TopNotchBoas
New Member
Hello all,
Longtime lurker of this forum. Really enjoy this place!
Just wanted to share a couple quick photos of my sulcata hatchling setup, nestled in among many boa constrictors . It's a part of a large stack of 4 x 2 x 1 cages (www.boaphileplastics.com). I decided to keep them in the boa room, as the ambient temps in there are kept strict at 78+ at all times (which translates to 80+ in their enclosures), which is perfect for a high humidity sulcata setup. Heat is provided by two strips of heat tape: One 11 inch strip on the floor (the same for all my adult boa cages) and one 3 inch strip. They are regulated using separate temperature probes attached externally fed to a high dollar proportional thermostat that adjusts voltage in percentage increments instead of on/off cycling. Temps are set to achieve approximately 95 degree surface temps inside the enclosure. The sulcatas can burrow (currently using cypress mulch as substrate) and get their shell temp to about 91-93 range.
Near future plans are to add a radiant heat panel for overhead heat and to have more control over temps in general. It will be run in conjunction with the exterior heat tape to give them multiple ways/angles to thermoregulate (burrow or bask). These cages are also expandable (put two+ together) in 4 foot width increments, I'm going to take it to 8 feet.
Thus far they have all been thriving, tripling in weight over a couple months time, even without an overhead heat source! We love our first tortoises, 4 little het ivory sulcatas named Stan, Peter, Francine, and Lois, and look forward to enjoying them for the rest of our lives . Thanks to the various members here who are valuable sources of information, especially Tom.
Here's Stan hanging out in the "semi-warm" zone with a shell temp of 85ish. Inside the hide and/or by burrowing he can easily achieve 91ish temps.
The "brains" of the heating setup (also running boa cages):
The group:
Longtime lurker of this forum. Really enjoy this place!
Just wanted to share a couple quick photos of my sulcata hatchling setup, nestled in among many boa constrictors . It's a part of a large stack of 4 x 2 x 1 cages (www.boaphileplastics.com). I decided to keep them in the boa room, as the ambient temps in there are kept strict at 78+ at all times (which translates to 80+ in their enclosures), which is perfect for a high humidity sulcata setup. Heat is provided by two strips of heat tape: One 11 inch strip on the floor (the same for all my adult boa cages) and one 3 inch strip. They are regulated using separate temperature probes attached externally fed to a high dollar proportional thermostat that adjusts voltage in percentage increments instead of on/off cycling. Temps are set to achieve approximately 95 degree surface temps inside the enclosure. The sulcatas can burrow (currently using cypress mulch as substrate) and get their shell temp to about 91-93 range.
Near future plans are to add a radiant heat panel for overhead heat and to have more control over temps in general. It will be run in conjunction with the exterior heat tape to give them multiple ways/angles to thermoregulate (burrow or bask). These cages are also expandable (put two+ together) in 4 foot width increments, I'm going to take it to 8 feet.
Thus far they have all been thriving, tripling in weight over a couple months time, even without an overhead heat source! We love our first tortoises, 4 little het ivory sulcatas named Stan, Peter, Francine, and Lois, and look forward to enjoying them for the rest of our lives . Thanks to the various members here who are valuable sources of information, especially Tom.
Here's Stan hanging out in the "semi-warm" zone with a shell temp of 85ish. Inside the hide and/or by burrowing he can easily achieve 91ish temps.
The "brains" of the heating setup (also running boa cages):
The group: