UTH on PVC cage?

[Fraido]

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.

[PitOnTheProwl]

No problem as long as it is regulated.

[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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[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

[bcr229]

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?

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.

[Fraido]

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

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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[Fraido]

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.

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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[chrid16371]

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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[Fraido]

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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[LittleTreeGuy]

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.