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.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

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.

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There is NOTHING wrong with Johnson or Rancos. They do the job just as well as herpstat for fraction of the price.

hydrofarm will never be as good as johnson or ranco, so dont put them together in the same category.

I use a herpstat pro for controlling flexwatt on my rack systems. So im definetly spoiled to that standard. I use homemade rheostats on all my glass aquarium type cages and have had no problems. There's not a big variation in temps and I rarely have to adjust....works great. I make them out of a single pole dimmer and an extension cord....cost about six bucks to make....can't beat that.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

There is NOTHING wrong with Johnson or Rancos. They do the job just as well as herpstat for fraction of the price.

hydrofarm will never be as good as johnson or ranco, so dont put them together in the same category.

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I did mention I USE Johnsons right? They are definitely not the same as my Herpstat since they are not proportional. For the price you can't go wrong. Hydrofarm, clearly not as good as Johnsons/Ranco being $30-50 cheaper does the job too. I was just giving the most popular options for thermostats and prices as to help the OP, not offend.

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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.

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Yes you did state you used Johnson, and also told your side as you basically dont trust them by saying they do the job for NOW but not the safest. No matter what thermsotat you buy they ALL have failed on someone somewhere. Considering the Hydrofarm is manufactured towards garden DIY's growing plants, i wouldnt trust that for anything.

Johnsons and Rancos do the job just as good as herpstat or helix. Only thing is one makes a on off sound other does not. Which does not make or break one better than the other.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Yes you did state you used Johnson, and also told your side as you basically dont trust them by saying they do the job for NOW but not the safest. No matter what thermsotat you buy they ALL have failed on someone somewhere. Considering the Hydrofarm is manufactured towards garden DIY's growing plants, i wouldnt trust that for anything.

Johnsons and Rancos do the job just as good as herpstat or helix. Only thing is one makes a on off sound other does not. Which does not make or break one better than the other.

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I do not trust them as much as I do the Herpstat. You get what you pay for, but I trust them enough to use them. And technically the darn Hydrofarm is only temporary until I get a Ranco, which I willingly wanted to try out.

I just bought the VE-300, has built in night drop, all digital menu, a few differnt alarms, etc. and can power about 50 ft of heat tape max.
It cost about $130 from Reptile Basics INC
Im very happy with it so far!

I think I'm going to setup a rheostat temporarily and replace it with a Johnson thermostat in the near future. I don't really see a need to go with any of the big thermostats, such as the Herpstat, because they designed more for racks I think. I just want something that will give me some piece of mind that my boa won't be baking. Thanks everyone for your input. :)

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

There is NOTHING wrong with Johnson or Rancos. They do the job just as well as herpstat for fraction of the price.

hydrofarm will never be as good as johnson or ranco, so dont put them together in the same category.

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Well, actually...

Proportional:
Herpstat
Helix
RBI

Non-proportional:
Hydrofarm
Ranco
Johnson

There, I fixed it.

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Originally Posted by LizardPants

Well, actually...

Proportional:
Herpstat
Helix
RBI

Non-proportional:
Hydrofarm
Ranco
Johnson

There, I fixed it.

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Your point, I know how they operate. But their operation dont make one better than the other. They all do the same thing one way or another And ive had them all and moved EVERYTHING to johnsons.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I did mention I USE Johnsons right? They are definitely not the same as my Herpstat since they are not proportional. For the price you can't go wrong. Hydrofarm, clearly not as good as Johnsons/Ranco being $30-50 cheaper does the job too. I was just giving the most popular options for thermostats and prices as to help the OP, not offend.

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Actually the hydrofarm is probably just as good as a Johnson or Ranco for this intended use. Those are all non-proportional, and there's nothing special about a Johnson or Ranco to warrant the price increase over the hydrofarm; except maybe wattage ratings which is irrelevant in most cases except for a large rack. Furthermore, at the price point of a Johnson/Ranco you're better off spending just $20-$40 more for a Herpstat or RBI (which are both clearly better).

