Belly Heat Options

[shootingstar]

After lurking for ages, I finally have my very own Ball! "Schnapps" is a male butter, just over 3.5ft. Current setup is an AP Carpet Cage (36L x 24D x 15H), with two 8.5 circle screens in the top. As the cage was originally for an arboreal snake (Diamond Carpet cross), I used CHE's and lamps for heating. However, I'm given to understand that Balls would much rather have belly heat. Preliminary research suggests my options are UTH, heat cable, or flexwatt (or similar). The cage does have grooves for flexwatt, so that's a plus. Can I get a quick-and-dirty rundown of pros and cons for the different belly heat options?

ETA: I do plan to use a thermostat no matter what I go with, but I've held off on buying one until I make sure it's compatible with the heat source. A temp gun should be here tomorrow. Living in FL, not much heat is needed, so for the moment he has a (very) dimmed CHE.

[EL-Ziggy]

I have colubrids and carpets in AP cages which also have a place for the thermostat probe. I use the ultratherm UTH's for belly heat. I also use IR bulbs or CHE's to boost my ambient temps in the colder months. I like the ultratherms because even without a thermostat they don't get too hot. All of my UTH's have thermostats attached to them.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads

[shootingstar]

How much space do you leave under/between the units? Since mine is a single with no "feet", I'm going to have to figure something out there as well.

[EL-Ziggy]

How much space do you leave under/between the units? Since mine is a single with no "feet", I'm going to have to figure something out there as well.

Not much. I'd say a 1/4 inch should be fine.

[shootingstar]

Thanks! It looks like the ultratherms are going to be the best/most user friendly option. With that cage, what size do you figure I'd need?

[EL-Ziggy]

Thanks! It looks like the ultratherms are going to be the best/most user friendly option. With that cage, what size do you figure I'd need?

I'd probably go with the 11x17 for your cage size.

[shootingstar]

Thanks a ton! I think I'd be too paranoid about wiring flexwatt myself, lol.