heating encloser

[Steele]

I was wondering how am i suposed to heat a home made encloser ? I live in canada so i need stuff that I can get here I am mostly woread about fier what clerance do i need for the heater will I have to put it in the encloser or can it go under the wood?I dont want it in the tank.I am bilding it frome melimine I am not overly conserd whith price I want the best for my boy and I want good quwalty so it last fore a long time. Thankes for the help

[JasonBrennan]

Radient heat panels come to mind. I am not from Canada, so I don't know who carries these up there. This would have to go inside the enclosure, but they are flat and take very little space on the ceiling of the cage.

[Jeff_Favelle]

*sigh*.... IMPOSSIBLE to answer without knowing what ANIMAL you are trying to house. :confused:

[Lisa]

We use regular undertank heaters. you can also get heat tape or if it's an aboreal species use radiant heat panels or put the heat lamps (protected of course) inside the cage.

[Steele]

It is my brb

[Jeff_Favelle]

If you put a heat lamp in there, you will kill your BRB. Heat pad, with one side of the cage getting to 88F and the other side staying at 80F. This has all been covered ad naseum before. You should have done this PRIOR to obtaining the snake.

[Steele]

I have (jeff) I ame doing this for my new tank. I wanted to know if it is safe to put a heatpad under the wood or is ther some other way of heting it I dont want to move my snake in and risk some thing hapening to him.I allso want to get it up and running for a bit so ther is no problems.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Hmmm....depends on the thickness of the wood. By all means its safe in terms of the wood won't be going up in flames or anything. But if the wood is thick, it make not heat up enough. Sunbeam heat pads are "ok" inside a large enclosure for an adult. And seeing as babies do BEST in Rubbermaids, a heat pad under a Rubbermaid is just fine.

Good on you for asking questions! You're definitely on the right track, and you've picked a LOT of people's favorite boa to work with!!! :D

[Linds]

I use heat tape on my melamine enclosures and it works just fine. The thicknesses are 1/2" and 5/8". Heat tape should have no problems getting through even thicker melamine though I wouldn't recommend using a anything larger than 5/8". PCPC sells heat tape as well as Mykee may still have a surplus amount for sale.
Are you set in stone on using melamine? I'd recommend going with a plywood of sort and sealing it well with a marine enamel or epoxy instead, this way you will have a waterproof enclosure with lasting power ;)

[reverendsterlin]

the human back heater works well and can be placed inside the enclosure, $15 at wallyworld

[Jeff_Favelle]

Yes, I use heat tape down the back of all my cages as well and it heats through the wood, no probs. But a heat pad won't. And I doubt you are going to buy heat tape for ONE snake.

[Steele]

thankes allot you have been very help full. linds what is pcpc?

[Linds]

<a href="http://www.portcreditpets.com">Port Credit Pet Center</a> ;)