RHP/probe placement?

[kitedemon]

I know some suggest they be caged off. I personally don't think they have any use in terrestrial set ups and UTH are easier and safer if used properly. Especially the low density units. RHP generate a perfect verticle gradient, useless in a terrestrial set up.

Kat something that should have been asked sooner what are the dimentions?

[KatStoverReptiles]

Well to be completely honest this is my husband's boa (as much as any of our snakes are really "his" or "mine"). We got this cage off craigslist a couple years ago because we knew she'd one day need something at least this size (looks like she'll eventually size out of it at her rate of growth, but it'll work for her for awhile...and we already have it) and it was a good deal. It's about 24x48x12 inches. Similar to the animal plastics T8.

I don't see anyway to set this up with flexwatt as I would think it wouldn't be able to penetrate the bottom of the enclosure. It came with a RHP installed so we cleaned it up and discovered that the RHP did, in fact, work.

I just started thinking about it and thinking about how my balls pile themselves up into...well...balls and squish themselves between the top and bottom of their tubs and I'd hate for her to do this and burn herself from doing it between the bottom of the cage and the RHP. Now...I should probably preface this with she's not quite big enough to accomplish that right now...but she will one day and I don't want to discover that the day has arrived by her burning herself.

[Gio]

Kite, That's disappointing he did not e-mail you back. I was told to call him, but maybe the "catch" is you have to be buying something? I do not know, but I would love to be in the room when the two of you are talking as I think there would be a lot to learn.

I e-mailed Bob a bit ago and also did not get a return e-mail, so maybe the phone is the way to go.

I will continue to monitor my setup this summer when the AC gets involved. I've been more concerned about ambient room temps being cooler in the summer than the winter because of AC.

I think no matter what people decide on, the BIG safety factor is the thermostat. I just will not be without a Herpstat of some type. I have safety alarms in place, some night and day temp differentials set and really can't say enough about what a great tool a quality stat is.

Kat,
you should still be able to use a UTH with a plastic enclosure. MOST people do use that or Flexwatt.

If you want, there is a quality heat mat made by Kane that can be used in or out of the tank. Tom McCarthy of McCarthy Boas uses them in his home made custom cages. They are spendy.

Actually I believe they (Kane mats) are made in Kitedemon's beautiful Canada if I'm not mistaken. If they are anything like my Bryston audio equipment from Canada I'd give a 2 thumbs up LOL!

Hopefully you find something that works.

Good Luck!

[KMG]

KMG. you are keeping bloods?? Love that avatar of yours. Nice!

I have three pvc cages that are 48*24*15 and each has a RHP and UTH. One has a BRB, the second has an adult female blood, and the third is empty waiting on a male blood to start a breeding program. The one in my avatar is one of three Bangka X Het Albino bloods that I hope to breed in the future. I have two females and a male. Those three are in a rack.

When I was ordering my cages I emailed ProProducts with my plans and cage specs and got an email back with the suggested RHP. I then ordered them and had them shipped to the cage builder for installation without ever talking to anyone on the phone.

[kitedemon]

Most plastic enclosures are PVCx or expanded PVC (it has little air bubbles in it) it is not the most efficient to heat through but not horrible either. If you have some flexwatt or similar around just try it unregulated ,empty and see what temps you get. I only lost 32-3 degrees usually 1/4-3/8 . I set 93 and get 90 it is easier as your room is heated to correct ambients anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Gio]

I have three pvc cages that are 48*24*15 and each has a RHP and UTH. One has a BRB, the second has an adult female blood, and the third is empty waiting on a male blood to start a breeding program. The one in my avatar is one of three Bangka X Het Albino bloods that I hope to breed in the future. I have two females and a male. Those three are in a rack.

When I was ordering my cages I emailed ProProducts with my plans and cage specs and got an email back with the suggested RHP. I then ordered them and had them shipped to the cage builder for installation without ever talking to anyone on the phone.

Good for you! Sounds like a nice setup, Animal Plastics would be my guess based on the size of your cages. They are nice enclosures. I was really on the fence about using 2 heating sources or 1 and really, I was having a difficult time ditching the heat lamp idea because I had doubts the RHP would work. I was told to call Bob direct from Ed, my cage maker. I guess I'm happy so far which is nice.

I was so close to going the short tailed python route. I ended up with my beautiful Barranquilla Colombian boa which I love, but every time I see one of those bloods I get an urge.

I'm way off topic now, but those short tails fascinate me for whatever reason.

Have a good evening!

[hypnotixdmp]

I have a boaphile with built in flexwatt and it has a precut hole in it for a thermostat probe. Maybe you can look into getting one like this?

[Rickys_Reptiles]

This was a good read.

I'm planning on using a RHP, and also flexwatt. The probe for my flexwatt sits directly on the bottom of the cage (inside). It gets covered by about an inch or 2 of coconut husk. The husk doesn't pose any issues for me, since the heat is coming from below.

I'm using the RHP to achieve a nice hot spot, not to raise the inside ambient temperature. If I put the probe on the bottom of the cage (inside) and then cover it with husk - with the RHP heat through the husk, or will the temperature on the top of the coconut husk be hotter than the probe indicates?

I'm still a bit confused as to where the best place is to put the probe.