Boaphile cages

[zero&stich]

Hello everyone,
I need opinions. First, as I know it may come up, I am aware constructing your own cages is easier as well as cheaper, but there is alot of stuff goin on and since I am no carpenter and goin about building one, I don't believe I will have time to build the cages I want. So I am looking to buy customs online. This may be a long post but please be patient. I would apperiate any opinions or suggestions. I will quote an email I sent and following that the email I recived back. My questions are mostly regarding heating. Bare in mind, I keep 2 ball pythons and 1 northern pine, which I think I included in my mail. So give me your opinions on the heating situation and anything that comes to your mind. Also you'll see I asked about the Helix and the usual sales pitch, "our thermostats are better" I would like opinions on the thermostat situation also. Oh yes, money is not an object when it comes to my animals so the prices if anyone decides to look at them, it does not matter.

Ok my email:

-----Original Message-----
From: Jessica Bruce [mailto:jessicabruce@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 6:47 PM
To: sales@boaphileplastics.com; jessicabruce@hotmail.com
Subject: Couple Questions

Hello, My name is Jessica and I was reccomended to Biophile by a friend.

First, I have 2 adult 4 foot ball pythons and am looking into some new enclosures but I have a few questions.

First, I am looking for enclosures that I can stack to elminate space being taking up. Not a rack system, just stacking cages. But I am havin trouble finding out where the vents are? Are the air vents on the side of the cages?

Also in addition to my small collection of the two pythons, I will be adding a Northern Pine. If you are unfamilar with this colubrid, it can be a hefty snake, ranging from 4.5 upwards to 6 feet. Since most colubrids do not need that much heat(75-83 degrees), is there a way I can stack all three allowing

optume heating requirements for my pythons(85-90 degrees) and the pine without possiably overheating the pine or the temps gettin too low for my pythons?

Also, a few questions about your heating choices. First I was looking at the different Flexwatt options, such as intake and under tank heating.

http://www.boaphileplastics.com/underheating.html

"2. Under Cage Heat X 1.5: This is workable for those with a single 421D cage if the room it is kept in is at least 72 degrees during the day and 68 at night. This size also works well for people with 422D cages stacked as they gain heat and benefit from each other."

I am thinking this might be the best option for undertank heating since my snake room is around 73 degrees and 68 at night in the winter. I usually don't heat my enclosures in the summer, so from the little information based on my ambient temps and the animals I will/am keeping does number 2. sound suitable? Questions are welcomed about my husbantry if it will help to give a more solid answer.

Also, I see you supply your own thermostat. How does your brand thermostat compare to the Helix thermonstat? The one feature on the Helix I would enjoy

is the "night time drop" feature on the Helix. Does your thermostat allow such a function? If not, is there a way for your company to special order me

a Helix plus the add-on "night time temp drop" feature and wire it into an enclosures I choose?

Helix DBS1000 Proportional Thermostat
Helix Photo Electric Night Drop Control #2001 - for DBS1000
(Below is a link to see a Helix Thermostat and the night drop feature)

http://www.beanfarm.com/temperature/1.html

One final question, what is your opinions on the radient heat panels vs. Flexwatt? And which would best suit my needs for the three species and my notion to stack?

Regards and thank you for your time,
Jessica

PS- I appogize for listing heating requirements for different species as I am sure the staff is aware of most snakes specific heating needs. I just thought listing them would prove helpful.

The manger's Email

Hi Jessica,

Thanks very much for your email. Our cages are FULLY stackable and look
amazing! They come with locking pins so they cannot slide when used in a
stack configuration. We also have a unique way of venting our cages too: the
air vent is supplied around the door. Air is drawn in at the bottom gap in
the door and door frame and is circulated. It works wonderfully! Our doors
are drop down doors. We just hate those sliding doors as they tend to
"stick" and people get substrate in the tracks. Our cages come to you FULLY
assembled. Just add snake!

You can certainly keep pythons and colubrids in the same stack of cages and
do so with their optimal temps in mind. First, ordering a cage with less
heat in it will work well. In addition, keeping this cage at the bottom of
your stack will ensure there is no heat delivery from a cage below it. (heat
rises, but you already know that). This is the most cost effective way to do
this and it can work very well. The second option is to use a different
thermostat for that cage alone.

Heating in general: your room temps are slightly under optimal for the Flex
watt heat sources. If you can raise your room temps to even a few degrees
higher, you would do better. Both heat sources (in cage and under cage) work
the same though I personally prefer the in cage heat.

Our thermostats are professional grade and do not fail. The Helix thermostat
is a good one, but is not in the grade line ours is. Our thermostat does not
have a programmable night time drop, but turning it off at night works the
same for most people. We do not offer a Helix so if that is something you
want, you'll need to order that from another vendor.

Our radiant heat panels are a great alternative for cages in room that see
lower temps like yours. You may want to consider the in cage heat for your
colubrid and have it on the bottom of your stack and then consider the
Radiant Heat panels for your more tropical species above. You can use this
method and not need to change your current room temps.

If you are considering more animals at anytime in the future, you may want
to consider our 421D cage stack package seen here:
http://www.boaphileplastics.com/cage_packages.html


In my opinion, this is the best deal on the market and one you will love!

Please let me know if I can help in any other way!


Cheers,

Joel R DuBay Sr
National Sales Manager
Boaphile Enterprises LLC

Here's a link to their thermostat
Thermostat

[Brent Strande]

I've only got one boaphile right now, but I absolutely LOVE it!

I also have the thermostat that they sell, and have bought two more of the same from another vendor. I like the price and they seem to work very well to me. I don't believe that there is any problem with Helix, but really do like the Rancos.

As far as night time drop, I use a digital timer to control the heating elements that are hooked up to my thermostat. You can get a digital timer for ~$12 or so.

I really do hope to add more boaphiles one day, and would definitely recommend them! Good luck whichever way you go!

[zero&stich]

Brent-

Thanks so much for your input as I was a little unsure bout them even though they seem to know what they were doing.

About the digital timer, do you mean like a dimmer? Not totally sure what you mean(didn't get much sleep, brain is not functioning) but I'll run a search. Maybe a link?

Thanks for your help!

[latazyo]

Brent, did Boaphile not take weeks with no communication and did they not send you the wrong cage after all that time?

[Brent Strande]

Leighton, I screwed up on the cage... typed it in wrong, and they offered to replace it, but I didnt wanna wait...

OVerall I am still pleased.