Back up thermo's... necessary??

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

Ouch. If your snake burrows (as many do..) you'll end up with a crispy critter in no time.

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He sometimes wears a groove in the substrate, usually like a racetrack around the outside edge. No burns yet. The ceramic tile spreads out the heat and reduces (not eliminates) the possibility of burns.

I've seen stories of people using shelf liner on the bottom of a tank and the snake getting under it and getting burned. The tile isn't going anywhere.

When he was younger he used to burrow under his water bowl, a big heavy fake stone one!! It was cool to watch the bowl dance!!

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Wow.. That sounds so safe! ...:eek:

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Not nice. I assume you're being sarcastic.

I can see using tubs, FlexWatt and expensive thermostats for a large collection (more than 4 or 5?), especially if you have alot of money invested in the snakes, but we prefer to be able to see them (our preference, no theirs). If I'm going to have a pet I'd better be able to see and interact with it. We don't want to collect reptiles, we want to observe and handle them, preferably in somewhat of a "natural" environment.

So if I only spend $75(thermostat)+ $4(flexwatt and wire), + $4(15qt tub), + $1 (two plastic pot saucers for hides), + $1(water bowl) + free for the newspaper, that means I'm much less of an owner and so uncaring towards my PETS? My animals are pets first, and if they thrive and are able to produce offspring under my care, then by all means.

That's really not a nice thing to say... Especially when you are talking about an animal that spend 95% of it's life in a hole in the ground. If I wanted to make a natural enclosure, I would buy acreage in the country, add some termite mounds, water buffalo, lions, giraffes, elephants, amphibians, birds of prey, native rodent species, etc and let some Ball Pythons fend for themselves.

Having a glass enclosure is nice for the owner to look at, but the snake really doesn't care one iota. If its needs are met, the snake eats every week, sheds perfectly, doesn't have internal/external parasites, is able to thermoregulate properly(and not get burned in the process), is able to hide and feel secure, then I think I've done my job as its caretaker. It doesn't matter if the snake is housed in a tub set up that cost $90(or less) or a tank set up that cost $400.

I was just commenting that your current set up is very far from safe, and your snake could be harmed. Having an unregulated heat source going full blast is just asking for trouble. If you had a power surge through your house, that heat pad's temperature could spike, leaving your snake with quite a bad burn(considering that slate tile takes a long time to cool off). Heat sources NEED to be regulated because snakes are not physically able to tell if they are being burned(ie snakes cooking on heat rocks).

It is our job to be responsible and protect them from harm. They can't do it themselves. :(

I use Ranco as my back-up my main thermostat is Herpstat.

I am not taking any risk with my BP better be safe then sorry even if I doubt my Herpstat would fail at least I have peace of mind.

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Originally Posted by DragonBalls

No burns yet.

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Hmmm.."yet"? A novel concept of waiting to see if disaster strikes. I suppose that's what this snake's previous owners decided to do about her husbandry and heating needs as well. Bit of a poor result wouldn't you say.....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...lahMay2006.jpg

Ahh well it's not you that will pay the price for the decisions you make is it.

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I can see using tubs, FlexWatt and expensive thermostats for a large collection (more than 4 or 5?)

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Back when I only had 1 BP, I already had a thermostat, why? First to maintain proper temps, second to avoid overheating, this was not because I had money invested but because any of my animals are part of the family and my role as their owner is to keep them healthy and safe and this mean having a thermostat regardless of the enclosure or the price of the animal.

I think it is not neccessary...what if the one powering the back up goes bad???

I think the only thing you need it a surge power thing made by APC.

freakie frog did you say you use a "herpstat dbs 1000" ? is that the latest hybrid in the herp world ??? LOL have fun!