A beat to death question but She might be sayin there's a chance!!!!!!!

[Evenstar]

Thanks to al who have posted the pictures. I'm having a tough time with the decision. I'm really starting to favor the AP T-10 but I do like the Proline as well. I may have struck gold on Craig's list here. I think there is an AP 6x3x2 being sold. If I can get it in the $280 range and it's in good condition I may jump on it.

Oh geez, if you can land that one, you'll be set forever! Why can't I ever find CL deals like that..........??

You won't be sorry with AP. Proline is nice and you'd like that too, but if the size of the AP fits what you're looking for, get that.

[Gio]

Ha!! Well I have only heard back from the CL poster once and when I asked for more specifics the e-mail stopped. It looks like it could be an AP he wants $350 and I'd offer $280 to start. But seeing as he has ceased e-mailing me that ship may have sailed.

I'm torn between AP and Proline. I know the PL will come to about $263 with almost all I need. The AP is about $60 more which would be a nice chunk toward the heat panel and of course there is the Herpstat.

The key is to not piss off my lovely, understanding of my needs wife. I'm walking a thin line here so keeping it low $ is the key. However, like a lot of you here, I'm a very particular person and really enjoy high quality items that are within reason and when it comes to pets we go the full distance.

[Evenstar]

The ProLine cage comes with the RHP??? I didn't think he sold them...... Pro Line is actually a different company from NorthWest Constrictors - NW sells their cages under "pro line" but it is a different company. But he may have started to sell the heat panels too. Let me know for sure because that may change my own decision later this summer when I order a new stack.....

[Gio]

The ProLine cage comes with the RHP??? I didn't think he sold them...... Pro Line is actually a different company from NorthWest Constrictors - NW sells their cages under "pro line" but it is a different company. But he may have started to sell the heat panels too. Let me know for sure because that may change my own decision later this summer when I order a new stack.....

No, Ed just told me to check Bob at Pro-products for the RHP. What I was trying to say was the $60 I'd save going with Ed would be a nice amount I could put toward the RHP. I think they usually go for around $85.

I think I'm going to go with perches and some larger rocks in the cage. Seeing this will be my first time using a RHP, I'd like some rocks and other items to absorb and transfer heat back out so I can up the ambient temps. I will also have an in cage light installed to assist with ambient temps.

I am trying to avoid heat lamps like we have on our glass tank.

[3skulls]

Yeah I would scrap the heat lamp idea.

I would think the Flexwatt would heat the rocks the same.
I have never used a RHP so I can't say to much about them.

[Evenstar]

No, Ed just told me to check Bob at Pro-products for the RHP. What I was trying to say was the $60 I'd save going with Ed would be a nice amount I could put toward the RHP. I think they usually go for around $85.

Oh gotcha!

I think I'm going to go with perches and some larger rocks in the cage. Seeing this will be my first time using a RHP, I'd like some rocks and other items to absorb and transfer heat back out so I can up the ambient temps. I will also have an in cage light installed to assist with ambient temps.

I am trying to avoid heat lamps like we have on our glass tank.

Perches will work. I like the shelves though for 2 reasons. 1) It is both a shelf providing a climbing spot with added floor space and a place to go under to hide. 2) It is easy to clean. The choice is totally up to you and there's no right or wrong thing to use (as long as it's safe for the snake of course). I'll be honest, rocks really won't do much good in there and may just get in the way. Keep in mind that the more "stuff" you put in there means more stuff to clean. The light that is installed by either AP or ProLine won't give off much added heat, but definitely stay away from heat lamps - that's one of the most detrimental enclosure accessories you can use and will just SUCK humidity out.

Btw, are you going to go with a baby?? If so, you need to have a smaller enclosure ready. It's good to plan this out, but a baby won't be comfortable in a large enclosure until it's at least a year old. An option is to purchase this cage with a divider. But you'll need to adjust your heat sources accordingly....

[Gio]

Probably not a baby, but not an older snake either. I will clutter the cage with a tone of stuff. I have heard 2 schools of thought on cage size.

1 being a big cage causes stress and makes a snake feel insecure.

The other being "Nature is huge and they make it in the wild." I think with all of the extra stuff I have here from the Royal would be enough to possibly over clutter the cage. I'll consider a divider if need be.

The plan is to get an established feeding snake that has been handled and is comfortable. I will check with Rio Bravo and the other breeders you mentioned.

I talked to Ed and he said if I was going to use a RHP, perches would be better than a shelf because the shelf would block some of the heat from the panel. I have a lot of questions as to how to effectively regulate a RHP with a thermostat. Probe positioning and such.

Our current Royal has a dangled probe that deals with the lamp, and the other probe is between the UTH and the outside bottom of the tank. That all seemed so easy.

The Proline is a totally different deal for me so I'll need help.

[Evenstar]

Probably not a baby, but not an older snake either. I will clutter the cage with a tone of stuff. I have heard 2 schools of thought on cage size.

1 being a big cage causes stress and makes a snake feel insecure.

The other being "Nature is huge and they make it in the wild." I think with all of the extra stuff I have here from the Royal would be enough to possibly over clutter the cage. I'll consider a divider if need be. This is very true about nature. And boas do not stress as easily as other snakes (ie: BPs). I don't have a problem with putting a baby in a large enclosure as long as there are multiple hides and plants, etc, to provide cover. A smaller cage is easier to do this with for a baby though. Plus, I just wanted to be sure you'd considered that fact.

The plan is to get an established feeding snake that has been handled and is comfortable. I will check with Rio Bravo and the other breeders you mentioned. Perfect!

I talked to Ed and he said if I was going to use a RHP, perches would be better than a shelf because the shelf would block some of the heat from the panel. I have a lot of questions as to how to effectively regulate a RHP with a thermostat. Probe positioning and such. That is true if you're going to use an RHP by itself. I was thinking you were going to go with flexwatt for a hotspot and use the RHP for a secondary heat source to maintain the ambient. If that's the case, using the shelf won't be a problem. But if you're going to use the RHP by itself, I'd also use the perches.

Our current Royal has a dangled probe that deals with the lamp, and the other probe is between the UTH and the outside bottom of the tank. That all seemed so easy.

The Proline is a totally different deal for me so I'll need help.

You'll have no trouble - you're going about this the right way! Good for you!

[Gio]

Ha, thanks. I'd be surprised if I had a snake by early summer. I want it all set up first. I may even repaint the basement.

And here is a video of the cage I'm strongly thinking of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqD_Z...OVLx4g&index=1