Help me fine-tune my upcoming PVC cage setup, please :)

[eggrolled]

Hi guys, I originally posted this in the AP T8 setup thread, but I realized I had a few more questions and didn't want to clutter up that particular thread with my questions, lol.

But yes, I need help fine-tuning my upcoming PVC cage setup, please! Here are the details:

[Thanks to the T8 thread] I'm going to upgrade my BP's home as a result. We're picking up a second BP at a reptile expo on January 17th, and I need to order SOON so it will be set up properly, safely, and on time for the new arrival!

I am a new owner, so I would greatly appreciate if any experienced BP owners could chime in with their thoughts about my possible setup:

The Cage: Animal Plastics T8 w/Divider (or the PVCCages version found at http://pvccages.com/?wpsc-product=48...quick-assembly ...though I will probably go with whoever can get me the quickest turnaround time due to the sliiiight time crunch)
Heat: 2x RHPs, one for each half of the cage (house temps average at around 65-68 in winter and 72-78 in summer - Portland OR). If I go with AP, it will be Pro-Line brand RHPs, but if I go with PVCCages, they can preinstall 2x 40watt panels which is pretty handy. (Link to PVC's panels: http://pvccages.com/?wpsc-product=ra...-reptile-cages I believe these are the Reptile Basics brand?)
Thermostat: Herpstat 4 (4 total probes so I can do 1 temp/1 humidity probe per compartment)
Lighting: 1 "White" LED OR Fluorescent fixture light for daytime + 1 "Red" LED light/strip for nighttime viewing for each half of the cage. The lighting will be hooked up to timers for a 12h day/12h night "cycle".

I believe that covers all of the "infrastructure" parts. Of course, I'll be adding hides, water bowls, substrate (we currently use aspen), etc., too

What do you veterans think?

Some points/questions to add:

- I plan to mount each RHP on the "far" sides of each half's ceiling to establish a temperature gradient. Like so:
[-(RHP)----------(DIVIDER)---------(RHP)-]

- I originally thought I might need a Herpstat 4, but is it overkill? I wasn't planning to also hook up a mister/fogger; But I wanted to buy the optional humidity probes so that I could get an accurate reading of the humidity of the cage and then just mist accordingly. Should I just get a Herpstat 2 and some type of hygrometer(s) instead?

Thank you in advance for any help or advice.

(PS thank you Mr. Misha and michaelt for replying to me in the big thread!)

[Sauzo]

Sounds good to me. Do you mean Pro Products RHP for the AP cages? The ones from Bob? Those are really nice and that's the ones I use in my Proline Cage. Unless you see yourself needing all the power of a Herpstat 4, I would probably just use a couple Acurite thermometers/humidity gauges instead and save the cash. IMO having a Herpstat 4 is nice but if for some reason, it crapped out, you would be up S creek if you didn't have a backup. I would rather order 2 Herpstat 2s so in a worst case situation, you can use one as a backup. All those cages hold humidity very well. Im up here in Washington state and my humidity in my Proline sits around 60 with aspen and just a normal size water dish.

[eggrolled]

Sounds good to me. Do you mean Pro Products RHP for the AP cages? The ones from Bob? Those are really nice and that's the ones I use in my Proline Cage. Unless you see yourself needing all the power of a Herpstat 4, I would probably just use a couple Acurite thermometers/humidity gauges instead and save the cash. IMO having a Herpstat 4 is nice but if for some reason, it crapped out, you would be up S creek if you didn't have a backup. I would rather order 2 Herpstat 2s so in a worst case situation, you can use one as a backup. All those cages hold humidity very well. Im up here in Washington state and my humidity in my Proline sits around 60 with aspen and just a normal size water dish.

Thanks, I'm happy to hear I'm on the right track.

Oh yeah, you're right, I meant Bob's Pro-Products Pro-Heat RHPs. (Can you tell I was looking at a Pro-Line/ConstrictorsNW cage? Sadly they're currently not taking orders so anything from them would arrive too late). How much did those Pro-Heat RHPs run you, by the way? the Pro-Products site doesn't actually list prices for the RHPs at the moment.

