RBI hides warping

Picked up these RBI hides in march and in a few weeks they started to warp. Anyone else have this problem? Is this a common problem?
I have them in divided T8's with 40 watt heat panels on a herpstat 4

Thanks Kirk https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...28a7a12c57.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...30ace7b0c5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...52fdc1b900.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Presumably heat related ??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I'm wondering about heat too. Were they over a uth or under a rhp/che?

Mine have all warped too. The only ones that havent warped are the jumbo hides but they are made differently than the other ones. They still work though and it actually seems the snakes like the warp as it gives them another place to make an entrance/exit as they dig out the aspen there lol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

Mine have all warped too. The only ones that havent warped are the jumbo hides but they are made differently than the other ones. They still work though and it actually seems the snakes like the warp as it gives them another place to make an entrance/exit as they dig out the aspen there lol.

---

Very weird! When did you first notice the warping? Was is just the way it aged or do you think any heating influenced it?

Well they are just thin polypropylene so if they were directly under the RHP and RHP was set to heat the hot side of the T8 it might very well do that. Same thing happens to back plastic left in the hot sun too long.

Not sure if it is possible to heat them enough to make them pliable and reform them but I would think not something easily done.

Shame these could do that. I doubt this is uncommon for anyone placing them in the same situation.

How long until they warped?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MissterDog

Very weird! When did you first notice the warping? Was is just the way it aged or do you think any heating influenced it?

---

I dont use RHPs. I only use flexwatt. Even the cool side ones warp after time. Not sure exactly how long but I'd guess in a few months. Might be from the heat combined with humidity? Some warp worse than others. It kind of sucks but honestly, i still feel they are the best hides I've run across so far. I ordered ones from Bean Farm which are the same material but the RB ones with being wider and having the off set door seem to make everyone feel more secure.

I wouldn't think the humidity should matter at all since its plastic, it must be heat somehow.

I've had these hides for years and I even run them through the dishwasher when they get truly disgusting. Mine have never warped BUT they are all more than a few years old, so I wonder if something changed recently in how they are produced?

Well its just like acrylic will warp from humidity and heat. But I'm not sure if the ABS plastic will. And i know the acrylic warps because in my old Proline/Constrictor NW HDPE cage, the acrylic drop down door warped like no ones business lol. So glad i sold that cage. AP cages are 100 times better :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bcr229

I've had these hides for years and I even run them through the dishwasher when they get truly disgusting. Mine have never warped BUT they are all more than a few years old, so I wonder if something changed recently in how they are produced?

---

Maybe. The oldest ones i have are probably between 3-4 years old and they have warped. Between those old ones and newer ones i ordered probably about 2 months ago for my dumerils, they seem the same. On that note, those ones have stayed straight while the 2 i ordered for my BCL like a month ago, the one on the cool side has warped while the one on the warm side is still flat.....go figure lol.

Maybe the snakes at night are using them for 'workouts' by constricting them and they warp lol :P

a T8 is 4 x 2 x 1 divided in half is 2 x 2 x 1 a 40 watt heat panel covers most of that area where should the hide go to avoid direct heat?

if it is heat causing the warping im not supposed to have the hide in the hot spot of the enclosure? umm hello you know that cold blooded thing and snakes. besides i do have a thermostat its not like its running at full blast.

rbi sells the same size enclosure , rhp's for it and hide boxes that warp when they are placed in the correct spot .
sounds to me like they are knowingly selling an inferior product. if that is the case i am definitely disappointed

Kirk

You contact RBI with the image you have of them warping? I would be interested in learning what they say. I would include where you place them, the temperature of the surface of the hide and how long you have had them so they know exactly how they are used.

I would assume either something in the injection process is off or there is some placement under a certain temperature or exposure to UV light (just tossing it out there). I am not sure humidity plays any part since this type of plastic which is hte same as tubs are used in all sorts of high humid environments without issue.

contacted rbi with all relevant info and i guess i can take my 4 warped hides shine them up real nice and stick them straight up my.........

accidentally deleted the emails as i was a little miffed with the response

they wont replace or refund because your not supposed have a hide within so many inches of the rhp or the hides will just warp again

well my response is dont sell me a hide that you obviously know will warp

reptile hides are subject to uv light, heat etc...they gotta know this

it may seem petty to some but to me it goes toward the over all philosophy of the company

and what else are you selling me that you know may be defective?

Kirk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kirks_Herps

they wont replace or refund because your not supposed have a hide within so many inches of the rhp or the hides will just warp again

and what else are you selling me that you know may be defective?

---

I fail to see how they are misleading you as they clearly described on their site the material used - injection molded polypropylene as well as the thickness - 1/8 inch. I am not an advocate for RBI in anyway even though as of late I seem to be but you can't just suggest something is defective if it is used outside the scope of the material's limitation.

That looks wild! I have all RBI hides and none of mine have warped, or at least not noticeably. Mine were bought at least over a year~3 years ago. I assume it has something to do with using RHP's maybe heating the top of the hide more than it should.

But I also have an RBI hide in my scrub python's enclosure under an RHP, and it has not warped.

Some of my RBI hides have warped... I think it happened the most with the "large" hides...I haven't seen it with the smaller hides. I don't use RHPs, so it has happened when the hides are on top of heat tape in a rack or heat tape in a cage (both on thermostats). I think I've only had 2 warp to the degree your pic showed and both were large hides.

If they know the hides warp under an RHP, it would be nice for them to put a disclaimer on the sales page with that info. But, in my case, and RHP wasn't involved, so maybe it is also random depending on the consistency of a particular batch of plastic used, etc.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SDA

I fail to see how they are misleading you as they clearly described on their site the material used - injection molded polypropylene as well as the thickness - 1/8 inch. I am not an advocate for RBI in anyway even though as of late I seem to be but you can't just suggest something is defective if it is used outside the scope of the material's limitation.

---

Never said I was mislead in any way
I'm saying that reptile hides are subject to
Certain environments they are sure to be aware of
The material may be as described but is doesn't say don't use in hot / humid environments
As they are aware of the conditions reptile hides are subject to I believe the hides to be defective because the can not be used as an effective hide
The point of a hide is to provide a safe secure place for your reptile and a warped hide doesn't do that

Kirk



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk