CHE stands for Ceramic Heat Emitter. The lamp doesn't emit light, so therefore no disturbance to your snake, day or night. They can get extremely hot though. I use a 60w on my male boa's tub. It is connected to one of those Lutron Credenza dimmers and it keeps the cool side around 80-82 as well as the ambient temps up where they should be. I have to use a heat lamp on Ruari's tub because the dimensions are HUGE(4'x2'x14"). Too much air space to heat without using one.