Can someone recommend a thermostat?

I'm looking for a thermostat to control a UTH. I have my ball pythons in a rack controlled by a Herpstat ND thermostat that I love, but I'm looking for one to control a heat pad on a 40 gallon breeder that will house a RTB. I can't see my self spending $100+ on a thermostat to control one UTH, but I know I need one. I've read that some people use dimmers, but with summer right around the corner I feel like I'm going to adjusting it every day so it remains constant. Can someone recommend a decent thermostat (or solution) that isn't going to cost me an arm and a leg? Thanks!

I use a Herpstat, a Johnsons, and just started using a Hydrofarm for my RTB. They are all okay, I am definitely more confident in the Herpstat, but the Johnsons and Hydrofarm do the job for now. Probably not the safest, but for the money they are okay. I've also heard Ranco is alright, comparable to Johnsons, and the new RBI VE-100 is getting rave reviews.

I was in the same boat you are, OP. I have a Herpstat that I use for my BP, and I recently got a RTB and he's currently in quarantine. I didn't want to buy another thermostat for the RTB, so I just went and got a $30 ZooMed rheostat.

If you don't want to mess with a rheostat, the ReptiTemp 500R thermostat is pretty affordable. I've never used one, though, so I can't give any reviews as to it's performance. Here is a link to it if you're interested.
http://www.herpsupplies.com/product....0&id=SZMRT500R

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Originally Posted by Bones

If you don't want to mess with a rheostat, the ReptiTemp 500R thermostat is pretty affordable. I've never used one, though, so I can't give any reviews as to it's performance. Here is a link to it if you're interested.
http://www.herpsupplies.com/product....0&id=SZMRT500R

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I tried that ReptiTemp 500R and I hated it, I didn't trust it one bit...but I have seen people on here that supposedly like it, just figured I'd give my .02. I returned it within a week.

Your options are basically $100 thermostats, Zoo med thermostats that are cheaper but have no consensus on reliability, or rheostats for $10-$15.

For UTHs I use rheostats and like 'em just fine. I'm in the camp that doesn't believe that minor fluctuations are a bad thing for most species.

Thanks everyone! I think I'll try a rheostat for now and see how that works out. I don't want to harm my boa, but I am having a really hard time convincing my self that she has to have a $100 thermostat.

i use the repti temp 500r and it obviously works well enough cuz my snake has not gotten burned and she is eating and shedding good. i monitor temps religiously so i can pick up the fluctuations in the temps and adjust the thermostat accordingly to keep the temps within a good range and i have yet to encounter any problems with this so...

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Originally Posted by Kinra

Thanks everyone! I think I'll try a rheostat for now and see how that works out. I don't want to harm my boa, but I am having a really hard time convincing my self that she has to have a $100 thermostat.

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Johnsons and Ranco go for about $60-80....Hydrofarm goes for $30.00 on amazon.com, RBI VE-100 is $80 on their site I believe. I've never used a rheostat, just figured I'd throw in the prices for the ones I recommended lol.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Johnsons and Ranco go for about $60-80....Hydrofarm goes for $30.00 on amazon.com, RBI VE-100 is $80 on their site I believe. I've never used a rheostat, just figured I'd throw in the prices for the ones I recommended lol.

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That actually helps a lot, thanks! None of those will break the bank. I will look into using a a Hydrofarm. I have about a week to turn my old BP tank into a RTB home.

I'd steer clear of the 500r I have one that I wasted my cash on it allows quite massive variations. The others under the 100$ make have a 2 degree +/- probe error just plan that in when you set it as it could be 2 degrees hi or low of what you use. 90 is nice and safe (88-92 true) Rheostats work great as long as you don't have large room temp swings 5º is as big as I like to see. Personally for the extra 60 bucks I'd go with a proportional T-stat and sleep well but that is me.