Just got a thermostat yesterday. It wasnt included on any of the lists of "need this" to own a ball python that I researched, but if you have a reptile, you NEED a thermostat. It is so much less stressful for me to not be obsessing over temps, and they are more perfect than any of my obsessing would have ever caused. If you are new to reptile ownership, you need to get a thermostat!!