Heating questions re: Boaphile cage

[NinaCaliente]

Last night I picked up a new BP, a 5yo female who came with her setup. I was told the cage was a Boaphile, and while I can't find any brand marking on it, it looks similar to what I see on their website. It measures 3'x2'x18".

My question is about the heating: This cage has a radiant heat panel mounted on the "ceiling" on the right side as well as under-tank heat covering the center of the floor, both of which are plugged into an Alife thermostat. The thermostat probe sits in the middle of the floor of the cage. The thermostat seems to work well at keeping the entire cage floor in the 80-90 range. My concern is about the surface of the radiant heat panel. It is extremely hot to touch, and when I measure the surface of the panel it gives me readings of 160-170 degrees. I am afraid my snake will get burned! I tried unplugging the radiant heat panel, but the UTH does not seem to be enough to keep the cage temps high enough.

Are my concerns valid? I though about mounting the thermostat probe closer to the heat panel, but I'm not quite sure how to go about it or if it would solve the problem. (I don't want to start drilling a million holes in the cage for nothing.) I have never used radiant heat panels or a cage like this before, so any suggestions are appreciated!

[NinaCaliente]

Okay, well I just read the FAQ on RHPs on the Reptile Basics site, and apparently the surface temp of their RHPs can reach 190 degrees. The FAQ indicates that is safe for a top-mounted heat source because the snake is unlikely to remain in contact with it long enough to cause a burn. So... I guess I am worrying for nothing?

[vgibbens]

I know my IR temp gun says the surface of my RHP is around 190°, but I can put my hand on it and keep it there for more than few seconds, so I can't see your BP getting burned. Especially, since it's on the ceiling and the snake could easily recoil. I'm not familiar with the boaphile cages, but in my RBI cage, I have just the RHP and it's doing a good job keeping my hot site 90-91° and my cool site 79-81°. Have you measured the temps inside your hides?

[Skiploder]

Okay, well I just read the FAQ on RHPs on the Reptile Basics site, and apparently the surface temp of their RHPs can reach 190 degrees. The FAQ indicates that is safe for a top-mounted heat source because the snake is unlikely to remain in contact with it long enough to cause a burn. So... I guess I am worrying for nothing?

The RHPs I use from Pro-Products top out at $170.00. in many years, and using multiple panels, I have never had a burn.

[Skiploder]

The RHPs I use from Pro-Products top out at $170.00. in many years, and using multiple panels, I have never had a burn.

Should have read "170 degrees".

[dr del]

Hi,

I'm sorry but if something that hot is in the same space as my snake I would want it gaurded.

Just seems too big a risk to take when $2 worth of mesh would definately prevent any accidents.


dr del

[Skiploder]

Hi,

I'm sorry but if something that hot is in the same space as my snake I would want it gaurded.

Just seems too big a risk to take when $2 worth of mesh would definately prevent any accidents.


dr del

It's a radiant heat panel - what good would $2 worth of mesh do?

It projects infrared heat - it heats objects. In other words, it would heat up whatever protective element you would put up to it. Putting a guard within 6" of it would also probably increase the risk of fire and invalidate the warranty.

170 to 190 degrees sounds high, but you can hold your hand up to it for about 15 to 20 seconds without feeling any discomfort. If it's installed on the ceiling of a 12" to 15" high cage, what are the odds that a snake would hold it's head up to it for an extended period of time.....and what are the odds that the panels would be at 100% all of the time? With a proportional thermostat , it rarely runs more than 50%.....................

Unlike a CHE which gets much much hotter, the shape of the RHP also does not promote the snake wrapping itself around it.

I use one in my ackie monitor trough and they get get within a half inch of it to bask on their rete's stacks.