Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The grooves for the Flexwatt are on the opposite side from the RHP. I was thinking of putting the Flexwatt on the same side, underneath the RHP so the snake had a really warm basking area. The water is on the cool side and he has room to go on the cool side, too, the middle, or the basking area. In the fall/winter, I can't get the basking side higher than 80 and I'm getting worried about him.

Why would AP install the RHP on the other end? Basically, it seems to me that I would have the RHP over the water, a cool middle, and a warm bottom. Overall, this strategy seems to do nothing for the ambient temp of the cage, unless Flexwatt heats the air that much.

If someone could explain this to me, I'd be very grateful! I also have a boa on top of the Burm that has his RHP set pretty low on the thermostat. He spends a lot of time on the cool side and doesn't seem to appreciate the heat from above and the heat from the RHP below. I wonder what affects this will have on him? His cage runs about 86 right now and he is doing very well.

The RHP heats objects, just like the sun's rays do. Reptiles absorb this heat until their internal temperature reaches the desired level (only they know what that is) for the desired length of time, then the reptile moves away.

So, having a UTH under an RHP is not necessary especially in a 12-in high cage. You would be heating from the top and bottom.

The RHP is your main heater. If the room temp is very cool and the reptile wants to move away from the RHP, the Flexwatt on the cool end can be set to about 78-80 deg so the boa isn't cold but can get away from the RHP as desired.

Other than the cool room scenario, you can get away with just the RHP. Or just the Flexwatt.
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