Animal Plastics and T8 question

[cron14]

Hi all! I know that there is a ton of threads on this topic but I searched and for whatever reason I am not satisfied. My ball python (Monty) is about 660 grams for reference. I was thinking about purchasing a T8 from animal plastics. Everyone seems to love them on here and I think its time for a display case thats not glass. Anyway here are my questions:

1) Living in New York, the winters can get pretty cold. My bedroom temperature can get down to around 68-69 degrees. I read about people using florescent lights as a heat source and wanted to see if it actually makes a difference. I have a Uth with a thermostat so belly heat would not be an issue.

1a) If florescent lights aren't enough, should I scrap the UTH and just invest in a RHP?

2) How long does it usually take animal plastics to get back to you? I'm just curuious I contacted the email they have on the website and wasn't sure if it was still active or not.

3) I've seen some really cool lighting in pictures posted by you guys and wanted to know if that is something you did yourselves or if you asked them to do it for you.

4) I've also read on some older forums about the cages warping. How long do they usually last?

Any other information or feedback you want to add please let me know!

[DennisM]

Hi all! I know that there is a ton of threads on this topic but I searched and for whatever reason I am not satisfied. My ball python (Monty) is about 660 grams for reference. I was thinking about purchasing a T8 from animal plastics. Everyone seems to love them on here and I think its time for a display case thats not glass. Anyway here are my questions:

1) Living in New York, the winters can get pretty cold. My bedroom temperature can get down to around 68-69 degrees. I read about people using florescent lights as a heat source and wanted to see if it actually makes a difference. I have a Uth with a thermostat so belly heat would not be an issue.

1a) If florescent lights aren't enough, should I scrap the UTH and just invest in a RHP?

2) How long does it usually take animal plastics to get back to you? I'm just curuious I contacted the email they have on the website and wasn't sure if it was still active or not.

3) I've seen some really cool lighting in pictures posted by you guys and wanted to know if that is something you did yourselves or if you asked them to do it for you.

4) I've also read on some older forums about the cages warping. How long do they usually last?

1) I’ve never heard of using fluorescent lights for heating.
1a) I don’t heat individual enclosures, so I’ll leave this to others
2) they’re very good with customer service. They get back quick. I do think they take weekends off though.
3) I also don’t light enclosures, so I’ll leave this to others
4) I’ve had AP cages in service for at least 10 years I think. I’ve stacked them 4-6 cages high. I’ve never had any warping at all.

[EL-Ziggy]

I love my T8s. I'd highly advise investing in the RHPs. I have UTHs on my colubrid enclosures and their ambient temps are still in the mid 70s during the winter months here in the Southeast. I have UTHs and heat bulbs on my carpet enclosure because I have 2 of them in a split T8 and chose not to invest in dual RHPs at the time. As they grow I'll move them into A20s (4x2x3) and I plan to use RHPs exclusively. I had AP install the led lights. I got 2 cages with red leds and 2 with blue leds. I wish I had all red ones. I've always called them to communicate and always received great customer service. I've only had my cages for a year so I can't speak on their longevity but they're very well made and I don't foresee any problems. I know other keepers that have used AP cages for longer than I have and none have mentioned issues with warping. I'd give AP cages 5 out of 5 stars.

[Sauzo]

1) 68-69 in the winter with only a UTH and a fluorescent tube, I doubt will work alone. You possibly might get away with it if you used hard sheet insulation like for attics or walls on the bottom, sides and top of the cage but I just don't think it will work.

1a) A RHP alone will work just fine but no problems doing a UTH and RHP for winter. Just turn whichever on in the spring and fall and turn both on for cold winters. The only downside is this will mean you a T-stat that can monitor 2 heat sources like a Herpstat 2 or Vivarium Electronics. You could also get away with a couple Jump Start on/off T-stats but I wouldn't recommend those. I personally use Herpstats for all my gals.

2) I always get a response back from Ali in a day or 2.

3) I believe AP offers led lights now. You can also check out Reptile Basics. They have different length 5/8" led tubes which plug into an external ballast which I've been pretty interested in. Mounting them behind the door lip of an AP cage. Also you can go to ay hardware store and find led strips which are pretty easy to mount with small screws or look online.

4) I haven't heard of AP cages warping mainly because I think the front center pillar holds it up. I heard Vision cages warp like no tomorrow and my Pro-Line(Constrictors NW) cage has some sag in the center after about 3 years. Nothing big but you do notice it at the top of the door gap. I would say cages from AP, boaphiles and Constrictor NW will last you years. Even though my Constrictors NW cage does have a little sag in the middle, I will be putting my BP in it after I get my 2 AP cages for my 2 boas. And its still fine other than the cosmetic sag.

[DennisM]

I didn't give AP/Ali proper credit in my first reply, there customer service is most excellent

[Sauzo]

Fluorescent tubes will give off some heat. The 18" under cabinet tube ig ot in my boa cage gets the top of the cage where I have it screwed into up to 95F. So I would work like a weak reverse CHE I guess lol. It heats up the top of the cage which in turn heats the air kind of. They only heat up probably 2-3F so nothing major.

