Several husbandry questions!

1. I'm on a budget and would like to get a thermostat. Is it possible to hook up several devices to one thermostat? If so, how?
2. I use heat lamps in addition to small heat pads. How do you know what wattage to use? Is it based on cage size? I know I have to check what my lamps can handle ^^
3. Does anyone use mist systems? What do you think of them? I generally only provide humidity over 50% when they shed..
4. When providing a water dish for a snake, what do you look for? I like those which are large enough for my snakes to soak in, but it's difficult finding any big enough for a snake over 4ft without hitting $30-$50..
Did I miss anything? Any extra tips would be awesome!

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1. You can use one thermostat for multiple tanks. (I think that is what you are asking) ONLY if they are all the same type of heating device with the same wattage and if they are all in the same room with roughly the same ambient temp in that room. You can also use rheostats but you need a somewhat constant temp in the room for them and a heat gun to monitor them. I actually prefer a rheostat over a cheap thermostat. I never had luck with cheap thermostats.

2. I do not like heat lamps and do not recommend them.

3. Never have used them. I run with racks but back in the day when I had tanks I would just manually mist.

4. These are the bowls I use. http://www.reptilebasics.com/water-bowls Again I use racks though so I don't care if they are fancy or not. Someone else might be able to help you with nicer looking bowls.

1. You can buy a Hydrofarm thermostat on Ebay for around $35. They work well, but are a ON/OFF style, no dimming, so they can be annoying for a heat light, I use them with a heat emitter.
2. I like to use 100 watt heat emitters, a high wattage and let the thermostat control the temp. If the wattage is too small, it might struggle to do it's job and could be running constantly.
3. I don't use mist systems, I only spray when they are going to shed.
4. I like to use stone dishes, they don't tip over. Again, Ebay...they are pretty cheap, look under stone dog food dishes or something like that.

Hope this helps, it's just how I like to do things.

Also, how far will 3.4 Oz of F10 get me?

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As far as the water dish, hop over to oreileys, pick up an oil drain pan for 3 bucks ( they can fit like 6 quarts in the 3 dollar ones) if you don't like it being solid black, pick up some 100% silicone(non toxic and much cheaper than aquarium silicone), cover the outside of the drain pain with silicone and apply gravel/reptile bark and some fake moss. This is what I use on large snakes that like to soak. Just clean it real good and use plain for 3 bucks or make it custom for under 20. As for heat lamps I use a 60 watt red bulb 24/7 alone with no other heating accessories. It keeps loki's 15 gallon at 77 to 79 cool side and 86 to 91 on hott, with variations on cold days, so I up to my 75 watt those times. But it's pretty hard to actually recommend a overhead system without actual experience in your geographic area, enclosure size, substrate Amount, etc. It's really just trial and error, constantly monitoring temps and humidity til you find what works. Only to be doing the shuffle all over again come winter time lol.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magicmed

As far as the water dish, hop over to oreileys, pick up an oil drain pan for 3 bucks ( they can fit like 6 quarts in the 3 dollar ones) if you don't like it being solid black, pick up some 100% silicone(non toxic and much cheaper than aquarium silicone), cover the outside of the drain pain with silicone and apply gravel/reptile bark and some fake moss. This is what I use on large snakes that like to soak. Just clean it real good and use plain for 3 bucks or make it custom for under 20. As for heat lamps I use a 60 watt red bulb 24/7 alone with no other heating accessories. It keeps loki's 15 gallon at 77 to 79 cool side and 86 to 91 on hott, with variations on cold days, so I up to my 75 watt those times. But it's pretty hard to actually recommend a overhead system without actual experience in your geographic area, enclosure size, substrate Amount, etc. It's really just trial and error, constantly monitoring temps and humidity til you find what works. Only to be doing the shuffle all over again come winter time lol.

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What a great idea for a water bowl. Well done on that one.

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Also, how far will 3.4 Oz of F10 get me?

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For everyday disinfecting it's mixed 1:250. So one oz of product will yield 250 oz (about 2 gallons) of solution.
You don't want to mix this much at once though since it has a shelf life once mixed, usually I do 4 ml in a 1 liter water bottle.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

For everyday disinfecting it's mixed 1:250. So one oz of product will yield 250 oz (about 2 gallons) of solution.
You don't want to mix this much at once though since it has a shelf life once mixed, usually I do 4 ml in a 1 liter water bottle.

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O.o sounds complicated

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by magicmed

As far as the water dish, hop over to oreileys, pick up an oil drain pan for 3 bucks ( they can fit like 6 quarts in the 3 dollar ones) if you don't like it being solid black, pick up some 100% silicone(non toxic and much cheaper than aquarium silicone), cover the outside of the drain pain with silicone and apply gravel/reptile bark and some fake moss. This is what I use on large snakes that like to soak. Just clean it real good and use plain for 3 bucks or make it custom for under 20. As for heat lamps I use a 60 watt red bulb 24/7 alone with no other heating accessories. It keeps loki's 15 gallon at 77 to 79 cool side and 86 to 91 on hott, with variations on cold days, so I up to my 75 watt those times. But it's pretty hard to actually recommend a overhead system without actual experience in your geographic area, enclosure size, substrate Amount, etc. It's really just trial and error, constantly monitoring temps and humidity til you find what works. Only to be doing the shuffle all over again come winter time lol.

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Great idea! Thanks ^^

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When using a small heat pad as back or side heat, do you need to use a thermostat?

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Originally Posted by SCWood

When using a small heat pad as back or side heat, do you need to use a thermostat?

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Yes, but it's very inefficient heat. I have back heat in a rack and the t-stat has to be set to 105*F for the back wall of the tub to get to the low 90's. If you have a tank then back/side heat won't do anything for you at all.