That is also an excellent point regarding the T-stat. I didn't even think about having a backup in case it did crap out for some reason. I DO plan to breed in the future, so it's not like the Herpstat 4 would be useless, but 1 humidity probe costs as much as a couple of accu-rites soooo... yes indeedy, I may opt to save the cash and put it towards a backup unit and prettier partner for my 1.0 Hypo Pastel Lesser

[KMG]

You know how many Herpstat 4 tstats Ive seen on this forum fail? None.
You know how many Accurite combo gauges I have had that have failed? 4
The Accurite units are great when they work but every one I have bought has died.

I have two Herpstat 1s, a Herpstat 2, and a Herpstat 4. I have never had a single issue with them so I say if you want the 4 and know you could use it for future snakes, get it. If you are concerned about having a back up tstat I would buy the Herpstat 4 and then keep an eye out for a spare that someone is selling used. You can find them here, Fauna, and Kingsnake. I bought two of mine off of Kingsnake and got a great deal.

I would hold off on the humidity cable until you are sure you will need a fogger. I really doubt you will.

[eggrolled]

Good advice and info, KMG. Glad to hear how reliable those are. I'm definitely going to have to think on whether to get the 2 or the 4 a little bit more.

Gotta say I'm glad I posted on here, I appreciate all the help and information (keep it coming, lol! ). My BPs are going to be healthier, happier, and spoiled rotten with their swanky new home.

[michaelt]

Make sure you add a IR temp gun to ur list I always verify temps with them one a week and for the prices of the herpstat 2 vs the 4 I'm pretty sure it was $100 more that's why I went with a 4

[Sauzo]

Thanks, I'm happy to hear I'm on the right track.

Oh yeah, you're right, I meant Bob's Pro-Products Pro-Heat RHPs. (Can you tell I was looking at a Pro-Line/ConstrictorsNW cage? Sadly they're currently not taking orders so anything from them would arrive too late). How much did those Pro-Heat RHPs run you, by the way? the Pro-Products site doesn't actually list prices for the RHPs at the moment.

That is also an excellent point regarding the T-stat. I didn't even think about having a backup in case it did crap out for some reason. I DO plan to breed in the future, so it's not like the Herpstat 4 would be useless, but 1 humidity probe costs as much as a couple of accu-rites soooo... yes indeedy, I may opt to save the cash and put it towards a backup unit and prettier partner for my 1.0 Hypo Pastel Lesser

Proline are nice cages. That's what im using for my red tail boa atm. As for the Pro Product RHP, Bob will ask you stuff like ambient room temp of where the cage is kept, is it in a basement or upstairs, concrete floors, type of stand it will be on, type of animal, dimension of cage, all that stuff so you get the right size you need and not just some huge oversized one that is a waste. For my 48x23x14 Proline, I got a 65 watt I believe. Its been a long time. Think it cost me around $110. Higher price than Reptile Basic ones but worth it. And yeah Constrictors NW is always swamped on orders. Luckily I only live a couple hours from him so my orders are pretty fast

And while i agree a Herpstat 4 chance of failure is slim, I'm the kind of person that looks at the worst case scenario no matter how small. If you are prepared for it, then anything less will just be a minor inconvenience, not a potential disaster. Finding a Herpstat on Craigslist is a good idea. Just make sure to check it so you're not getting scammed.

And Michaelt is spot on about a temp gun. I use mine pretty much daily. One of my most used pieces of equipment.

[KMG]

I would stay away from Craigslist. The people there are the same people that don't know what kind of snake they have or how to care for it.

Looking on Fauna, King, and here will usually get you a device from a person that knows what they are doing and has the same passion as most of us here. Also use PayPal so you have some protection.

If you do go with a local buy from a person make sure to take a inverter along so you can test it right in your vehicle.

[eggrolled]

Yeah, temp guns are amazing! I used to be in the culinary world, so my IR temp gun gets lots of uses. Also another reason I want to get a Herpstat. Temps are serious business, and I love me some "serious" equipment to match.

All in all, thanks for the confirmation and continued tips guys. I wish it were Monday already so I can call up AP and Bob at ProProducts! So close yet so far away! Haha

[michaelt]

If ur going to use ap it does take a while I ordered nov 19th and just got it last Wednesday or Thursday and still waiting on glass and divider. Not sure how they are at the other place.