Ball python enclosure heating

[jas318]

I'm making up plans for an enclosure for my largest ball python. I'm making it 48in long 24in wide and roughly 18in high out of wood with glass sliding front panels. My question is about heating. I want to use a 20x20 under tank pad on the warm side. What are my options? I'm thinking about a glass bottom for the entire enclosure, or maybe glass on the warm side? I think I'll probably need a ceramic lamp in addition to the warming pad. Anybody have any thoughts/advice? I know there are probably lots of threads with this same question.

[Craiga 01453]

I would look into Radiant Heat Panels. More expensive up front but well worth it.

[jas318]

Thanks
I didn't know that was a thing, lol.

[bcr229]

You can make the floor out of wood and put the heat pad under it. The wood will take longer to warm up but once it does it will provide very stable heat as the thermal mass helps ensure you don't get temperature swings.

With an 18" high enclosure I would do both an RHP and a heat pad. Use the RHP to control ambient temp and the heat pad to create a nice basking spot.

[jas318]

Thanks for the info.
I've also been playing with the idea of using glass on the 1/3 of the area that's going to be the warm side.

[jas318]

Is 18 inches a little on the high side? If so, what height do you recommend?

[Ookoodoocoo]

I recently made one out of Birch Plywood and it's 48 x 18 x 18 and I use a ceramic heat emitter and nothing else. I have a fake rock hide on the warm side, as it sucks the heat and makes a nice basking spot... and the cool side I use a cheap plastic hide. I use cypress mulch and with this setup I maintain humidity in the mid 50's with a good heat variation... low 90's in the warm spot to high 70's in the cool side. BTW, I use a 100W CHE

I'm bad at posting pics... hopefully this shows:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery//sh...mageuser=83012

[jas318]

Thanks for the pics. It gives me a really good idea about the direction I want to go. Do you have the florescent light on a timer?

[andeal]

I second Radiant Heat Panels. They are expensive, but last a long time and work like magic.

[Ookoodoocoo]

I use an LED light strip on a timer. Think I paid $29 on Amazon for a 2 or 3 ft long light.