Plastic Caging

[greenmonkey51]

After realizing how bad my glass cage is I've decided to make a plastic cage. 1. What size should it be for an 18" female.
2. Can I still use an 12"x11" peice of flexwatt on it.
3. How big of water bowl should I have.
4. Are there clear ones so I can see my ball.

This is all I can think of for now, Im sure I'll think of something right after I post.

[daniel1983]

1. For a 18" female, a 27 qt Sterilite would be big enough but if you make the bp feel really safe you can use the 41 qt Sterilite. I use 41 qt sterilites for my bps. Here is a link to the sterilite site with the info on the type of tubs that I use.
http://www.sterilite.com/Category.ht...uctCategory=39

2. As long as the flexwatt does not cover more than 1/2 of the enclosure bottom. I use 11" x 12" strips on my 41 qt tubs.

3. Big enough so your bp cant tip it over. All that 'it should be big enough for the bp to soak in' is not really necessary. If the ball python is healthy it will never need to soak.

4. Yep there are clear ones...they may have a slight haze but they are clear...check this one out...it is the old 90 qt setup that I had:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...1_original.jpg

let me know if you need more info......here is a DIY plastic housing article:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=40

[greenmonkey51]

Is there anything special I have to do with the flexwatt. Like putting something under the bottom.

[daniel1983]

I would suggest giving the flexwatt some 'breathing room'. If you confine it to the bottom...like between the enclosure and a table....the flexwatt(just like any UTH) can develop areas of heat concentration from the confinement.

[IamKaervek]

I would suggest giving the flexwatt some 'breathing room'. If you confine it to the bottom...like between the enclosure and a table....the flexwatt(just like any UTH) can develop areas of heat concentration from the confinement.

I didn't want to make another thread for this, so *bump*

Taping the Flexwatt directly to the plastic tub with an alluminum or heat-shielding tape is fine? I shouldn't have to worry about the Flexwatt concetrating too much heat on the plastic so as to cause smoldering? I understand that a thermostat is ideal, and I fully intend on ordering one along with the Flexwatt, but I thought it should be asked.

By the way, with respect to the Flexwatt, what parts of it are heated? The sides only, or are the "wavey" lines also metal and thus conducting heat as well? Thank you!

[wolfy-hound]

If the heat tape is attached to the bottom of th tub, how do you move the tub for cleaning or whatever? Just wondering. I am building a rack type environment.

[daniel1983]

In my first tub setup for my first ball python, I had the flexwatt taped directly to the bottom of the tub. It is prefered to leave a small gap between the tub and flexwatt so that it can "breath' but I did not notice any significant problems when I had it directly taped to the enclosure....other than the fact the the enclosure temps seemed harder to control. The entire area of the flexwatt is heated, there are only small gaps between the metal strips inside the plastic. If wired properly (that is whay I suggest buying from someone that knows what they are doing...i.e Matt), the flexwatt will not harm the plastic container.

In a rack it is best to attach the flexwatt to the rack. If you attach it to the tub, you will have to fight with cords every time you pull the tub out. Also, with a rack the 'air gap' between the tub and the rack is much more important. If the tub sits directly on the flexwatt, it will wear down because the tub is constantly sliding against it.