Heating Balls

[spykerherps]

Looking into buying or making a Ball python rack. leaning towards making one. since I'm fairly handy and it would be way cheeper.

Now ? is weather I buy or build what's better for balls the dual side heat or belly heat? Keep in mind 11'" flex watt.

 

[robin]

i prefer belly heat but thats just me.

 

[eric]

Zach your in the Pacific Northwest like me I would be go with belly heat due to our temps.

 

[Tony C]

I keep Boas, not Balls, but I use a combo of belly heat from heat pads at all times, and overhead heat from halogen lights during the day. Belly heat alone should be sufficient since you will be using a rack instead of glass aquaria like I do, and from what I understand Balls prefer the dark.

 

[temec]

belly heat for sure.. and I say make a rack.. you can make a rack that holds 18-32qt racks out of 8 pieces of melamine that are 24" x 48"

 

[spykerherps]

Thanks. I have decided on making a rack. I can get 2 4' x 8' sheets necessary to make a 6 tub ball rack and heat tape for under a 100.00 then add about 100.00 for tubs (long underbed box from container store) and I'm set. or I could spend 300+ and make my own rack out of 1/2 expanded black pvc sheets or 436.00+tubs and buy it from AP. I know that's not much to some but it is to me at this point in my life. I'll take the money I saved and spend it on the actual snakes.

 

[Enigmatic_Reptiles]

+1 that sounds like a good idea

 

[eric]

Zach please keep us updated I'd love to see it!

 

[spykerherps]

Zach please keep us updated I'd love to see it!

I mean I am going with the melamine sheets not the expanded pvc sheets. no need to see that.

maybe I will go with my own pvc racks when I can afford it.

Oh what the hay I'll probably throw it up here anyway.

Well the price I was quoted by a company up here in Portland, Multi Craft Plastics was 126.30 a 4'x8' sheet but that was non business. I would like to check back with them to see what they would quote me if I said I was a business. perhaps wholesale. that would make it worth wile for me to make mine out of pvc.

Make a decent sized xpvc rack for 130 and have it match all the rest
I still like the 60 dollar price tag for the melamine material.

 

[BallpythonsSA]

I built my own rack using melamine.....

Some advice.....

Think through your design very carefully, and plan it even more carefully. These projects have a knack of kicking you in the balls halfway through. Measure everything twice and then measure it again.

KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid - It is nice to have a rack with rails and lighting etc. The more little extras you have in rack means more headache when building . Look at the underside of the tubs to see how well they will slide over the flexwatt.

Good luck. I would go with belly heat only. Remember these tubs will be fully enclosed which will keep it warmer so you don't really need side or top heat. Also remember that the flexwatt above each tub will generate downward heat as well so you may consider putting a piece of flex on top of the rack as well.

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