PVC Owners - How Do You Heat?

Just out of curiosity. I'd always assumed I'd need two sources of heat for my upcoming AP T-10 purchase, but now I'm seeing a lot of mixed opinions about RHP vs. UTH vs. both. Quite a lot of heated debate a few years back about the merits of RHPs! For PVC enclosure owners specifically: How do you heat your enclosure? (Nothing against rack/tank/tub owners, you've already had some polls on the subject...)

I've gone through about 4 years worth of posts and haven't seen this poll before. Apologies if it's a common topic! Feel free to link me to previous discussions if you feel they're helpful.

I use both considering my room is on the cooler side and no way I could stand room being warmer then 72. UTH at 90 and rhps Heat enclosure to 80-82 degrees

Thanks, I think I'm in the same boat. However, Mr. Misha and Sauzo had some interesting comments about using an RHP alone (installed on one side to produce a temp gradient). Given it's been a few years since the early RHP vs. UTH discussions, I was curious to know what most people were using!

I didn't vote, because my cages are for lizards and I wired bulbs inside, I don't have RHPs but looked into them for lizards, what I found in talking with others is that they can work well in a 1ft tall snake cage where basking temps are lower than some lizard requirements.

I just use an RHP for my ball pythons PVC cage. He has the perfect temp gradient and I never have to worry about the temperature in his cage. I have a Pro Products RHP and when before you buy one you fill out a little questionnaire about what animal your heating, the high/low temps of your home, where you will be keeping the animal in your home etc. Then he tells you which RHP would be best for your specific needs and that's the one you buy. It's a little tricky getting it set up but with some fiddling and help from people on this site you'll get everything set up :) my temp gradient is about 90 on top of the warm side hide, about 88-89 inside the hide and the cool side is usually around 78.

I heat my entire room with a oil heater. I do this because my cages would not get warm enough with the RHPs that are in them. I have 4ft x 2ft x 18in cages that have both uth and rhp but the rhp would not give the needed temps. Now I heat the room and run the uth. If it gets cold I will also turn the rhp on. Just in case the temps need a boost.

Knowing what I know now I would have skipped the rhp and only got the uth.

I've got two 3x2 pvc cages, one taller one with flexwatt and heat light, the shorter one just has flexwatt. I just ordered more 3x2 and a stack of four footers with heat panels and max flexwatt since I live in a cold climate and keep my house cool. Not yet sure if this will do the trick but planning on adding a room heater if not.


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Interesting, I wonder what would create such different results between KMG and AlexisFitzy. AlexisFitzy, what are your ambient room temps? I wonder if the RHP works better for you because your room is warmer. Maybe it's a brand/materials thing? Or the amount of "heatable objects" within the enclosure?

Bob at pro products requests detailed info on your setup. He uses this info to choose the best RHP for your situation.

As far as I know other manufacturers don't do this.

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Originally Posted by tbowman

Bob at pro products requests detailed info on your setup. He uses this info to choose the best RHP for your situation.

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That is correct. I spoke to him and took his suggestion but it just didn't warm the entire cage like I wanted. When it was high enough to warm the entire cage the hotspot was too hot. He does know his stuff and is very helpful.