Starting Work on a New Snake Cage
Question
I am currently starting to work on a new cage for Zeus as he is now just
over 11 feet long and weighs a little over 50 pounds which may sound a little
undersized for a burmese python but i do not want him to look like those one's
i see in the zoo where they are so huge they do not move. The cage i want
to build will be from scratch and i hope to make it 8 ft long by 4ft wide
and 3 to 4 ft tall. Thank god i have a unfinished basement! The only thing
i can't figure out is how to put a heating pad in there without starting a
fire. The cage will be made out of sanded plywood which i will waterproof
with some spare urethane, but i can't just set the heating pad on the plywood
can i or could i even put it between sheet's of plexiglass? Any suggestion's
would be greatly appreciated! Cheers!
Jeff
Answer
I have my heat mats under a vinyl material that some people use for floor coverings (some german brand that's really inexpensive and very flexible) for my snake cages.
You need to have a thermostat to look after the heat mat and have enough heat mat for about half the reptile cage (you can join it together with wire and a soldering iron) or have single long sheets.
I use Flexwatt for heat mats as it is not very expensive, works really well and is reliable. My themostats have a temperature probe that I lie on the heat mat so that the mat remains within 2-3 degrees of the preset temperature. That way they do not get too hot and also remain at a really good temperature for the snake.
The thermostats I use are not cheap, at about $90-$100 but they work really well. I have found cheaper versions and the last one I bought was about $60 but I'm sure you can get them for even less. I like to use the ones that have a probe that I can lie on the mat (I tape it to them mat). I then tape the mat to the reptile cage base and use Silicon to attach the vinyl flooring (don't need much). I can then run Silicon around the edge to waterproof it a bit. I've even seen people tile the floor of reptile cages over a heat mat. If you use Silicone with the covering it is easy to remove later provided you don't over do it on the Silicone.
Also make sure you provide some ventilation for your reptile cage - I just
use plastic vents from hardware store. And a basking light with a protective
covering is also a good idea so they can regulate their temperature more effectively.
Mark Chapple is the Author of "How to build enclosures
for reptiles"
Find out how to build these cages as well as arboreal cages. Full color pictures,
detailed diagrams and easy to follow, step-by-step instructions.
http://www.reptile-cage-plans.com
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