cage heating question- need advice

[Will0W783]

I just bought a bunch of melamine snake cages this past weekend, and I need to know how best to heat them. They are 5'x2'x2' and 6'x2'2'. They stack on top of each other, so I think heat lamps are out, unless I mounted them sideways to the doors and I'm afraid that would start a fire. The doors are vented plexiglass and wood. I was thinking of Flexwatt heat tape, but my question is, would that go on the inside floor of the cage, or underneath them? It's pretty thick melamine, so I can't imagine that heat would pass through the floor up into the cage, but if I put the tape inside on the floor of the cage, would it burn the snakes? Right now I have a heater in the room getting the ambient temperature to 85 during the day and 80 at night, and I have a floor lamp with 3 telescoping bulbs providing light and a window. I know I need to come up with a more efficient and permanent way of heating these things. Previously I just had aquariums with screen lids and heat lamps. Any advice and help would be most appreciated.

[citysnakes]

have you looked into radiant heat panels at all??

[Will0W783]

No, how do those work? There are 12 cages in all.

[Will0W783]

Ack, I just looked up radiant heat panels- they are $65-200 apiece! I have 12 cages to heat, some of which are going to be divided into two halves to house two cages, so those are out. I simply cannot afford that. I was just thinking maybe heat cable or tape, but I am curious where to install in on the cages. The cages are currently stacked, two stacks of 4 5' cages on one side of the room and a single stack of 3 6' cages on the other side of the room. The things weigh about a hundred pounds a piece, so if there is a way to install heat without having to move them, that would be much preferred. My worry is that heat tape/cable could burn the snakes if you put it inside the cage, but that if put outside the cages, the heat would not get through the thick melamine into the cages.

[Smilts]

Heat panels are great and exspensive... Flex watt is great and cheap, or heat cable but its exspensive as well. I would go with flex watt not sure how I would install it without actually seeing the cage us guys are visual of course.... Inside with a top cover probably, it shouldnt burn them as long as its on a thermostat and under the substrate...

[Will0W783]

I will post some pictures of the cages as soon as I can. I was thinking maybe if I put it on the tops of the cages so they aren't lying on it? What temperature would I set it to then? Would I have to have screen covering it so they don't rub on it, or will it not burn them?

[Smilts]

Flex watt Ive only really used it as bottom heat in racks so Im not for sure how it would work from up top...

[Will0W783]

Ok thanks.