If the cage is wood, you can probably just use an RHP and not need a heat pad. I am assuming room temps here for the background temps.

An RHP of size 11x17 is probably fine for the 4ft cage as long as the background temp is not too low. Wood insulates well.

You want about 10-13 inches between RHP surface and the cage bottom, or, between RHP surface and basking shelf if the cage is taller. You basically do not want less than 8 inches between RHP surface and wood, nor do you usually want more than 17 inches because less heat gets downward. 10-13 inches seems to be a very effective range, at least true at my place. Works fine in a 12 inch tall cage. I have a 15 inch tall cage, and I used some spacers (wood frame) to lower the RHP down about 2 1/2 inches.

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