Belly Heat

[April McCrea]

*nods* Flexwatt is what I mean. I've seen it called flexwatt and heat tape, so I tend to call it heat tape most of the time.

Thank you all for your answers. I'm going to go ahead and set it up using it for belly heat rather than back heat.

[Domepiece]

So if I do a rack using tubs, I should use heat tape instead of back heat?

When I kept snakes before, I used aquariums for everyone but I was in a much bigger house than I am in now, so a rack is a must in order to keep more than one or two. And I definitely already have more than one or two lol

Hi April, I would definately recommend using belly heat (flex watt heat tape with a herpstat), its the easiest and most efficient way to heat especially in a rack system and your snakes will appreciate it alot as well.

[Valley]

Since were talking about belly heat I figured I'd throw my questions here.

I am looking to get a rack system with belly heat alone. Is that all that is required as a heat source? (I will be having it built by a reputable source)

Also does it run along the whole container meaning there in no cool side? I'm sure I know the answer to this but I would rather know for sure then guess.

Would it be "bad juju" to have a adult rack built and just put the juveniles in the adult tub in their own appropriately sized tub?

Thanks for any info. I'd rather not have to spend the $ if I don't need to as of now getting different sized racks, but if need be I will. I want to have the best information possibly so I won't do anything to harm my babies. Again, thanks in advance.

[kitedemon]

No typically racks use a secondary heat usually the rooms heat its self. There are not real options for holding ambient air temps with flexwatt racks don't really have any other options. No the flexwatt usually runs across the width often at the back.

[LLLReptile]

I am looking to get a rack system with belly heat alone. Is that all that is required as a heat source? (I will be having it built by a reputable source)
>> Yes, you could do that. I have vision racks at home and we use them at our breeding center with just belly heat, and the snakes are fine. If they are snakes that thrive in tubs, they are snakes that will thrive with just belly heat providing warmth for the warm side.

Also does it run along the whole container meaning there in no cool side? I'm sure I know the answer to this but I would rather know for sure then guess.
>>No, you just put it along one side of the cage. Usually the back so that you can keep water bowls up front where they are easy to access. The snakes will always need a cool side in addition to a warm side.

Would it be "bad juju" to have a adult rack built and just put the juveniles in the adult tub in their own appropriately sized tub?
>>It would be harder to control temps if you have a double tub set up. There's no real reason you couldn't, just with two layers of plastic instead of one, you will likely have a cooler tub that the juvenile is living in.

Thanks for any info. I'd rather not have to spend the $ if I don't need to as of now getting different sized racks, but if need be I will. I want to have the best information possibly so I won't do anything to harm my babies. Again, thanks in advance.
>> In the end, you'll be saving yourself some money, because once you start producing offspring, you'll need those racks anyway. In my experience, it's better to just get the right sized cage the first time than to just try and get by or make something work. The animals do better and care is much easier when you just give them their own appropriate sized enclosure rather than jerry-rigging it.

Hope that helps!

-Jen

[Valley]

I am looking to get a rack system with belly heat alone. Is that all that is required as a heat source? (I will be having it built by a reputable source)
>> Yes, you could do that. I have vision racks at home and we use them at our breeding center with just belly heat, and the snakes are fine. If they are snakes that thrive in tubs, they are snakes that will thrive with just belly heat providing warmth for the warm side.

Also does it run along the whole container meaning there in no cool side? I'm sure I know the answer to this but I would rather know for sure then guess.
>>No, you just put it along one side of the cage. Usually the back so that you can keep water bowls up front where they are easy to access. The snakes will always need a cool side in addition to a warm side.

Would it be "bad juju" to have a adult rack built and just put the juveniles in the adult tub in their own appropriately sized tub?
>>It would be harder to control temps if you have a double tub set up. There's no real reason you couldn't, just with two layers of plastic instead of one, you will likely have a cooler tub that the juvenile is living in.

Thanks for any info. I'd rather not have to spend the $ if I don't need to as of now getting different sized racks, but if need be I will. I want to have the best information possibly so I won't do anything to harm my babies. Again, thanks in advance.
>> In the end, you'll be saving yourself some money, because once you start producing offspring, you'll need those racks anyway. In my experience, it's better to just get the right sized cage the first time than to just try and get by or make something work. The animals do better and care is much easier when you just give them their own appropriate sized enclosure rather than jerry-rigging it.

Hope that helps!

-Jen

My app didn't tell me you responded, was fixing to post my question again but figured I'd check. Thanks for answering all my questions.

I thought about it and I think I'm going with what you said and just buy the appropriate sized racks. In the long run it'll be a lot better.

One more question since I will be buying separate racks.

When do you move the snakes to different racks? Like now do you know when to move from a juvenile, to a sub adult, to a adult tub? Just when you see them outgrowing them? Or do you do it by a specific weight/length?

Thanks again Jen! You settled my butterflies from moving to a tank to racks.

[kitedemon]

No specific time line it is just a size space issue I have seen multiple formulas from snake length = full circumference to snake length = half the circumference and even snake length = the long side. I just use the does the snake seemed cramped or not eye ball rule for when it is time to move. A curious animal of equal size may get moved up faster than a timid one.

[LLLReptile]

When do you move the snakes to different racks? Like now do you know when to move from a juvenile, to a sub adult, to a adult tub? Just when you see them outgrowing them? Or do you do it by a specific weight/length?
>> It really depends on the snakes. I have had big fat babies that hate being moved to a bigger tub, so I keep them in relatively small tubs longer than more active or more robust snakes. I have a mini home-made rack of hatchling tubs that I use for newly hatched babies, once they've fed a couple times I bump them up to the actual baby tubs, which are 12" x 8" x 5.5". They stay in those tubs until they're feeding easily on small rats/almost ready for mediums (usually 6 to 10 months), and then depending on the snake they either get a 32 quart intermediate tub or they go straight into the adult sized CB70 rack. That's my usual pattern, but I also don't have many holdbacks every year (one or two at most), so I have the luxury of tinkering with each snake to make sure it's happy.

Thanks again Jen! You settled my butterflies from moving to a tank to racks.
>> Glad I could help!

-Jen

[Valley]

Thanks for all the info. Think ill be going with cserpant racks since their alittle cheaper for now. Thanks again!

[DeathByDabs]

I know you are going with racks, just wanted to show you my set up for now. No belly heat.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=189926

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