Plexi and Regular Glass Question

[Reptilian]

I am considering making a wooden cage for my BP. Since a UTH or Flexwatt won't heat from under a piece of wood, I'd have to place the UTH or Flexwatt in the tank itself. I'll then put a piece of glass or plexi glass over top of that. Now my question, which I have a good idea of the answer, but want to have it confirmed, as long as the UTH or Flexwatt is controlled by a thermostat or rheostat, it won't crack the glass, right?

Also if anyone has any experience in making their own cages, will the polyurethane sealant last a bp's lifetime?

[ReptileQueen]

I would go the glass but not completely sure. Maybe another member will know alittle more about this.

[kavmon]

for a custom cage , i would look into radiant heat panels.



www.pro-products.com



vaughn

[dr del]

Hi,

But if you stiuck with the original plan I would use glass because its more damage resistant and thus easier to clean. And yes as long as you have the heat mat thermostatically controlled I would think it should be ok.

Are you planning on sealing it in with silicon?


dr del

[Reptilian]

Are you planning on sealing it in with silicon?

Should I?

[dr del]

Well,


I'm not sure, If it was me? then yeah I would to keep p from running under it and generally to make cleaning easier.

Since you would also have a hole where the cable came in I'd leave a little air gap between the matt and the glass too. Possibly even have another hole in for the thermostat sensor to lie atop the matt to prevent the snake moving or otherwise interfering with it. As long as you adjust it to give the desired reading on the surface of the glass it should always be correct whether the snake is lying there or not I think.

But then I've never used this method so am only going on general principles - To be safe get a few more experienced answers.

On the ployurathane I hoestly don't know but since they can live for up to 48 years apparently I would doubt it. What you could do is buy a tub setup for temp housing for the times maintenance is needed perhaps?



dr del

[tmlowe5704]

What makes you think a UTH won't heat through wood? I had it heat through 1/2" MDF up to 100* and 3/4" melamine to 97 or 98

[mxrider42]

I built my cage and used flexwatt. I put the flexwatt down then put a piece of vinyl flooring over the flexwatt. I left the vinyl about 2 inches longer on each side to allow it to go up the side of the cage. I then used a staple gun on the two inch flange to hold the vinyl in place. I didn't want to put staples in the bottom because I was scared the staples might rust. I attached a picture I found it shows the vinyl floor and the piece up the side. It makes cleaning the cage very easy. I have had the cage running for about six months with no problems. I sealed everything in three coats of a water based polyureathane.