newbie needs some help

Hi,
just bought a young male BP today, and I could use some help. Just wondering where I can find something to plug into my UTH to regulate the heat. Its getting much to high, up over 100 sometimes. what do I need and where can I find it. I live in Ontario if that helps. thanks alot.
Chad

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Originally Posted by cgoobie19

Hi,
just bought a young male BP today, and I could use some help. Just wondering where I can find something to plug into my UTH to regulate the heat. Its getting much to high, up over 100 sometimes. what do I need and where can I find it. I live in Ontario if that helps. thanks alot.
Chad

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Hi Chad, you definitely need either a thermostat or rheostat. Thermostats fix the temp at a certain point, rheostats cut the electricity running to the device proportionally. A proportional Helix DBS or Herpstat would be best www.reptilebasics.com

Otherwise, a rheostat can work but you will need to keep adjusting it as the ambient temp varies.

JonV

I bought a zoo-med rheostat at petsmart, it was not easy to find (only one I could find anywhere locally, except maybe an electrical specialty shop, Lowe's and Home Depot don't carry them here anymore).

Even with the rheostat on the absolute lowest setting it was STILL too hot until I used layers of cardboard between it and the tank. Thank god Argenta warned me NOT to stick the UTH on with its own adhesive, else I probably would have had to trash the UTH.

A rheostat will be a quick and inexpensive temporary fix, but a t-stat is really best for long term use.

You should be able to get a rheostat at Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, or quite a few other places. They might not call them rheostats though... look for lamp dimmers.

If you have not used the UTH's adhesive to stick it to the tank, you can put something inbetween it and the tank, even just a little more space. If you have stuck it on, supposedly they can be removed with the right thing to weaken the adhesive. Here is a sticky on how to do it.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=66262

Cut your losses and invest in a Helix from RBI or a Herpstat from spyderrobotics.com :gj:

If your only keeping one ball python I recommend you go with a Zoo Med ReptiTemp 500R Thermostat at a minimum. It will cost you around $40 in canada. Its pretty basic but it will work fine.

if your near toronto reptilekings has them.

If you are near Toronto, you can also go to Reptilia on Rutherford Road in Vaughan. I bought my 500Rs there for $37 a piece.

*whistle* man they are pricey in Canada...

Whenever anyone can afford $80 or more, it's always best to invest first thing in the Johnson or Ranco, or better still the Herpstat.

If you don't have the money, though, the ReptiTemp is really a life saver stat and lets you keep your temps controlled while you save up for the better stuff. And, unless you plan on only having a few snakes, I highly recommend saving all the way for the Herpstat! I have one Johnson, one Ranco, and five ReptiTemps...and I wish I'd saved up for a Herpstat.