How to set up a PVC cage (AP T8) With Pictures!

[The Serpent Merchant]

They aren't too heavy, my guess would be somewhere around 20-30 lbs. 1 person can move a T8 without issue but 2 people makes it much easier (just because of the bulk) they are easy to assemble and dissemble so if needed that is another option.

[Natassja]

This is the divider (can be taken out and put back in as needed)



Here is the cage with the divider in place

Hello again! Whats holding the divider in place? it is some kind of slot?
also, if you divide the cage , but still need secondary heating in form of a radiant heat panel to keep appropriate ambient heat.

How would one go about heating the whole cage, with only one RHP and with the divider in place?

Airholes in the actuall divider?
Maybe cut out a slot in the divider so it fits the RHP(which are mounted to the roof directly above divider)

any suggestions ? or any other heating possibilitys that isnt as pricy as two RDP? Planning on having 2 juv Blood Pythons in a T8 style cage

thanks!

[The Serpent Merchant]

The divider (and the rest of the cage) is manufactured using a computerized milling machine. this means that they can make extremely precise parts. The divider simply pops in. no grove, or anything else. this is nice because it means you can split the cage in any ratio that you want (50/50, 60/40, 70/30, etc...) AP at least does offer the option to cut a slot for the divider, and include screws to make it permeant. (I might be getting a cage like this next time I order one)

RHP's when using the divider becomes an interesting situation. the best option is to just get 2 smaller RHP's. But you could cut a slot in the divider and mount one larger RHP in the center as well. Make sure that the slot is cut deep enough that there is some air space between the RHP and the top of the divider, as RHP's can achieve relatively high surface temperatures. (make the slot as deep as you can, without allowing the snakes to get through it. I would say 2-3 inches would be enough)

[Inarikins]

So I'm going in a different direction (turns out the roomies don't want me to have a rack with multiple snakes but a PVC cage is perfect because it saves on having to keep an entire room warm). If I go the T8 route with the divider, do I need to buy two of the flourescent lighting fixtures if I want the light or do I need two?

Also, if I go with the flexwatt, is the RHP necessary? The room I guess can dip below 65 or 70 in the winter but in the summer I doubt ambient will be an issue at all.

[The Serpent Merchant]

When using the divider you will need 2 lights.

How long during the winter does the room get to 65? If it is only a few days then RHP's probably aren't worth the extra cost.

If it will be that cold for an extended period of time you will probably need to use RHP's. If using the divider you will need 2 of these:

http://www.reptilebasics.com/28-watt-radiant-heat-panel

If you don't use the divider 1 of these will be fine:

http://www.reptilebasics.com/40-watt-radiant-heat-panel

[WarriorPrincess90]

This is awesome Aaron! Just out of curiosity, since you use Flexwatt, do you have to lift the cages or be careful on what type of surface you place them to keep the Flexwatt from trapping heat beneath the cage or starting a fire? I always wondered how that worked when using Flexwatt for UTH because your typical UTH requires that the cage be lifted slightly and not be placed on any wood surface or something likewise flammable.

[The Serpent Merchant]

My cages sit on the 8" stand made by AP, it is made from the same 1/2" PVC that the cages are. Before I got the 8" stands I used the pastil tables with fold out legs and TV tray tables lol. the Flexwatt when regulated by a thermostat shouldn't get much over 100 degrees ever. my hottest thermostat setting is 102.5 right now. While I wouldn't trust that sitting directly on my carpet... I would put it on wood or most plastics.

As you can se my cages are stacked on top of each other, and there is flexwatt sandwiched in-between them. I haven't found any need for an air gap or anything like that so far. This is because the thermostat probe site in the slop in the bottom of the cage... so it would detect any build up of heat and turn down the power going to the flexwatt.

[Stormchaser2oo8]

First post here, and I just wanted to say thank you for this article. I owned a BP many years ago, but I've found that after reading through this forum, there's a lot that I've forgotten lol. I haven't picked up my new BP yet, but I'm hoping to within the next few weeks. So this thread was a huge help to me. I've been looking for something that would give me room to grow, and I think this T8 fits that perfectly. I made the mistake of not doing that the first time, and ended up spending more to upgrade a couple of times, than it would cost to get the T8 with a few options added on. I also made the mistake of going with tanks, not realizing that there were better options out there. Do you think that starting out a small BP on half of the T8 with the divider would be a good way to go? Or perhaps give him/her a space even smaller than that?

Look forward to speaking with you all, glad to be here and can't wait to have my BP soon

[The Serpent Merchant]

First off welcome to BP.net, I hope you enjoy your stay!

I start my little guys out in half of a T8. As long as you provide good hides such as the reptile basics hides that I use, you shouldn't have any issues.

If needed you can put the divider in the cage so that instead of splitting it 50:50 it could be split 60:40 or even 70:30 to make the cage smaller for difficult hatchlings.

[Stormchaser2oo8]

Thanks for the welcome and for the reply Aaron.

Looking at the enclosure, I didn't realize you could use the divider in different areas, thanks for the heads up. But if you've done 50/50 successfully with good hides, I'll probably go that route as well.

It's been about 7 years since my last BP. I loved the little/not-so-little guy. For some reason, he didn't like other people holding him, but he never had a problem with me doing it. So, I'm really looking forward to getting a new one that I'll hopefully have for years to come. Thanks again for this detailed article, it answered a lot of questions I had when I first found this site.