Opinions on PVC

[Raven01]

Can I purchase RHP at reptile/pet stores as well? I have not heard about them before!

They always have them at the expo's. And you can order them online.
One reason I suggested HerpHouses.com is you can when ordering select options for LEDS, RHP's or both with your enclosure but, if you don't mind waiting I do know Cornel's World sells RHP's. I can't recall which vendors in Ontario had them for sale.

[Mr. Misha]

I am no longer using an UTH or CHL; the Pro-Productions RHP is doing an awesome job. The ambient temp on the cold side is holding at 80, with a hot spot temp between 89-92.

How are you making sure that your BP doesn't touch the RHP since they get pretty hot? I have a pro-heat (PH-3 64 watt) pannel myself in my T12 and I'm afraid they'll burn themselves on it.

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[Jughead915]

The RHP is significantly cooler than a ceramic heat lamp. The RHP does get hot, but to get a serious burn a snake would have to be in contact with it for longer than just a few seconds. My ball has raised up to inspect it, but once he starts to feel the heat on his nose build up he backs away. Also, I'm able to rest my hand on the pad for at least 10 seconds without feeling a burning sensation.

[Jughead915]

I have edited my previous post above, because I went down and did a few tests on my RHP.

The Pro-Products RHP I have is significantly cooler than the CHL I used to use. RHP does get hot, but to get a serious burn a snake would have to be in contact with it for longer than just a few seconds. My ball has raised up to inspect it, but once he starts to feel the heat on his nose build up he backs away. Also, I'm able to rest the top of my hand against the pad continuously without feeling enough of a burning sensation requiring me to move my hand.

Also remember, your snake is not laying on the RHP, as it would with an UTH. When I hit the RHP with my temp gun, it measures at 143 degrees. If an UTH was being used and the temperature was measured in the tank at 143 degrees, I think you'd have some problems with burns if the snake remained on it constantly for the right amount of time. This is why they also recommend that a RHP be at least 6" away from any object placed underneath it, to prevent significant heat build-up.

[NH93]

Yikes. I really do not want an RHP now. No offense... but if it gets that hot, I don't care how far away it is from my snake - if he can touch it, it shouldn't be in there (in my opinion). If I can't rest my hand on it forever, I don't want it with him. Also, with a UTH it is the belly heat that helps with digestion. Unfortunately I don't think it helps with ambient air temp like an RHP.
Oh boy.

It has been suggested by the seller that I can remove the top partition of PVC and add in a mesh screen to add my heat bulb back into things (although of course this kind of ruins most of the original idea of maintaining heat and humidity).

I'm at a bit of a loss. I am picking up the cage on Sunday, so in 6 days.

I want to add also, about the RHP, my ball currently sleeps underneath his heat lamp every night. I have no idea why, when there's a UTH but he does. I know he would do the same with the RHP, which is why I don't want one... just in case.

[Mr. Misha]

The Pro-Products RHP I have is significantly cooler than the CHL I used to use. RHP does get hot, but to get a serious burn a snake would have to be in contact with it for longer than just a few seconds.

That makes sense. Thanks for clearing things up. Now I need to figure my humidity issues. I think the RHP is killing my humidity. Even though it takes a lot longer for it to go down, my humidity dropped from 60 to 30 in about 3 days.

Yikes. I really do not want an RHP now. No offense... but if it gets that hot, I don't care how far away it is from my snake - if he can touch it, it shouldn't be in there (in my opinion).

I want to add also, about the RHP, my ball currently sleeps underneath his heat lamp every night. I have no idea why, when there's a UTH but he does. I know he would do the same with the RHP, which is why I don't want one... just in case.

My RHP produces a heat of about 83 so I still have to have a UTH for belly heat. I don't think your ball will have a problem sleeping under the RHP.

Also, if your bp sleeps under the heat lamp all the time, your ambient temps might be a little low. Just a thought.

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[Jughead915]

If you really want to know about RHP's and talk to someone with a great deal of experience and technical expertise, I'd call Bob at Pro-Products. He will talk your ear off about everything heat related with snakes, but he's been in the "snake business" for many years around the world and he's a wealth of knowledge. He will definitely be able to answer any questions you have concerning RHP's and comparisons to UTH or CHL. He owns the company but he's not a pressure salesman; if he feels you'd be better off without a RHP or sticking with what you have, he'll tell you. He is in New York, and his number is 1-845-628-8960.

[NH93]

Also, if your bp sleeps under the heat lamp all the time, your ambient temps might be a little low. Just a thought.

No worries there, the ambient air is steady at 78.5F on the "cool" side, and 82F on the "warm side", and he sleeps in his favourite spot on the cool side. He just cruises at night, but always ends up draped over a log under the heat lamp rather than in a hide above the UTH where the hot spot is 90F.

Thank you for the great suggestions everyone!

[Raven01]

No worries there, the ambient air is steady at 78.5F on the "cool" side, and 82F on the "warm side", and he sleeps in his favourite spot on the cool side. He just cruises at night, but always ends up draped over a log under the heat lamp rather than in a hide above the UTH where the hot spot is 90F.

Thank you for the great suggestions everyone!

Your warm side is a tad cooler than most use. Perhaps, this explains why I see my BP's hang out on the cool side almost exclusively except for a couple days after feeding. I maintain 88-90 degrees F on the warm hide side and 80-82 on the cool side.

Pretty sure I have heard of some people keeping an ambient overall of somewhere around 85-ish with no cool or hot spot successfully. That may or may not work well, I am just uncomfortable using it myself particularly with my snakes seeming to prefer the cooler side by and large.

EDIT: Also, you really should check out Cornel's World for the RHP's(not positive but, I think he sells Reptile Basics RHP's) they run from 28 watt to 160 watt there and when combined with proportional thermostats such as some Vivarium Electronics or Herpstats the burn risk should be significantly reduced as the RHP doesn't run at full power to attain a higher heat.

His FAQ's may be helpful in making your choice.
http://www.cornelsworld.com/accessor...eat-panels-faq
Good luck and you will love having an X-PVC set-up I'm sure.

[NH93]

Thank you. Where is Cornel's World located?

(Where he sits under the heat bulb is around 85F actually. There's not much I can do to warm up his "warm" side any further without cooking him... it's only a 15gal aquarium - with 50W red bulb. He does have a UTH, like I said, set at 90F but prefers not to use it!)

EDIT: Forgot to mention, that I measure the temps near the floor of the vive where he sits (78.5-81F), but he can climb closer to the mesh lid where the heat bulb sits outside, which is where the 85F comes from.