lighting and heating

[mark24]

This weekend I am going to build the proper enclosure. So my question is how do you set up the lighting?? From what I understand is the uth goes inside the enclosure with something on top to avoid direct contact with the heat. so my question there is how do hide the cord so my snake doesn't come in contact with it??

[Terranaut]

Kind of snake would help a lot.So would material the viv is made from. I am switching to radiant heat panels from uth to avoid a whole lotta stuff like this. So far so good.

[mark24]

It's a bull snake. It's going to be wood I'm not sure what kind of wood though. How much are radiant heat panels are they cheaper then uth. That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the help

[Terranaut]

A RHP cost about double the price of a UTH. I think its a wiser choice for your application and you can use a home depot base board heater thermostat. They cost about $15. Ignore the dial and set your temp using a thermometer and your good to go. RHPs also last way longer. Not best for all snakes but best in a wood viv by far.

[mark24]

Thank you for the advice. I'll look into getting a RHP. When you say not best for all snakes will it hurt a bull snake at all?? As far lighting goes what's the best way to set that up?? what lights should i use ect. thank you again for the help

[Terranaut]

You can touch a rhp while its on. Its hot mind you but if your snake stands up and touches it with its nose its not a life changing event and it sits only an inch down from the top of the viv.
Lighting. Rope light works. Anything that doesn't get hot and isn't super bright.

[bcoop1234]

I heat inside my cages and they have worked great for me.. They are intellitemp heat mats from Big Apple pet supply... They aren't that expensive and i asked them how hot they get in case one of my thermostats dies and they said only up to 95 which is hot but not as hot as something like flexwatt can get.

IntelliTemp Reptile Heat Mats for Less (http://www.bigappleherp.com/Intellitemp-Reptile-Heat-Mats?sc=2&category=14)

[franks]

You can cut the base of the enclosure out, and cover the hole with acrylic, screwed down. Put your UTH on the acrylic, and you have a built in UTH. Obviously, you absolutely must use a rhetosthat. I use this set-up in most of my builds. You can also route heat rope into the walls if you would like.

[Terranaut]

Although you can do both of those I found these RHPs to just be way to easy and with the thermostat I mentioned it took 7-10 min to install. No need to cut out a floor or trim a piece of glass or nothing. 2 screws hold it to the top. A 3/8 hole for the cable. Another hole in to the thermostat which is also only 2 screws. 2 merettes 1 male plug and done. 10 min tops and a 10 yr warranty. I also think a bull would like ambiant heat over belly heat. If it was a royal I would say go belly heat but not a colubrid.
All of this is just my $.02. Do what suits you best.