U.T.H. question.

[germ]

Hello out there! I have a little question that I need resolved before I finish my boa cage and it´s this. I built a cage out of plywood it has the same measures as the boaphile´s classic model. I wanted to get a radiant heat panel to keep the ambient temp. within the desired "boa range". I can´t find any distributors here in Europe (I live in Barcelona, Spain) so at the reptile shop they recomended to use a ceramic bulb inside the cage with a screen cage around to prevent burns. Also they recomended an UTH (a reptile mat) but I´m not sure if this will be safe both for the snake and my household (I don´t want any fire hazards!) due to the material used for the cage. What would be the best solution? is the mat safe to use on the outside of the cage? I have no clue as what to do and any help will be greatly appreciated!. Thanks a lot.
PEACE, LOVE AND HAPPINESS;
GERM
<-777.·.

[ksshane]

I use to have some wooden cages, and this is what I use to do.  

I would use a heat bulb the same way as the store recommended using the ceramic bulb with the wire cage around it.   And then I found the smoothest rock (for ease of cleaning) I could find.  A rock big enough for the snake to get its whole body on in the coiled position.   I would put the rock directly under the heat lamp, and hook a thermostat inline with the lamp.  I would tape down the probe from thermostat onto the rock, and set the temp for my hot spot.

Back then I never thought about it, but now days I would get a rheostat as well.  Just to be safe.

When looking for a rock.  I would look for the smoothest, and most thin rock I could find.   You dont want something that is really heavy when your trying to move it in, and out of the cage for cleaning.

Also.. before putting the rock in the cage for the first time you want to scrub it down really good with a water/bleach solution.  Probably 10-20% bleach.  This will kill any germs that may be on the rock.

[ksshane]

Another idea

Get some heat tape, and 2 pieces of plastic. Put the heat tape between the plastic pieces, and then you can set that inside the cage. Hook the heat tape up to a thermostat and a rheostat with the probe on top of the plastic. Set your desired temps, and your all set

[germ]

Thanks a lot for the ideas. I think I´ll go for the ceramic lamp and rock deal together with the thermostat. That should be enough to heat from both ends (top and bottom) but one thing I forgot to ask is how strong should the bulb be? Some one told me to use a 250 watts bulb. That sounds like a lot of heat for a 60cm. high cage (about 3 feet?) and it has a shelve half the way up. Thanks again and take care.

[ksshane]

250watts.. does sound like alot.

I wish I could be more helpful with that, but I really dont know. But regardless you will have a thermostat hooked up to it. So you will be adjusting the heat, and you wont have to worry about overheating the boa in the cage.