.

[mebigbadbrat]

So I looked at the Animal Plastics and think my big girl would need the T8. I would rather give her extra room then not enough. On their site, there is no option for the Heat Panel. I may have to get the Heat Panel and flex watt as my room seems to be colder.

Then I was thinking of ordering two T8. One for my big girl alone then one with a divider for my albino boy and future pied girl (hopefully sooner then later).

This is what I have in my list so far of what I need to buy:
-T8 (2x)
-Pop in Pop Out Divider (1x)
-Flex Watt (2x)
-F. Lights (3x)
-8 in stand (1)
-Herpstat 2 (1)
-Thermometer (3x)

Anything else?
Man, after writing it out and seeing the bill, my hobby looks expensive. =/
Nichole

- - - Updated - - -

For the acu-rite, this is all I keep finding:
http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum...words=acu-rite

I don't think that is the same one. Maybe the updated version?

Thanks
Nichole

- - - Updated - - -

Also forgot, what size heat panel works for the T8? Would it depend on if the divider is in place or?

[kitedemon]

Personally I am not an accurite fan, they are the same accuracy as most other instruments at a higher cost. Accuracy is a complicated issue but one way is multiple units and the few that are off can be left unused. I typically buy the cheapest I can and usually buy at least 3 usually 5 or more. It provides higher accuracy for lower price.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-Mini-Digi...item2c691503b9

[mebigbadbrat]

The reason I like the acurite is because it offers two heats plus the humidity all in one. But I will look at the one you mentioned. Thanks

[SquamishSerpents]

So I looked at the Animal Plastics and think my big girl would need the T8. I would rather give her extra room then not enough. On their site, there is no option for the Heat Panel. I may have to get the Heat Panel and flex watt as my room seems to be colder.

Then I was thinking of ordering two T8. One for my big girl alone then one with a divider for my albino boy and future pied girl (hopefully sooner then later).

This is what I have in my list so far of what I need to buy:
-T8 (2x)
-Pop in Pop Out Divider (1x)
-Flex Watt (2x)
-F. Lights (3x)
-8 in stand (1)
-Herpstat 2 (1)
-Thermometer (3x)

Anything else?
Man, after writing it out and seeing the bill, my hobby looks expensive. =/
Nichole

- - - Updated - - -

For the acu-rite, this is all I keep finding:
http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum...words=acu-rite

I don't think that is the same one. Maybe the updated version?

Thanks
Nichole

- - - Updated - - -

Also forgot, what size heat panel works for the T8? Would it depend on if the divider is in place or?

Just wait til you spend 6k on racking in a year!!!!

I would say yes, it depends on the divider. Is there an option of placing your snakes in a warmer room? I don't really see the point of a heat panel as well as flexwatt, might make it TOO hot or become difficult to regulate, as both would need to be on different thermostats with different probes.

[mebigbadbrat]

Sadly I can't put them anywhere else at the moment. I currently live at home with my mom and younger brother so they are in my mom. I even thought about getting a rack but I like the look of the PVC cages more. I am thinking of just doing the flex watt and seeing how that goes.

[ewaldrep]

I personally plan on going with a boaphile, don't have to put it together, no seals to leak.
http://www.boaphileplastics.com/cages.html

[mebigbadbrat]

That maybe even better yet! I hate putting stuff together. I did a dresser last year and don't recommend putting one together when tired after midnight. Mom and grandma had to redo it the next day. Crappy dresser for me. Great for my mom. Go figure.