Wanting to upgrade enclosure for my BCI

[Evenstar]

If you setup a tank properly, you won't have issues with heat or humidity. For the most part your ambient temperature will be in the 70's, unless you keep your house cold, then with a nice ceramic heat emitter on one side and a UTH on the opposite side you can regulate the temps easy. Humidity, what I did is I used the cypress mulch, I put a thick layer down, then I used a small pcv tube put it in the corner, and made sure it went straight to the bottom. Then I evened out the substrate with the top of the pipe, and once a week I would pour a few glasses of water down that tube which soaked the bottom half of the substrate while the top would remain dry, and the UTH raised the humidity and the heat emitter wouldn't zap it like a light. Then you mist the top of the substrate to your liking but the humidity stays high. Keep this in mind I did this for my Anaconda and never once had any issues with sheds or humidity. You can also put saran rap on the opposite side of the light to keep humidity in there.

The only reason I wouldn't get one of those cages is because I can't use any kind of a overhead heating source, which in my tanks I liked to use the dark blue bulb which gives off a faint glow like the moon so it gives the light a little enclosure. Though I did see that some of those tanks come with a place to use overhead lighting.

And that is a heck of a lot of work. Which is why I don't recommend tanks. I know it CAN be done, but it certainly is not the easiest option and is often not practical. I kept my BPs in tanks very successfully for several years. But it was a pain in the rear.

And you can certainly use an overhead heating source with a pvc cage - RHPs are often used and lighting can easily be installed. I use both.

I definitely want to get away from glass tanks.

I need to research more on the T8. That's an enclosure that you assemble yourself, right? What is the best method for heating?

You do need to assemble the cage, but everything is predrilled for you. All you need is an electric screwdriver. And you have to seal it once assembled (I recommend getting some clear aquarium caulk rather than using the tiny tube AP sends with the cage), but that is very easy. Even my hubby can do it and he's an accountant, not a builder, lol.....

The flexwatt Animal Plastics can provide works great. It is basically just like a UTH. When you add the T8 to your shopping cart, to the right there is a list of options. Choose "add belly heat" and they will put in the correct size/wattage of flexwatt for the enclosure you ordered, prewired and ready to attach.

But you could opt to use a UTH if you prefer that. I recommend the Ultratherm from Reptile Basics - wonderful product and they have larger sizes. You could also use an RHP if you'd rather have overhead heat instead of belly heat. Reptile Basics sells these too - take a look at your options on their website under "heating". If you have questions about something in particular, Rich is a big help and always willing to talk!

I have a 3x2x2 pvc enclosure for my GTP and it is set up as a display. We have a 40 watt RHP and a UV/heat light installed. The RHP is on a VE t-stat and temps on his highest perch is about 87 (GTP's like slightly cooler temps). The RHP runs at that all the time. The light is on a timer and provides a slight boost to the ambient temps during the day then lets that drop a touch when it goes out at night. In a 68-70 degree room (finished basement), the ambient is 75-77.

My adult boas are in pvc cages (Animal Plastics and ConstrictorsNW) with 11 or 12" flexwatt as the only heat source. Temps and humidity is perfect with very minimal effort.

I also HIGHLY recommend ConstrictorsNW for a pvc enclosure. Ed has some great stuff. Prices are a little more, but the cages are fantastic and frankly can't be beat in quality.