I am Building Melamine Cages for my boas. I want to put flex watt In them for Belly Heat. I was told I Cant sandwhich The flex watt and it needed air flow. So my question now is. How much Spacing is needed ? What material
And how thick Should it be Seperating the boa from the Flex Watt? I do not want it to be to thin or to thick. AND I WANT MY BOAS SAFE...Thx A lot for your help

I am Building Melamine Cages for my boas. I want to put flex watt In them for Belly Heat. I was told I Cant sandwhich The flex watt and it needed air flow. So my question now is. How much Spacing is needed ? What material
And how thick Should it be Seperating the boa from the Flex Watt? I do not want it to be to thin or to thick. AND I WANT MY BOAS SAFE...Thx A lot for your help


You can sandwich flexwatt, just as long as it is temperature controlled. Were it me I'd machine a small slot in the melamine to slide the temp controller probe into. Thus it sits right in contact with the flexwatt. See the photo below.

http://www.reptileradio.net/reptileradio/picture.php?albumid=59&pictureid=614

I've built boa cages with the flexwatt sandwiched between the melamine and some ceramic tiles. Worked really well. I fed the wires in from the back sealed the electrical connections with liquid electrical tape. The caulked the tiles down with 100% silicone caulk to make it water tight.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/wildbill_photos/heatboa.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/wildbill_photos/boacage2.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/wildbill_photos/cageinstalled.jpg

I've built boa cages with the flexwatt sandwiched between the melamine and some ceramic tiles. Worked really well. I fed the wires in from the back sealed the electrical connections with liquid electrical tape. The caulked the tiles down with 100% silicone caulk to make it water tight.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/wildbill_photos/heatboa.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/wildbill_photos/boacage2.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/wildbill_photos/cageinstalled.jpg

That set up is awesome Bill.....I really like the idea of the counter top over the cages. Someday when i have a "snake room" I will keep these shots in mind.....someday....

That set up is awesome Bill.....I really like the idea of the counter top over the cages. Someday when i have a "snake room" I will keep these shots in mind.....someday....

Yeah, it was nice for work space, but wasn't a very efficient use of space. The counter top kept shrinking as time passed. :lol:

Wow That really is Cool. What types of other materials can I use in the bottom and how thick is too think. I was going to put the probe in similar to your set up. Can U use lynoleum/ Haha on the spelling. When I wen to home depot I saw alot of cool things but didnt know if it were ok to use and had to find out the thickness needed. I need to build 8 cages so any more info would be great. Where can I get the larger flexwatt. Larger than the 11" stuff. I am thinking it is around 22" Stuff

I've built boa cages with the flexwatt sandwiched between the melamine and some ceramic tiles. Worked really well. I fed the wires in from the back sealed the electrical connections with liquid electrical tape. The caulked the tiles down with 100% silicone caulk to make it water tight.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/wildbill_photos/heatboa.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/wildbill_photos/boacage2.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/wildbill_photos/cageinstalled.jpg

wow, even with the counter top shrinking, that is a killer set up. I also will keep this idea in mind when I get a dedicated snake room.

Here is our solution.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff116/artinscales/LargeCageBottoms001.jpg

We routed a 3/8 inch recess in 3/4 inch plywood, then stapled the flexwatt in the recess with the probe in between the plywood and the flexwatt. This is done to the underside of the floor so that the flexwatt stays out of the cage. It works pretty well.

Here's a pic of some cages we just finished.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff116/artinscales/LivingRoomComplete004.jpg

wow. nice set up Randy & Michelle.. but wouldn't the heat from the flex watt mess with the electronics, especially since the tv and such produce their own heat when on?

wow great set up!! I havent started building yet so I am loving the ideas :)

wow. nice set up Randy & Michelle.. but wouldn't the heat from the flex watt mess with the electronics, especially since the tv and such produce their own heat when on?

No we don't have any heat problems either way. The cages don't heat the electronics nor do the electronics heat the cages. We did insulate the bottoms with reflectix.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff116/artinscales/LargeCageBottoms2.jpg

wow great set up!! I havent started building yet so I am loving the ideas :)

We have another post "Our New Cage Setup" that details more on our new cages that we built.