RHP questions

I was just poking around Craigslist and found a DIRTY STEAL. A boaphile cage (according to the ad it's a L36D24H 17.5) with a radiant heat panel installed for only $150. Im really considering picking this up. What are RHP's like? Are they like flex watt or your ordinary UTH? Would you still need a UTH with the radiant heat panel? Also, would a L36D24H 17.5 be good for a adult male? I currently have my male in a 15qt tub but if I pick it up I'll move him to that once he grows out of that tub. Thoughts?

That will be a good size for your Ball.

A rhp is not much like uth device. A rhp is overhead and delivers heat is a wide area which corresponds to the size and wattage of the panel. They still need a tstat and in my opinion need a good tstat and not an el cheapo.

As to needing both a rhp and uth I really cant tell you. If you have a cool home it is possible that having both is best. That is something you would have to figure out in your home. The size and wattage of the panel will change the output of the panel and that vs. the temp of the room and the temp you are trying to reach in the cage will be the determining factors of if it will work for you.

If the cage is a good deal and in good shape I don't see reason not to get it, even if you don't want to use the rhp. Take it out and sell it if you find you don't need it.

I have several rhp in different cages. For my arboreal snakes they are a must but for my other snakes Im pretty sure I could do without them. Many times in the warmer months I will cut them off. I only use mine to boost my cage temps a bit so I can keep my oil filled heater on 75F instead of 77-80F. I only use those for the arboreal snakes to create a hotspot. They others are only to boost the ambient temps a bit and all of those snakes have a uth.

That's a great deal, especially with a panel already installed. I've got 2 of the exact same enclosures equipped with RHPs, and they're great. You won't need an additional heat source, just a thermostat. Are there photos of the RHP?

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I use and 40W RHP mounted in the center of the tub (30" by 15", 14" tall) to set the standard mid-grade heat (81-83F) and a UTH on one side to augment the heat in that part to about 91F, which leaves the other side of the tank with only the perimeter of the RHP heated "footprint" to drop to about 77-79F at the furthest edge. Pretty happy with that gradient, and i see my boa utilizing all parts of the tub throughout the day.
I also have a climbing branch that spans from the cool side to directly under the RHP, he will occasionally climb up there for a high-heat bask, but never for very long.

Note: my RHP is on a dimmer for control and a T-Stat for safety. My temps are achieved with the dimmer at about 80% power, the ambient temp in the room is about 68 to 70F.

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Originally Posted by KMG

That will be a good size for your Ball.

A rhp is not much like uth device. A rhp is overhead and delivers heat is a wide area which corresponds to the size and wattage of the panel. They still need a tstat and in my opinion need a good tstat and not an el cheapo.

As to needing both a rhp and uth I really cant tell you. If you have a cool home it is possible that having both is best. That is something you would have to figure out in your home. The size and wattage of the panel will change the output of the panel and that vs. the temp of the room and the temp you are trying to reach in the cage will be the determining factors of if it will work for you.

If the cage is a good deal and in good shape I don't see reason not to get it, even if you don't want to use the rhp. Take it out and sell it if you find you don't need it.

I have several rhp in different cages. For my arboreal snakes they are a must but for my other snakes Im pretty sure I could do without them. Many times in the warmer months I will cut them off. I only use mine to boost my cage temps a bit so I can keep my oil filled heater on 75F instead of 77-80F. I only use those for the arboreal snakes to create a hotspot. They others are only to boost the ambient temps a bit and all of those snakes have a uth.

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Sammy is in a room where there is no AC. In the day without AC his temps are 77-79. At night I'd have to use my oil heater to boost up the ambient temps. Would I have to do the same with a RHP?

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Originally Posted by Eavlynn

That's a great deal, especially with a panel already installed. I've got 2 of the exact same enclosures equipped with RHPs, and they're great. You won't need an additional heat source, just a thermostat. Are there photos of the RHP?