I have a 500r and HATE it. It doesn't tell you a NUMBER for the temp that you have it set at it's just a color gradient from red (for HOT) to blue (for cold). The only thing I like about it is that you can plug in two heat sources. I hooked it up and then fiddled with the temp while watching my thermometer to try and guess which COLOR was the right temp. It turns off and on and my temps stay correct but the fact that there are no numbers infuriates me. In my opinion it is not worth the money and the Zilla thermostat I have (in the same price range) is much better. It has numbers and seems to be very effective at turning the heat source on and off as needed. The Helix thermostat that came with my GTP's cage is FAR superior but over your $100 limit.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Johnsons and Rancos do the job just as good as herpstat or helix. Only thing is one makes a on off sound other does not.

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I'm going to have to put in a TINY argument and say that for ME, non-proportional t-stats don't work as well as proportionals.. and HERE's why:

For much of the year the indoor room temperature is ~65 degrees. With a proportional t-stat, my temps are SUPER stable. With a non-proportional t-stat, the temperature difference between the target cage temps and the room temps are large enough that cage temps just plain drop too fast with flexwatt turned off for a period of time. Since I use my t-stat to monitor flexwatt temperature and not the actual tub/hot spot temperature, this causes pretty wild fluctuations that are even worse than running rheostats (3 degree ambient swings, ~10 degree hot spot swings).

That's just my experience with Rancos @ 65 degree room temps.

With room temps at 75+, they're amazing, and I'd probably be running dual Ranco (system of using a second t-stat as a safety backup) on my cages/racks

My recommendations:
$30 Hydrofarm - Will do just fine for your intended use. Consider upgrading to a proportional at a later time.
$100-$400 SpyderRobotics Herpstat, Helix, RBI VE-200+ - Cost's about $60 more, but with the benefit of proportional adjustment.

Not recommended:
$5-20 rheostat - Might as well shell out a little bit more for a thermostat. Your time saved from not constantly making adjustments is worth far more than the negligible price difference.
$? 500r, Zilla - You get a lot more with the Hydrofarm.
$60 - $85 Johsnon/Ranco - Not any better than a Hydrofarm. At this price point, just spend a little more for a proportional thermostat.
$85 VE-100 - It has nice features, and it's a little more advanced than the Hydrofarm, however it's still non-proportional. Again at this price point, just spend a little more for a proportional thermostat.

I'll add my unwanted 2¢... the issue I have with the ranco, johnson and hydrofarm is probe accuracy. They are all spec'd the same 2º+/- on the probe, helix, VE, ecozone and herpstat are also all spec'd the same +/- 1º or less (0.8) They stay where set with out start / stop temps. The others have a 1 degree 'throw' so that means as much as 3 degrees from true before it changes. The proportional units is only 1º.

I am not saying they don't work but for my mind set a accurate thermometer (+/- 0.5º) is needed to check the accuracy and that negates any cost saving.

I recognize that many never check the specs of the equipment they use and simply believe that if it reads 90 it actually is 90 and not something else. I am OCD and calibrate instruments in my job it makes me very fussy.

The Johnsons make killer back up units however I have a few 'in case' ones.

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Originally Posted by LizardPants

My recommendations:
$30 Hydrofarm - Will do just fine for your intended use. Consider upgrading to a proportional at a later time.
$100-$400 SpyderRobotics Herpstat, Helix, RBI VE-200+ - Cost's about $60 more, but with the benefit of proportional adjustment.

Not recommended:
$5-20 rheostat - Might as well shell out a little bit more for a thermostat. Your time saved from not constantly making adjustments is worth far more than the negligible price difference.
$? 500r, Zilla - You get a lot more with the Hydrofarm.
$60 - $85 Johsnon/Ranco - Not any better than a Hydrofarm. At this price point, just spend a little more for a proportional thermostat.
$85 VE-100 - It has nice features, and it's a little more advanced than the Hydrofarm, however it's still non-proportional. Again at this price point, just spend a little more for a proportional thermostat.

