The Snake Supplies I'm Getting for Christmas...

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

im 17, i know theres no santa :D

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What :eek: ?

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

What :eek: ?

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:lmao:

:( I'm taking my toys and going home.

Would you only get the lowes thermometer b/c it also reads humitity or do you need to measure two diff. places?

Also .. whats the deal with buying pre-wired T-Stat systems?
To me it seems like a waste to spend extra just for them to give you an extension cord and a crappy powerstrip. Not even a SURGE-PROTECTOR mind you.

Do "proportional thermostats" = Rheostats?
I tried to lookup Rheostat but got redirected to "potentiometers" on wiki.
Not quiet the same thing.

http://www.mgreptiles.com/ZOOSTAT.html
http://www.mgreptiles.com/johnson1.html
http://www.mgreptiles.com/Ranco.html

Is the ZOO-STAT worth even considering? Anyone have experiance with these 3 models?

eBay has unwired Rancos going for $40 I noticed

Rich at reptilebasics is the best!!! I had some ques, and he was in constant communcation w/ me..I order a rack(which was delivered in 2 days) and 2 tubs came cracked..he replaced them immediatley!..great service

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Originally Posted by Rascal

Would you only get the lowes thermometer b/c it also reads humitity or do you need to measure two diff. places?

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It's VERY helpful to have a single unit that shows you the temps on both the cool side and the warm side of your enclosure. (Since you should have about a 10 degree gradient.)

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Also .. whats the deal with buying pre-wired T-Stat systems?
To me it seems like a waste to spend extra just for them to give you an extension cord and a crappy powerstrip. Not even a SURGE-PROTECTOR mind you.

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Buying a wired t-stat is great for those of us who are not electrically inclined. For those who have the skill and know-how to do their own wiring, it's a great option to buy them raw.

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Do "proportional thermostats" = Rheostats?
I tried to lookup Rheostat but got redirected to "potentiometers" on wiki.
Not quiet the same thing.

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No, not the same thing at all. A rheostat is just a dimmer switch that allows YOU to set how much electricity flows through the heat mat. If you set it at 50% power....whether the room is 60* or 90*, there is still 50% power flowing tot he heat mat and the temps will still fluctuate accordingly.

A proportional t-stat will constantly adjust the amount of power flowing to maintain the temp you set. If you set it to 93*, it will keep the enclosuer at 93* whether the room temps swing or not.

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Is the ZOO-STAT worth even considering? Anyone have experiance with these 3 models?

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The mats are ok. I used one for a couple years and didn't have any trouble with it. But I wouldn't trust their t-stats at all. And I much prefer flexwatt, now that I've tried it.

Hope that answers some questions for ya. ;)

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Originally Posted by rmune0750

UTH:
http://www.amazon.com/ZooMed-Repti-T...&s=home-garden

Thermometer:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...7GT&lpage=none

T-Stat:
http://www.mgreptiles.com/Ranco.html

what do you guys think?? are those the best I can get??

thoughts.

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UTH could be replaced by a section of 11" Flexwatt for $8.40 at Reptile Basics, prewired (buy a section of Flexwatt and a wire/clip/insulator set, and ask for it to be assembled).

Your thermometer is fairly good. I believe Acu-Rites are accurate by +/- about 2 degrees, and pretty accurate humidity, so you're set there.

The thermostat is good; I use Johnsons Controls myself. They are practically identical. A better option, if you have more money to spend, is a Helix or Herpstat proportional thermostat. They're more fail-safe and are more accurate. Not to say that Rancos aren't accurate, because they are accurate to a degree or two with stable room temperatures (if your probe is taped to the Flexwatt, not inside the cage)!

Another invaluable object is a roll of foil tape from Home Depot. Six dollars and 99 cents, and it's great for taping the Flexwatt down to a surface, taping the thermostat probe to the Flexwatt, etc. It's more sticky than, say, masking tape, duct tape, or electrical tape.

Hope this helps! :)

I have 3 Rancos and now only use the HerpstatII. It is far better than anyother T-stat I have ever seen. It controls the room temp and 3 racks with night drops and it gradually increases power as needed to keep an even temp. Other T-stats just go on or off. So they go past the temp and shut off(higher highs and lower lows). The herp stat probes are removable which helps placing them in tight places. They cost more but they are exceptional. Will never go back to Ranco's again

I've found it's better to tape the probe to the inside of the tub(or secure it somehow) right over the flexwatt, when using an On/Off Tstat like a Ranco or JC. If you tape it directly to the flexwatt, it doesn't give the flexwatt enough time to warm up, and the thermostat is constantly clicking on and off. I have a JC unit controlling 3 identical 15qt tubs that have babies in them. The middle tub has the probe threaded through the side(through a hole I soldered) and taped to the bottom of the tub, underneath the newspaper. This keeps the temps very steady, and the tstat only clicks on and off maybe every 5 minutes+-.

whats this flexwatt that everyone talks about???