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Here ya go http://m.imgur.com/a/zJpD2
Looks in great condition!

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Originally Posted by dkatz4

I use and 40W RHP mounted in the center of the tub (30" by 15", 14" tall) to set the standard mid-grade heat (81-83F) and a UTH on one side to augment the heat in that part to about 91F, which leaves the other side of the tank with only the perimeter of the RHP heated "footprint" to drop to about 77-79F at the furthest edge. Pretty happy with that gradient, and i see my boa utilizing all parts of the tub throughout the day.
I also have a climbing branch that spans from the cool side to directly under the RHP, he will occasionally climb up there for a high-heat bask, but never for very long.

Note: my RHP is on a dimmer for control and a T-Stat for safety. My temps are achieved with the dimmer at about 80% power, the ambient temp in the room is about 68 to 70F.

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Yeah if the RHP doesnt work out then I'll have to use it with a UTH.

Sammy likes to climb, so let's say he climbed to the RHP. Would that be a problem?

I can't speak for that specific panel. I have proheat panels, which are designed to never get hot enough to hurt your snake. With an ambient room temp in the high 70s, the panel won't run much, and they're usually really energy efficient. It's my preferred heating method.

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Originally Posted by Eavlynn

I can't speak for that specific panel. I have proheat panels, which are designed to never get hot enough to hurt your snake. With an ambient room temp in the high 70s, the panel won't run much, and they're usually really energy efficient. It's my preferred heating method.

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Oh ok, and at what size (grams) would you think is good for Sammy to move into it. Thanks.

The guy told me it's a RHP from reptile basics. An 80 watt to be specific.

RB 80 watt is a good panel for a medium to medium large enclosure depending on other heat sources. As said above, they do not get hot enough to burn from a brief touch (unlike a ceramic heat emitter) and since its a flat surface on the ceiling of the cage, its pretty much impossible for the snake to be in contact with it for an extended period of time. That being said, for a while i had a gap between the top of the RHP and the ceiling of the tub (the weight of the panel was bending my tub slightly, i have since fixed it) and my boa would wedge himself into that gap - when i first caught him doing that i freaked out, thought for sure he cooked himself - but he was fine, no burns, no nothing - these RHP's are strange and mysterious things ;)

With your room being that warm already the RHP should work great for a hotspot and I don't think you will need to add a uth.

I doubt you would need the oil filled heater except on cold nights.

The snake will not be able to hurt itself if it can reach the panel. My GTP can easily reach up and touch his rhp and has many times. It is never hot enough to harm him and works great.

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Originally Posted by danielwilu2525

Oh ok, and at what size (grams) would you think is good for Sammy to move into it. Thanks.

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3x2 isn't too large, how big is Sammy now? She may already be big enough for her nice new home.

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Originally Posted by Eavlynn

3x2 isn't too large, how big is Sammy now? She may already be big enough for her nice new home.

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He's a male. He currently weighs 358 grams. Would a 3x2 be large enough for one adult male?

He's about 2 feet long also. He was born on April 11th 2016.

That should be a fine size. If it has wide open areas add limbs, logs, leaves, and such to give the snake more concealment.

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Originally Posted by danielwilu2525

He's a male. He currently weighs 358 grams. Would a 3x2 be large enough for one adult male?

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Sorry about that, he'll do just fine in the 3x2. Zoe was about his size when we moved her into the same enclosure and she seemed quite content. They're really dark, which made her happy. I think Sammy will like it, too.

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Perfect! I'll see if I know pick it up this week. Once I move him into it will that be his forever home? Pretty 3x2's are good for a male.

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Originally Posted by danielwilu2525

Perfect! I'll see if I know pick it up this week. Once I move him into it will that be his forever home? Pretty 3x2's are good for a male.

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It depends on how big your little dude gets. If he tops out at 3 to 3.5 ft, he should be just fine in there. If he grows to the size of my big boy and hits 4.5 ft, you would probably want an AP T8 or something similar.

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