I would like some opinions on my cage set up. Here is the basics of what I have:


  • Animal Plastics T8 with divider
  • Pro-Products 40 watt RHP's (2)
  • 12" X 2' THG heat tape
  • Flourescent white light fixtures (2)
  • Herpstat 2


My original plan was to only have the heat tape installed and use the two light fixtures to help supplement the ambient temp. I quickly learned that with room temps of 65-68°, this was not happening. I have the heat tape installed in the center of the cage so basically ~6" of heat tape on each side of the divider. I now have the two RHP's flanking each side of the divider. I installed these yesterday and have been playing with thermostat probe placement to get everything working in harmony.

First i tried having the probe in the opposite side of the RHP. RHP thermostat set to 82°, UTH thermostat set to 93°. After a few hours, the Accurite probe (hot side) was 91°. Cool side was 82°. However, when shot with heat gun, hot side floor was 95° cool side floor was 84°. The RHP itself was 130° or so.

I lowered the temp of the UTH to 87°, RHP to 80°. Temps lowered slightly after a couple hours on the Accurite to 92° hot, 79° cool. Heat gun read 94° hot, 82° cool.

So so now I moved the probe to right under the RHP on the cage floor and set it to 90° UTH I kept the same. I'm waiting to see how it levels out, but I am thinking of ditching the heat tape and just running the two RHP's. This way I can just use the Herpstat 2 and hold off on buying a second thermostat.


Any any thoughts on this?

Also, for those of you running both RHPs and heat tape, what do you use as your thermostat set points and where are you putting the thermostat probe for the RHP?

For those of you running just RHPs, what thermostat setting are you using?

Thanks everyone!

Here are a couple pics of my setup.