I need help with my RHP!

[dakski]

First, if your boa is in that tank now, please take him/her out. The cold (72F) isn't an issue for a day or two as long he/she isn't digesting. However, the hotter temps could kill her or cause neurological damage, or burns at the least, as you point out.

Secondly, a picture would help. Not sure where the shelf is, but not part of the tank should be over 90-92F. I'd rather have your hot side be 90F and your cool side be 75F than have a hotter hot side to compensate for the cool side. The picture would help with probe placement.

Finally, what you might want to do is get heat tape for the cool side. I have my boas in 6X2X1' enclosures. I have an RHP and heat tape on the hot side running off the same thermostat. I have heat tape on the cool side running off a separate thermostat that maintains the cool side at 78-80F depending on the exact spot. The RHP is enough to make it about 80-83F in the middle of the tank, and the hot side is about 88-90F.

Now, taller tanks have different issues with heating, but still, a well insulated tank should keep much of the heat in. My CP and BP (BP not for necessity, but because it worked out this way) are both in 4X2X1.5' tanks. I have an RHP and heat tape on the hot side and heat tape on the cool side, all running off the same thermostat. The cool side heat tape is slightly less powerful than the hot side heat tape, and my hot side for both is about 88F on the ground and about 78F on the cool side.

My point here is, in a 4X2X2', you should be able to get the hot side and middle to the desired temps and then some cheap heat tape on the bottom of the cool side should fix the heat issues there.

Also - are you taking the ground temps with the heat gun? The thermometers and probe will measure air temp, but the temp gun measures the exact spot it hits. That's what is most relevant.

Any other questions, just ask. Keep in mind it does take time to dial these things in.