Enclosure for Boa

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Originally Posted by svtvenom

Do I need to use the dimmer anymore? Am I plugging the CHE into the thermostat too? Because it was 20 degrees outside today the cool side is at 71. Do you think I need a bigger wattage CHE?

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Thats what i was saying a while ago in this thread I think about watts and the size tank and covering the screened lid. With that size tank (20 long) the CHE doesn't need to be on a thermostat unless your house gets over 72. Youll get 76-80 degrees out of it on full power with the lid covered with tin foil & a hand towel... But I keep mine on the cool side not in the middle. Keep your temps up where the hides are at this point. Its hard enough with a Glass Tanks so at least you'll know the gradient is good in both the hides this way. Thats where its most important.
You'll want a PVC enclosure in a few months I'm sure then its easy. Get on the list at AP as it took 13 weeks to get mine.

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Originally Posted by svtvenom

I can't lock the top with the wire in there. Should I cut a hole in the screen?

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You dont need the tstat for that size CHE in that 20Gal. It wont get over 80 unless you crank your house over 72.

Your tank set up ain't too bad. I have yet to read all 9 pages so maybe someone mentioned it already but I would cover up the sides of your 20 gallon for sure.

I'm still playing around with it. My understanding is that it doesn't really matter what temp the thermostat says on the hot side? As long as it's getting to 88-90 inside the enclosure? When I put the setting to 90 it was not nearly as hot as it should be in the enclosure, so right now its set to 105, I will check what it is at when I get home. I ended up cutting a small hole in the screen to get the probe in there and it seems to be working for the cool side. I'm still keeping an eye on the temps on the cool side because last night it was 64 in my room because it was so cold outside. I'll work on something to get the sides covered.

I have been looking at the T8 from Animal Plastics and I emailed them with some questions. Would this be big enough to last him for his entire life? So for the T8 I would use a heat panel on the side and a UTH?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by svtvenom

I'm still playing around with it. My understanding is that it doesn't really matter what temp the thermostat says on the hot side? As long as it's getting to 88-90 inside the enclosure? When I put the setting to 90 it was not nearly as hot as it should be in the enclosure, so right now its set to 105, I will check what it is at when I get home. I ended up cutting a small hole in the screen to get the probe in there and it seems to be working for the cool side. I'm still keeping an eye on the temps on the cool side because last night it was 64 in my room because it was so cold outside. I'll work on something to get the sides covered.

I have been looking at the T8 from Animal Plastics and I emailed them with some questions. Would this be big enough to last him for his entire life? So for the T8 I would use a heat panel on the side and a UTH?

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Id never go less than a T10. You loose Hight inside, the outside measurement is 12" . So figure interior height to be around 10 1/2 inches on a T8 and Glass slider opening only 8" ( hard to get anything in & out cleaning) versus a T10 interior is 14" and Glass slider entrance 10". You would be surprised what a difference it is from 8" to 10" and it's worth every bit of $50 more. As far as the heating yes you can go with a RHP and a UTH incase the Temp is 65-68 during winter.. Otherwise the RHP is fine alone for 68+ homes/Rooms.

As far as the Hot side temps now I know its probably been mentioned 50 times but make sure to check the Glass above the UTH not the substrate. All my heating elementa match what the Tstat & thermistate says after 24 hrs of things absorbing the heat. Usually about 1° off.
Example.. My Tstat says 91... The hot side probe thermometer says 90.7... If I then check with a Lazer it says 89.3..88.7 and 90.1 in three different places. This is all after leaving the doors closed etc for 12hrs as everytime i clean it/open it a several times during winter it takes hrs to regulate again.

Thanks for pointing that out I will most likely get the T10. How exactly is the RHP used in a cage like that? Or does it go on the outside? How does it attach? Where would I put the probe for the RHP? I have been using the temp gun pointed at the substrate and about 1/4 inch away from it. I will go home and measure it on the glass. It's so much better now that I know my snake won't cook when I'm not home lol.

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Originally Posted by svtvenom

Thanks for pointing that out I will most likely get the T10. How exactly is the RHP used in a cage like that? Or does it go on the outside? How does it attach? Where would I put the probe for the RHP? I have been using the temp gun pointed at the substrate and about 1/4 inch away from it. I will go home and measure it on the glass. It's so much better now that I know my snake won't cook when I'm not home lol.

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Im glad your understanding.. Sometimes writing makes it hard to describe everything hahahaha. A UTH always goes outside no matter what type of enclosure. With that said your Probe always goes between the UTH and enclosure. The PVC enclosures (at least AP as thats all I have) has a place to run your wire/probe and Heat Tape. I guess id call it a little indent so its more flush if that makes sense. I always use Metal Tape (foil tape) for Heating work to attach UTH/Heat Tape etc... I myself only use a UTH on my quarantine tanks... As far as my Displays i only use a large RHP.
Some of these things are preferences. I have always gone up One size on a RHP from what recommended because I run 24/7 Central air and my home heat goes low at night because I cant sleep if I'm warm. The larger RHP has helped me with that.
Another thing that has helped me is putting the RHP about 8 inches over from the interior wall of my Hot Side.. I was mounting them 1" away from Hot Side wall and my cool side temps were too cool when the house dropped at night to 60... Once your home goes below 68 the Hot side is ok but the cool side (2ft away in a 4ft enclosure) drops to about 73.5/75. Thats not terrible but remember thats even when im running a larger than recommended RHP. This is why some people run a UTH and actually use the RHP to get a warner ambient for the cool side etc.. In that case you can also run the RHP on the Cool Side on a lower temp (78/80) as I do in 1 of my enclosures because my bottom enclosure RHP provides the Basking on the Hotside floor above for my girl who spends all her time in the Cool hide anyway.
This is why its important to decide whats best for your situation. Only you know your home temps etc.. Also of you use a Snake Room, you can use just a UTH and use a electric Oil heater to heat the whole room to 78° 24/7. This a great idea if you have a Xtra room dedicated to Reptiles only.

I came home and the ambient temp was 72-74 should I go get a 150 watt CHE since I have a thermostat?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by svtvenom

I'm still playing around with it. My understanding is that it doesn't really matter what temp the thermostat says on the hot side? As long as it's getting to 88-90 inside the enclosure? When I put the setting to 90 it was not nearly as hot as it should be in the enclosure, so right now its set to 105, I will check what it is at when I get home. I ended up cutting a small hole in the screen to get the probe in there and it seems to be working for the cool side. I'm still keeping an eye on the temps on the cool side because last night it was 64 in my room because it was so cold outside. I'll work on something to get the sides covered.

I have been looking at the T8 from Animal Plastics and I emailed them with some questions. Would this be big enough to last him for his entire life? So for the T8 I would use a heat panel on the side and a UTH?

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Wait, you have the hot set to 105F?? You will cook that snake. I keep all my boas with a hot spot of 86-88F and even then, they dont spend much time on the hot spot.

All the temps matter in each zone. You want 77-79F cool side and 86-88F hot side. The ambient can be anywhere from 77-80F. You need to give the boa a place it can get warm and a place it can get cool but not too cool and not too warm.

Ok I turned the hot side is now 88 on the thermostat and cool side is set to 76. Do I need to get a 150 watt CHE because I care home and the cold side was 72