heating

[bigjim]

ok so i am going to be building a snake room soon and i need to have some bigger cages for retics and burms i was going to do 8ft x3ftx20in or so and want to know what is the best way to heat them i looked a heat matts and they seem to cost a bit more than i want to spend all at once i will need 2 of them so for now would a few ft of heat tape work if the room is around 72 all the time and if so where would be the best place for it

and is this any good does anyone have any thoughts on it
BAH-1000-Thermostat (http://www.bigappleherp.com/BAH-1000-Thermostat?sc=2&category=15#)

i want to try to keep all this stuff in a price range of 200 or 300 hundred because the room will cost me alot as it is and i still have to build the cages

[Aurora]

I don't know anything about the T-stat but in my experience with a dedicated "snake room" it is easier to heat the room. I used 2 ceramic space heaters cycling 12 hours opposite each other, on Simple timers. I first figured out where to set the dial to acquire 84 degrees before putting animals in the room. It takes some trial and error to get things set the way you want but than all you need to do is provide a warm spot. It cost me approx. $50.00! You can get the heaters and timers at home depot or walmart!

Good Luck!

[The Snake Guru]

Haven't used the that T-stat before. More of a Rheostat guy myself....but I keep a pretty stable environment for room temps.

As for heating I would agree with Mr.Carr....that would be the cheapest route to go....probably the most efficient as well considering your current room temps.

~B~

[bigjim]

ok i have been looking in a lot of forums to find some plans for bigger cages do any of you have plans for a cage you really like and would not mind sharring

[The Snake Guru]

All mine are built basically the same way...I have plans up for the anaconda corner cage that are about the same as all my other cages just differnt dimensions.

~B~

[bigjim]

ya i looked at alot of your post hopeing to find a few things and well you dont have them in photobucket anymore and most of your older post dont show them

[The Snake Guru]

My bad...LOL Here ya go man:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/CornerFitCageFrame.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r157/thesnakeguru/Caging%20Equip/Cage1.jpg

[bigjim]

ok so an 8ft by2ft x2ft cage will be big enough for a full size retic right? also i would like to ask what size wood you use to build the cage thickness of ply wood and 2x4s or will 2x2's be big enoughi just want to make sure i get it right the first time ya know

[The Snake Guru]

Well it depends on your outlook I guess....I'm a really bad person to ask that question too. LOL Personally all my big snakes (in the range of 15ft to 20ft+) do or will have cages with a floor space of 12ftx6ft, I don't think 8ftx2ft will be enough for large retics especially they are much more active than say your average burmese. At the very least I would try for a floor space of 8ftx4ft. Thickness on the pliewood....for the large ones I use 1/2" and 2x4s for the frame....though you could get by with 2x2s with the addition of extra bracing in the floor especially.

These are just my personal opinions....I know there are people would keep large constrictors in smaller cages than what I have suggested and they do it successfully, I just don't like doing it.

~B~

[bigjim]

ok well i got room for a bigger cage and dont mind building one lol i have a extra room in my basement and that is where i am keeping them so i will make the first one 8ftx4ft and planed on atleast 1/2 ply but wanted to make sure it was enough for one anyway thanks for all the info

[The Snake Guru]

Not a problem, always happy to help.

~B~

[bigjim]

ok guru i got another ? for ya. i am looking at heating for this cage now i am thinking about doing it 8x4x lets say 30in (is that high enough) and i am looking at heating as of right now i cant find heaters in my area to just heat the room. i was looking at heat mats (kane) what size would work to get the cage up to par on temps if i am going to build the cage i should do it right all the way down so i figured i should ask that also. i dont want to buy something that will be to large or small i was thinking that maybe a 13.5 x48 might do it but i dont know how well they work i have never used one before and i have seen you in a pic with one. if i mount it inside to the top of the cage it should be ok right?
ooo and i am going to just build it where it is going to stay out of malamine that way it looks like it is easy clean up and already has that what looks like waterproof coating on it so if you got any suggestions for me or if anyone does it would be great

[The Snake Guru]

Hieght should be just fine.

I've used the Kane heat mats in the way you speak of though with your current room temperatures the heat mat alone is not going to heat the cage you are building by itself. You would be much better off putting in a dual ceramic heat emitter system...that is a side-by-side socket then hook the main cord up to a dimmer switch so you can control the heat output.

Melamine works great for cleanup, I just usually don't use it because of weight.

~B~

[bigjim]

Hieght should be just fine.

I've used the Kane heat mats in the way you speak of though with your current room temperatures the heat mat alone is not going to heat the cage you are building by itself. You would be much better off putting in a dual ceramic heat emitter system...that is a side-by-side socket then hook the main cord up to a dimmer switch so you can control the heat output.

Melamine works great for cleanup, I just usually don't use it because of weight.

~B~

hmm ok so get the ceramic heat emitters and hook them up with a celling light fixture right next to each other and run it through a dimmer that should be easy enough i have 2 cages in one unit now made from and old entertainment stand with the red lights run off dimmers. The weight dont matter to me once it is built it will be stuck in my basement i wont be able to get it out of there with out taking it apart lol and i know i have asked alot but how would you build a cage out of it i got screws and liquid nail and some clear silicone to seal it all up but should i build a frame out of 2x4's and just use the stuff for the inside or just screw it all together and liquid nail the crap out of it

[The Snake Guru]

That would be the best bet on heating....most efficant and cheapest to install.

As for the building part, you could do a frame, but it usually isn't needed, you should be able to just screw them in end-to-end. However due to the length of the cage I would add a center brace (which can be just a 2x2 or 2x4 painted) so that it doesn't bow in the middle where the door is....that is an issue sometimes with melamine. Use the liquid-nail for the actual construction part, then after it's dry run a bead of silocone along the joints for extra sealing.

~B~

[bigjim]

ok i planed on making the doors by cutting a hole and taking a router to it to make a place for the glass to sit and keeping as much of the wood intact as possible but thanks for all the help i should be ok now i just hope that the local pet stores have the heat elements i dont recall seeing them

[The Snake Guru]

Buy them online...it's much cheaper!

You should still be able to that with the doors. Just set the brace behind them. Not a problem at all, post some shots up when you get going!

~B~

[bigjim]

i will take pics when i get started i just got to go get some of the giant clamps to make sure every thing stays tight i already got the wood waiting to be put together