[LittleTreeGuy]

I just got a T8 and love it. I had AP install their white LED's. My suggestion, and if I order another one... I'll ask them to cut the channel for LED's, but I will purchase my own LED kit. You can get them "waterproofed" (covered in plastic) from Amazon for less than what AP charges, and the Amazon kit comes with a remote control that will allow you to change the colors to whatever you want. They're pretty slick.

My room can get down to mid 60's at times during winter, so I'm going with two RHP's (as I'll be doing a split T8 for two young BP's/one per side.). From everything I've read, and everything I've heard, RHP's are superior. Many people are just using RHP's with no heat tape at all, which is pretty cool.

[cron14]

1) I’ve never heard of using fluorescent lights for heating.
1a) I don’t heat individual enclosures, so I’ll leave this to others
2) they’re very good with customer service. They get back quick. I do think they take weekends off though.
3) I also don’t light enclosures, so I’ll leave this to others
4) I’ve had AP cages in service for at least 10 years I think. I’ve stacked them 4-6 cages high. I’ve never had any warping at all.

I was honestly doing some deep digging last night when I a few people mention the fluorescent lights for heat. I knew it was a bit of a stretch.

I love my T8s. I'd highly advise investing in the RHPs. I have UTHs on my colubrid enclosures and their ambient temps are still in the mid 70s during the winter months here in the Southeast. I have UTHs and heat bulbs on my carpet enclosure because I have 2 of them in a split T8 and chose not to invest in dual RHPs at the time. As they grow I'll move them into A20s (4x2x3) and I plan to use RHPs exclusively. I had AP install the led lights. I got 2 cages with red leds and 2 with blue leds. I wish I had all red ones. I've always called them to communicate and always received great customer service. I've only had my cages for a year so I can't speak on their longevity but they're very well made and I don't foresee any problems. I know other keepers that have used AP cages for longer than I have and none have mentioned issues with warping. I'd give AP cages 5 out of 5 stars.

Yea I was thinking RHPs were the way to go. I think it leads to a lot less headaches in the future. Once I get my own place I'll definitely be looking into carpets. I love bps but want something a little bigger and they fit what I'm looking for. Thanks a lot for the insight. I think I'll go with the red lights as well.

1) 68-69 in the winter with only a UTH and a fluorescent tube, I doubt will work alone. You possibly might get away with it if you used hard sheet insulation like for attics or walls on the bottom, sides and top of the cage but I just don't think it will work.

1a) A RHP alone will work just fine but no problems doing a UTH and RHP for winter. Just turn whichever on in the spring and fall and turn both on for cold winters. The only downside is this will mean you a T-stat that can monitor 2 heat sources like a Herpstat 2 or Vivarium Electronics. You could also get away with a couple Jump Start on/off T-stats but I wouldn't recommend those. I personally use Herpstats for all my gals.

2) I always get a response back from Ali in a day or 2.

3) I believe AP offers led lights now. You can also check out Reptile Basics. They have different length 5/8" led tubes which plug into an external ballast which I've been pretty interested in. Mounting them behind the door lip of an AP cage. Also you can go to ay hardware store and find led strips which are pretty easy to mount with small screws or look online.

4) I haven't heard of AP cages warping mainly because I think the front center pillar holds it up. I heard Vision cages warp like no tomorrow and my Pro-Line(Constrictors NW) cage has some sag in the center after about 3 years. Nothing big but you do notice it at the top of the door gap. I would say cages from AP, boaphiles and Constrictor NW will last you years. Even though my Constrictors NW cage does have a little sag in the middle, I will be putting my BP in it after I get my 2 AP cages for my 2 boas. And its still fine other than the cosmetic sag.

Thanks a lot for the insight especially with the fluorescent lights, I knew it was a bit of a stretch. I'm not really the greatest handyman so I think I think I'll just have them install it. Someone close to me was actually selling a Vision cage that needed the glass to be replaced for fairly cheap on craigslist (I know, not the most trusted source) but I've heard some bad things about them so I decided against it. Thanks a lot everyone!

[spikell75]

I got a T8 from Craigslist with incandescent light and 40 watts RHP . I ended up making another one and got a 80 watts RHP and another 40 for the other side. Also got led lights from amazon for about 25 bucks and can light 4 more enclosures. My Temps are in the 60s in the winter and the 40 watt panels was always on, now with the 80 watts it may come on very little. The enclosures are worth every bit the money. I may go to the 16inch hight on my next one.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

[Sauzo]

I just got a T8 and love it. I had AP install their white LED's. My suggestion, and if I order another one... I'll ask them to cut the channel for LED's, but I will purchase my own LED kit. You can get them "waterproofed" (covered in plastic) from Amazon for less than what AP charges, and the Amazon kit comes with a remote control that will allow you to change the colors to whatever you want. They're pretty slick.

My room can get down to mid 60's at times during winter, so I'm going with two RHP's (as I'll be doing a split T8 for two young BP's/one per side.). From everything I've read, and everything I've heard, RHP's are superior. Many people are just using RHP's with no heat tape at all, which is pretty cool.

I'm curious, how much were the led lights from AP? And are they a long strip kind or a tube style?