Bredli Terrarium Setup

[eatgoodfood]

So, I'm just looking for some suggestions here, specifically with heating. I have a female Bredli, and she is growing quite fast, she is in my rack but needs to be upgraded. Shes around 255 grams. I have a 100x50x50 mdf terrarium as her next step up, probably a bit big for her now, but itll last her maybe another year before she moves up to the bigger one I have. My question is about heating. I have lamps, heat cables, heat mats, what would be best and how? I can modify the terrarium however I want. I could route out the bottom for a heat cable and then put a tile over it or somehow put a heat mat on the bottom, or I could use just lamps. If I move her out of the snake room into the hall like Im thinking I will likely need a lamp anyway for ambient temps. What about building in a shelf and heating the shelf with a heat mat or cable? Any suggestions or ideas would be great, thank you!

[eatgoodfood]

no one?

[jclaiborne]

I would start with a heat mat (with thermostat), and add accordingly. I don't have any experience with heat cables, so I can't give input on that. Lamps kill the humidity in enclosures. Have you thought about a RHP?

[eatgoodfood]

I have thought about a RHP but im not sure where to get them here. Plus I have all of the above heating items at home so I wouldnt need to buy anything. My issue with a heat mad is where to put it. Inside IMO is not a good idea and I dont think the heat will transfer well through the bottom of the terrarium.

[jclaiborne]

you are right inside is not a good idea, and I'm not sure about heat transfer through MDF as all my cages are PVC. You could try the lamps and monitor humidity, I just think its going to be hard to get a hot spot with a heat lamp.