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Hydrofarm uses cheap components that will eventually fail during surges or power outtages. Your paying more for johnsons due to better components that will not fry so quickly. I have been using Johnsons for 8 years not no problems.

But to categorize a 30$ garden thermostat to a industrial grade thermostat is ridiculous. Just cause both are on off dont make them the same.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I'll add my unwanted 2¢... the issue I have with the ranco, johnson and hydrofarm is probe accuracy. They are all spec'd the same 2º+/- on the probe, helix, VE, ecozone and herpstat are also all spec'd the same +/- 1º or less (0.8) They stay where set with out start / stop temps. The others have a 1 degree 'throw' so that means as much as 3 degrees from true before it changes. The proportional units is only 1º.

I am not saying they don't work but for my mind set a accurate thermometer (+/- 0.5º) is needed to check the accuracy and that negates any cost saving.

I recognize that many never check the specs of the equipment they use and simply believe that if it reads 90 it actually is 90 and not something else. I am OCD and calibrate instruments in my job it makes me very fussy.

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Thats within the probe its self not the device. Each one will have varying temperatures. My johnsons are all set at 91 and i get a 91. Each probe is not made to operate identical so thats why they have the +- variance.

Since I only have one snake I have a rheostat. I don’t have any problems with it at all, but I do believe that you defiantly want to test it out beforehand. It also helps a lot if you know the accurate temps of the room that the snake is housed in. That would give you a better idea of how low/high you want to set the rheostat.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Hydrofarm uses cheap components that will eventually fail during surges or power outtages. Your paying more for johnsons due to better components that will not fry so quickly.

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Ok, if you have the EE knowledge and proof to back it up, I'd like to see it. Though, I'm willing to bet the op has a surge protector.

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Originally Posted by LizardPants

Ok, if you have the EE knowledge and proof to back it up, I'd like to see it. Though, I'm willing to bet the op has a surge protector.

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Yea cause the manufacture of the companies will display how the manufacture their product so others can copy. Just buy one of each and open them up and youll see for your self.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I'll add my unwanted 2¢... the issue I have with the ranco, johnson and hydrofarm is probe accuracy. They are all spec'd the same 2º+/- on the probe, helix, VE, ecozone and herpstat are also all spec'd the same +/- 1º or less (0.8) They stay where set with out start / stop temps. The others have a 1 degree 'throw' so that means as much as 3 degrees from true before it changes. The proportional units is only 1º.

I am not saying they don't work but for my mind set a accurate thermometer (+/- 0.5º) is needed to check the accuracy and that negates any cost saving.

I recognize that many never check the specs of the equipment they use and simply believe that if it reads 90 it actually is 90 and not something else. I am OCD and calibrate instruments in my job it makes me very fussy.

The Johnsons make killer back up units however I have a few 'in case' ones.

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All very good points.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Yea cause the manufacture of the companies will display how the manufacture their product so others can copy. Just buy one of each and open them up and youll see for your self.

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You seem very convinced on the Johnsons. So I take it you've already done that, right? Lets see.

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Originally Posted by LizardPants

You seem very convinced on the Johnsons. So I take it you've already done that, right? Lets see.

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Ive used them all, helix,herpstat,johnson,and the cheap ESU dial ones.

Johnsons are the most reliable ive used, the ESU i had broke lucky in the off position rather on.

Im not saying Johnsons are the best, just stating theres no need to buy a herpstat over johnson as they both do the same thing. I sold all my herpstats and helixs as i just didnt like them. Only herpstat i have no is for my incubator.

My rant was not to classify all on/off thermostats under the same roof as they are all made different. You get what you pay for.

