Do BPs need belly heat? What temp for RHP?

[Luvyna]

I've been setting up a new 4' x 2' x 18" PVC enclosure for my BP. Before I ordered it I posted another thread on this forum where people told me an 80W RHP would be enough as the only heat source of the enclosure.

Now that I'm finalizing the set up I just want to confirm if it's okay to not have a source of belly heat, and what temperature should I aim for on the warm end with the RHP? Should it be 90F or something lower because RHPs also heat the air? Will the heat reach my BP if he wants to digest in his hide or is it still better to use some kind of under tank heating?

[EL-Ziggy]

You definitely won’t need a UTH to supplement the RHP. My RHPs are set for hot spot between 86-88 and the ambient temps will be in the high 70s to low 80s.

[Bogertophis]

I think you'll find plenty of disagreement on this issue. Personally, I'm a fan of UTH for my snakes (none of which are currently BPs) but some feel that the overhead heating is enough & mimics the way that sun warms the ground that wild snakes use to warm themselves. I don't think it matters, as long as your snake has the needed level of warmth available to him one way or another.

Wait for others that actually use RHP to chime in with actual suggestions for what you need in setting this up.