Alright, I got the hydrofarm thermostat today off of amazon...and I really don't like it. I don't like how it turns on and off, and you can only have one heat pad plugged in to it. I tried plugging a surge protector into it, and it didn't work...I think I'm going to get one from Reptile Basics...or something.

I need some suggestions.

I only have two snakes right now...

I have one young ball python who is running 11" flexwatt under his tub. I'm using a lamp dimmer on him right now though, and keeping his hot spot in between 90-95. Which is annoying cause I'm always fiddling with the dimmer, but that's okay...I have a heat pad tin foil taped to the side of his tub because it's cold in Alaska, but nothing is controlling it right now, it's just to help the ambient temps.

2nd snake is a new blood python. The thermostat was for him, and it is doing a crappy job of keeping his ambient temps steady like I wanted.

This is my new plan for his set up. Get a couple feet of 4 inch flexwatt and run it around the lower sides of his tub so the whole thing is heated! That way I only need one heat source rather than the like...3 I have on it right now!

So now, my question...can I use one thermostat for my ball pythons heat pad on the side and the soon to be here 4 inch flexwatt if they are all set to the same temp, approx. in the 80-81 range. How does it work if the thermostat has only one probe? Do you just plug them all in to the surge strip, which is wired into the thermostat, put the probe on one heat pad and expect it to keep all of the other heat sources at the desired temps?

Which thermostat from Reptile basics should I get, or one from a different company?? I was thinking the Helix Controls DBS1000 Proportional Thermostat (Grounded). Can I plug a power surge strip into this to control more than one heat source?

Thanks a lot guys! I want to do this right and now I believe you get what you pay for!