Heating setup help please.

[Ashleigh:]]

Im wanting to set up my enclosure for my olive python, its 900 x 450 x 600 and i honestly dont have a clue what sort of thermostat or globe or heat emitter or anything to set it up with?

What works best for you with what lasts longer, better gradient, what type of thermostat?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

 

[CountryTriton]

I have been trying to figure out a similar setup for pending macs. I have decided going against a timber setup and now opting for glass. I have asked (and by that sat down in person) 2 breeders and one keeper and they all recomended heat cord under the enclosure and a UV light. Books and magazines also recomend heat cord.

 

[Talwin]

Why are you considering a UV light for a mac??? They are a nocturnal snake... and thus don't require one.

 

[Ashleigh:]]

Well the enclosure i have is timber with glass front and cork board back with holes.
i have a light fitting in there ready, just need to work out what to screw into it?

 

[bulionz]

well if your going to go with a heat cord or something just put a power saver globe in it to represent daylight hours thats wat i do with the childreni

 

[Ashleigh:]]

im not using a heat matt or anything else, i havent got a hole anywhere to put a cord through or anything.
wondering if just light/globe or what not would be suitable only?

 

[bulionz]

well u got 2 options i guess but im still a beginner so forgive me if im wrong but i think im right
1. u can get a daylight globe witch makes the reptile more active and tells them its day and produses heat so thats a good globe ive got 2 of them.
2.u can get another fitting and get a infra red heat globe and power saver globe or if u want to spend another $30 for something the snake dont need u can get a uv light but its all up to u

 

[Ashleigh:]]

So theres no way I can just have one globe, I only have the one light fitting at the moment and dont really want to put another one in.

And whats the best type of thermostat?

 

[mark83]

You can use just an infra red globe on a thermostat. If there is enough light in the room during the day the snake will know when it is day and night. you only need a second globe if you want to light up the tank. I have never used a daylight globe cos i like to keep them warm all day but it might be a good option if you live in warm temps anyway. As far as thermostat you only need to spend about $100 to get something decent.

 

[Ashleigh:]]

Im on the herptrader at the moment and theres so many different types of globes and thermostats, its all so confusing.
So if I were to get an infared globe, what watt would i need?
Heres one from the website;
Heat-Glo Infra Red Basking Spots

Wattage Price
50 watt $18.00
75 watt $20.00
100 watt $22.00
150 watt $23.00

Also how long do those globes last for?

 

[Ashleigh:]]

C'mon guys, this place use to be full of answers and help!

 

[Mulcahy]

sorry to butt i thought rather than start a new thread what watage heat cord would you use for a hatchling mac enclosure that is 350*200*150
Thanks

 

[mysnakesau]

I have a heatpanel for my olive with a 25w heatcord not on thermostat. At the moment I have it on the floor but am gonna get hubby to mount it on the wall because the cord is sticking out of the door which left enough gap for her to push the door open - only once because now I have it locked - and she is getting tangled in the cord. Another advantage to wall mounted is that the animal cannot lay on it and get burnt. I am using a heatcord only just powerful enough to warm it to Stella's liking and I have a piece of timber sitting on the panel so it isn't likely to burn her. Here's a couple pics for you to see..

All it is, is a 350 x 350 square x 20mm thick timber frame with grooves cut into it on inside for the wire mesh to slip into. Nice tight fit so it doesn't come loose. Has a 25W heatcord in it woven through 25mm steel mesh. You can use shadecloth or screen to cover it, this stops the snakes from getting tangled through the mesh.

 

[Ashleigh:]]

How much do one of those set ya back?
If I used it or something like that on the bottom i could just have a light for at night so i could see her i spose.
Just dont know how to go about putting a hole in the enclosure for the cord.. :/

Ill see if i can dig up some pics of it so you get the idea.
Thank you
Ps. Shes lovely!

 

[mysnakesau]

To purchase they aren't real cheap - $140 from Herp Shop but if you or someone you know is handy with their hands, make one. Its so much cheaper. I think Tim paid $20 for the timber if that, the mesh and flyscreen I had already laying around but you can buy a roll of flyscreen or shadecloth from Crazy Clarks fairly cheaply, and the heatcords are $25 thereabouts. Nice strong bird wire that don't bend is best to use. And you can mount it to the wall of your enclosure or on floor - can use any timber to sit on top, or a tile, or slate or anything like that.

I am lucky my hubby knows how to cut plugs off cords, poke cords through little holes and wire the plug back on, which is what he will do when he puts it on the wall. Otherwise, an electrician would do it for you.

 

[bulionz]

at my herp shop he has heat cords from $21 to about $70 i think i no its either $21 or $31 as i was looking to buy 1 but who noes up your area u can only go and see

 

[mysnakesau]

sorry to butt i thought rather than start a new thread what watage heat cord would you use for a hatchling mac enclosure that is 350*200*150
Thanks

You would only need the lowest wattage - 15W I think the lowest. Just watch the temps with little tanks like that it doesn't heat up too much, but you only have one-third of it warmed anyway. If you don't want the heatcord on the inside, for a tank that small you can cut grooves into timber and thread the heatcord into the grooves, and sit one-third of the enclosure on top of the heatcord. Probably easiest and safest for hatchies as they are great escape artists out of tiniest gaps.

 

[bulionz]

how did u get such perfect groves wat tool did u use

 

[Ashleigh:]]

Well IF i could find a way to fit the cord through i could simply just use a heart cord with some substrate over top?
Like the pellets?
I used them ages ago but that would be fine?
Theres a red bulb in there at the moment, if I only had the light on at night for viewing and it was left on for say half an hour, it would heat up enough to have to put a light cage over it hey?
:/


Found a picture;

 

[mysnakesau]

how did u get such perfect groves wat tool did u use

Tim uses a router, and he also has a triton saw benchwhich works well too as you can adjust how much the saw sticks up to get the right size grooves. But he prefers to use the router.

Ashleigh I know there are tricks to getting cords through enclosures. I have seen ppl use a drill that cuts out a big enough hole for the plug to fit through - I am not up on hardware technology but you can get a drill piece that is 2inches round and a serated edge so it cuts out a perfect circle. Then in that circle he just cut off, he drills a hole in the centre and a slot so you can slide the cord into the hole in the centre, and then he hinged that circle back onto the enclosure. On the inside of the tank, once you have your heat cord in place you can use silicon to seal the gap created by your circular door and make it look neater. You can get dark brown sealants for use in the dark furniture like that.

Ask someone you know, with carpentry skills to help you. It can be done. Reptapet's enclosures all have bits on their enclosures for easy cord movement without drilling holes or anything, and you can't see it from the inside. Check out their website, they have great ideas you can get tips from.

Reptapet's website
http://fishpets.com.au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=30&Itemid=1

If you see in the bottom left corner of their timber cabinets you will see a darker patch. That is their little hidey hole that can open up to slip plugs and leads through and closes back up.