best cheap thermostat and one other question

Reptile Basics

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Reptile Basics

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I second this suggestion. I currently use Helix (purchase from RBI) but would like to get one of their new models they are offering.

Helix, spider, johnsons controls, ranco , viv. All good i listed them in order of what i think ate best to worst of that category but all good

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Originally Posted by interloc

The prob with the hydrofarm and and on/off style is flex watt gains and looses heat faster than the probe does. So you end up with fluctuations in the temp. I have a hydrofarm and it works awesome but I will def be investing in one of the new herpstats in the comming weeks. Good as a backup or temporary one but that's all I would recommend it for.


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Johnson Controls is like this also. But it doesn't bother the snakes if the high fluctuates 2-3 degrees. it doesn't have to be sitting a 90 at all times. If it's anywhere from 88-92 the snakes are happy so I am happy.

IMO, you would only really need a proportional for an incubator.

Within the stores and among the staff, we have tried pretty much all of the brands we carry. Helix is one of the best, but for an inexpensive thermostat for those using heat pads or heat cable, the Zilla brand thermostats are pretty decent. We use them in a few of the stores to regulate the temperatures for our colubrid and arachnid cases, and I personally use them at home to regulate my heat cable. For our rack units in the stores, we utilize Helix thermostats.

For the average person at home with a handful of animals, the Zilla thermostats should meet your needs without putting too much of a dent in your pocketbook.

-Jen

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Originally Posted by snake lab

Helix, spider, johnsons controls, ranco , viv. All good i listed them in order of what i think ate best to worst of that category but all good

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snake, what makes the spyder better than the viv but the spyder (herpstat 1 basic) is only basically $1 more? I am asking because I am looking at getting a three tub rack and want to get a nice t-stat for it.

I'd say the best cheapest is the herpstat intro @ 99$ it is hard to beat.

I like helix too but I prefer the herpstat line generally. Ecozone has really nice units too but priced them selves quite high. I too have an issue with the VEs they do not have full specs and after a number of emails I still don't have an answer to what the accuracy of the probe is. I can only assume that it is the same as the others but that is just guessing it could be much different. There also has been a few of people whom have them that have reported trouble with the units not accepting temp changes and not holding settings after a power failure. I don't have one but these issues and the missing specs are a BIG concern for me I cannot recommend them after the members here and on another forms issues with them.

I have a Helix, a couple VEs and use the Zillas-> (mainly as a backup)
They all work great, I have my QT on the Zillas only.
I have not had any problems with my VEs and they work great, even have one on my incubator that will hopefully get used this season but it is holding temps great.;)