Belly heat in wooden snake enclosure???

ladyjustice33 · 09-21-11, 08:00 AM

Okay guys.....I just ordered two wooden enclosures for my columbian rainbow baos. My question is what do you guys use for belly heat in a wooden enclosure?? Most of the heat pads I have found are not for wood and the heat most likely wouldn't penetrate the wood. So please give me some suggestions/examples if you have wooden enclosure with belly heat!!

Thanks,
Katrina

youngster · 09-21-11, 08:02 AM

I think you can use UTH, how thick is the wood?!

stephanbakir · 09-21-11, 08:20 AM

I used a UTH for 2 years to heat my bps wooden enclosure when I had him. Was nice and toasty in his hotspot.

Gungirl · 09-21-11, 08:21 AM

I use flexwatt. I cut a small slit in the back bottom of the viv just big enough to slide in the sheet then attach my wires outside the back of the viv. I then place a sheet of plexiglass on top and seal the edges with a little aquarium sealant so that no water gets on to the flexwatt. I have had great luck with it that way. If you need or want I will post pics..

Lankyrob · 09-21-11, 12:41 PM

Use a heat bulb CHE provide heat as the snake would get it form the sun in the wild - they heat the substrate so when the snake lies on it the get the basking heat from above plus belly heat from the warmed substrate.

ladyjustice33 · 09-21-11, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Use a heat bulb CHE provide heat as the snake would get it form the sun in the wild - they heat the substrate so when the snake lies on it the get the basking heat from above plus belly heat from the warmed substrate.

I was wondering about that. It has a light in it on one side that the builder said generates quite a bit of heat. I thought about putting a radient heat panel or something on that side also and using the light during the day and the RHP during the night.

ladyjustice33 · 09-21-11, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

I use flexwatt. I cut a small slit in the back bottom of the viv just big enough to slide in the sheet then attach my wires outside the back of the viv. I then place a sheet of plexiglass on top and seal the edges with a little aquarium sealant so that no water gets on to the flexwatt. I have had great luck with it that way. If you need or want I will post pics..

I'd like to see that......Will be getting flexwatt to use in the tub rack I'm getting my daughter for Christmas anyway....

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions!!!!!

youngster · 09-21-11, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyjustice33

tub rack I'm getting my daughter for Christmas

:O From the viewpoint of a 13 year old, SHE'S GOING TO BE SOOOOOO EXCITED!!

bladeblaster · 09-21-11, 02:32 PM

why do you want belly heat?

Gungirl · 09-21-11, 02:54 PM

Ok I will post pics tomorrow for you.. I have to dig out the camera( im packing to move)

Lankyrob · 09-21-11, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyjustice33

I was wondering about that. It has a light in it on one side that the builder said generates quite a bit of heat. I thought about putting a radient heat panel or something on that side also and using the light during the day and the RHP during the night.

If you use ceramic heat bulbs they dont emit light, just heat, no need to have the rhp as well.........

ladyjustice33 · 09-22-11, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bladeblaster

why do you want belly heat?

Half the people I talk to recommend belly heat, the other half heat from the top, and I was just asking what people use for belly heat in a wooden enclosure since most the heat pads i've used on tubs and glass don't feel like they would really penetrate the wood if I decided to go that route as a secondary heat source. My house can get pretty chilly during the winter months since I hate running the heater. It dries out my sinuses. I prefer to use my fireplace or just bundle up. This will be my first winter coming up with snakes and going to look at different options and see what works best and is safe. Don't want any fire hazards!!!

SnakeyJay · 09-23-11, 02:18 AM

Id go with a bulb or CHE then... itll keep all your ambiant temps up no problem. If you dont want to heat the room, and you dont want an RI, then thats the way to go.

bladeblaster · 09-23-11, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyjustice33

Half the people I talk to recommend belly heat, the other half heat from the top, and I was just asking what people use for belly heat in a wooden enclosure since most the heat pads i've used on tubs and glass don't feel like they would really penetrate the wood if I decided to go that route as a secondary heat source. My house can get pretty chilly during the winter months since I hate running the heater. It dries out my sinuses. I prefer to use my fireplace or just bundle up. This will be my first winter coming up with snakes and going to look at different options and see what works best and is safe. Don't want any fire hazards!!!

Think about nature, the ground is heated by the sun, or in a captive environment a CHE

unless its a snake that has evolved to live around volcanoes, its not going to get heat radiating up from the ground. If they really needed belly heat, then in the wild most would bask upside down. The only time any snake needs or wants belly heat is when they are cooking eggs, and then they do bask upside down.

**millertime89** · 09-23-11, 11:36 AM

Do CHEs have the same problem with drying out the air as lightbulbs? With more tropical snakes like my BRB or a chondro I would be looking for solution that doesn't do that and would lean towards a RHP or UTH.