UTH on PVC cage?

Do people do this? I think soon I'm going to plunge into a PVC cage for my boa as she is growing and I can't stand the tank, even though the humidity is fine, it's just very unattractive because it's old and water stained and heavy, plus she'll need bigger enclosure soon anyways.

I would rather not spend an additional sum of money for the heating element when I have a spare UTH still unpackaged. I assume it's really no different than having heat tape, or when people use UTHs on tubs? I feel ridiculous asking this, lol.

No problem as long as it is regulated.

Of course. Thank you! I figured as much, but I felt the need to ask. It seems like RHPs are the preferred method in PVC enclosures and the like?

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I have a THG heat tape on my new T8 and it's working great. Better than when I had an UTH on my glass tanks. Now I still have ambient air problems but that's another story :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Fraido

Of course. Thank you! I figured as much, but I felt the need to ask. It seems like RHPs are the preferred method in PVC enclosures and the like?

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I have both a UTH and an RHP on my arboreal enclosure, because young retics and boas sometimes want to hide and be warm, and sometimes they want to perch and be warm.

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Originally Posted by xcjumper

I have a THG heat tape on my new T8 and it's working great. Better than when I had an UTH on my glass tanks. Now I still have ambient air problems but that's another story :rolleyes:

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I sometimes forget heat tape isn't strictly a rack only heat method. Lol It's certainly cheaper than buying a new UTH, but so is my spare heat pad. 😜

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I have both a UTH and an RHP on my arboreal enclosure, because young retics and boas sometimes want to hide and be warm, and sometimes they want to perch and be warm.

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Makes sense, my girl doesn't use the sticks I've placed in her tank, so I don't know if I want to bother putting any in her new enclosure when I get it.

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Yes a uth will work with pvc but personally I think you should use a rhp with a pvc cage. You said in my thread you don't have any experience with them but you should give them a shot, you won't be sorry!

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I'm just super poor! I can't justify paying the extra hundred bucks for a RHP when I've got a perfectly good heat pad here!

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UTH or Heat tape will work fine for a pvc cage. I have heat tape and and RHP on my T8 enclosure. overkill? Probably. Really, the only downside (if you even want to call it that) is that heat tape may be a little less efficient for a PVC enclosure. It just has to work harder to heat through the PVC material.

Having said that, if you are using an inch or more of substrate of some kind, I think heat tape may not be the best solution. I was leery of the RHP's, but I'm now a huge fan. I can get a good hot spot on the surface and the ambient temps are perfect.