Its personal preference, but dont sway someone away from something that does just as good a job as the proportional ones for fraction the price

this bit is gonna get me yelled at and heck, maybe even disliked here but i've been following this thread since last night and started a response to just cancel it but now i'm gonna go ahead here...

does there HAVE to be a freakin' debate on which thermostats are "the best"?
i do not recall this thread being called "name the best thermostat." in which a debate could be expected.
but no, someone is asking for advice on which thermostat they should use in which the correct response would be a list of all the choices.
you know what? not everyone can afford the same devices and not everyone is gonna like the same devices AND not every device is gonna work for the same set up since those vary wildly here too.
personal preferences do not matter, nor are they debatable.
everyone has their own ideas on what makes a good heat source, humidity source, heat control device, substrate, feeding method and set up, ok fine.
whatever works for each individual, good for them.
why argue about it?

I actually owe the op an apology I did go off topic I get caught up in technical details and allow myself to run away with them.

The real issue is tolerances. The on off styles are designed with a set of tolerances that are good for what they are met to do. It doesn't matter if it is greenhouse or small appliance whatever the tolerance is what it is, 2º. Other ones are taken from some other application and re-branded. Then there are ones designed to do the job we as reptile keepers use them for they also have tolerances based in cost I am sure Dion would love to use a thermal coupler in the herpstats but if the probes were $600 (platinum is very expensive) each nobody would buy the product.

Any can work and work really well, in the hands of someone whom has the experience to use set them up in a way that the designed tolerances are negated.

I have absolutely no doubt that RichsBallPythons has a set up that is perfect and the controllers do not allow large swings. I'd also venture a guess that the temperature of the snake room where the collection is stable.? Likely independently heated and controlled. The swing in temps under those conditions are going to be quite small. Add in thermal mass of the rack? guessing again will make it even smaller.

My set up is in an old house and the walls blow cold air, today as of this moment it is 77º the warmest it has been in 3 months. The log on my monitoring system says this week it bottomed out at 57.3º that is a lot. The Ranco I have and the johnson I tested worked fine but allowed the enclosures to vary by 5 degrees off true. I saw swings of 85-96 in a few hours as the unit struggled to keep up. It is not a failing of the unit but at all it is doing exactly what it was designed to. It is my fault that I tried to use something in my situation that was inappropriate.

I recommend herpstat (helix, ecozone or ve's) to newer keepers because they are the most likely not to have regulated rooms. These units will manage in a room heated or not they will do both a good on off will manage in a semi regulated room that does not see big swings. A rheostat work best in rooms with smaller swings again. It isn't which is best with me it doesn't matter, it is which is appropriate.

People get very defensive when others question gear they use, because if I say ___ brand doesn't work, (I am not it is just a point I am making) I am indirectly saying you whom uses ___ brand isn't keeping your animals correctly.

To my mind it isn't an argument about what is best it is what will work in a given situation. It is too bad that people new to the hobby often go to the price over the specs and buy the cheap one and expect it to do something that is beyond its capabilities.

There are no right answers in husbandry, if the conditions are correct they are correct. In a tub / tank / enclosure with, pick a heat source, and ,pick a controller, if it is keeping the environmental conditions it is correct.

kitedemon -
all in a nutshell

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it isn't an argument about what is best it is what will work in a given situation

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was basically my point.
i dont believe it matters who thinks what device is "the best" so much as the research that needs to be done on each device. the OP is gonna have to make their own decision based on what they can afford and what they thinkwill work best for their set up.
i really hate to sound like i'm saying people's opinions dont matter but i keep seeing all the crappy comments about the 500r and my thing is
just because it didnt meet someone's expectations means it's not gonna meet everyone's?
i have one and i think it works just fine. i did my research on it and i decided that's the one i can afford. i know that because it's not digital i have to be more diligent with keeping an eye on the temps to make sure they dont get too low or too high and that i'll be constantly making the neccessary adjustments to get the temp readings that my snake needs and i must be doing something right cuz my snake eats, sheds and thermoregulates like she should.
i DO have plans to invest in another thermostat but for now i'm willing and able to work with what i have.
i'm just saying that when someone comes here asking for advice they should get advice not be bombarded by a debate amongst other members, cuz i see that as a way to turn people away and make it a very uncomfortable environment, right?