:/ oh man. I don't have anything to keep the tank elevated for the pad to stay underneath it.

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Eden's cage is 18.5" deep and I know bulb wattage depends on the depth. I just need to know what wattage and what kind of heat. I don't really think I want a heat emitter

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Eden's cage is 18.5" deep and I know bulb wattage depends on the depth. I just need to know what wattage and what kind of heat. I don't really think I want a heat emitter

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If you don't like the ceramic heat emitter, try a red bulb. They can't see the light so it won't disrupt their sleep like white and I believe blue. as far as wattage, if you get one of the heat lamps with a dimmer, or simply run a regular one through a dimmer you can pick up a 100 watt bulb and dim it down to the temp you want and you don't have to deal with figuring out the right wattage for the right time of year. Just check your temps and turn it down/up as needed

Otay

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

:/ oh man. I don't have anything to keep the tank elevated for the pad to stay underneath it.

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You don't need much room for the heat mat and probe. I've used scrap 1x2's before, just make sure the tank is supported all the way around the bottom.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

You don't need much room for the heat mat and probe. I've used scrap 1x2's before, just make sure the tank is supported all the way around the bottom.

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I just hate the thought of raising her tank even a little bit. I can barely reach it as it is. I have to use a step ladder to get into it and it's a pain in my butt

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

I just hate the thought of raising her tank even a little bit. I can barely reach it as it is. I have to use a step ladder to get into it and it's a pain in my butt

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Haha I'm sorry, but that's adorable lol

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Originally Posted by magicmed

Haha I'm sorry, but that's adorable lol

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>.> everyone says that until I fall off the ladder

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Sounds like a short person problem :D.... but its ok my girl has the same problem

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Originally Posted by SCWood

>.> everyone says that until I fall off the ladder

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Safety net? :)

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

Sounds like a short person problem :D.... but its ok my girl has the same problem

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Ya >. <

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magicmed

Safety net? :)

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Possibly...XD

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As for the thermostat, is it true you can plug several items into a strip and then the strip into the thermostat?

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Yes as long as the appliances are all exactly the same type and size. You could do several of the same size heat mats, but not large and small ones on the same t-stat.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Yes as long as the appliances are all exactly the same type and size. You could do several of the same size heat mats, but not large and small ones on the same t-stat.

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Why is that?

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They use different wattages to make the heat

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

They use different wattages to make the heat

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And that's bad for the stat?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

And that's bad for the stat?

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No, it means they will be producing two different heat levels.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

No, it means they will be producing two different heat levels.

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That's so confusing 😧 even if they are all set to the same temps, you can't use different sizes? Because I have 2 smalls from 2 different brands and I planned on a medium and all 3 are for BPs so I figured they'd all be set to the same temp

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

That's so confusing �� even if they are all set to the same temps, you can't use different sizes? Because I have 2 smalls from 2 different brands and I planned on a medium and all 3 are for BPs so I figured they'd all be set to the same temp

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Check the wattage rating for each. If they are the same then you can set them up and test them to see if they'd be the same or even close. Don't run the test where your critter can access the heat though, do it on an empty tank.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Check the wattage rating for each. If they are the same then you can set them up and test them to see if they'd be the same or even close. Don't run the test where your critter can access the heat though, do it on an empty tank.

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Ahhh, gotcha!

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Update: Updated setups!
Eden
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04...ae233de7c3.jpg
Boots
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04...5451b19599.jpg

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Nice set ups, like that tiki guys in boots tank

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

Nice set ups, like that tiki guys in boots tank

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It's a tea light holder we never used ^^ went well with his cage

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So, I found a t-stat that has 3 inputs and I figured I'd go for it. Just wondering if it will come with 3 probes or if I need extras...?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

Nice set ups, like that tiki guys in boots tank

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http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04...c831e135c0.jpg

Tiki is Boots approved

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

That's so confusing 😧 even if they are all set to the same temps, you can't use different sizes? Because I have 2 smalls from 2 different brands and I planned on a medium and all 3 are for BPs so I figured they'd all be set to the same temp

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Its also important to have each set up similar as well. The reason they all have to be the same heating source is because you'll only have one temp probe. So if one temp probe is in a tank with a tiny heater the others will heat too much in the other tanks.

Also so I mentioned having similar setups. You want to make sure you don't have one snake with super thick substrate and another with a really thin substrate or something blocking the heat because then the temps won't be the same across all the setups.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jhill001

Its also important to have each set up similar as well. The reason they all have to be the same heating source is because you'll only have one temp probe. So if one temp probe is in a tank with a tiny heater the others will heat too much in the other tanks.

Also so I mentioned having similar setups. You want to make sure you don't have one snake with super thick substrate and another with a really thin substrate or something blocking the heat because then the temps won't be the same across all the setups.

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Gotcha ;) we do far have decided that everyone gets a size small heat pad and whatever wattage bulb goes along well with their cage size. That way, nobody is lacking!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

So, I found a t-stat that has 3 inputs and I figured I'd go for it. Just wondering if it will come with 3 probes or if I need extras...?

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Brand/model/picture?

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Brand/model/picture?

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Zilla 1000 Watt Temperature Controller
http://www.lllreptile.com/products/1...ure-controller

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Zilla 1000 Watt Temperature Controller
http://www.lllreptile.com/products/1...ure-controller

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It's going to have one probe because it's not intended to have multiple heat settings. As the others have said, it'll let you plug in multiple heating elements as long as they're identical and don't exceed the wattage of the unit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

It's going to have one probe because it's not intended to have multiple heat settings. As the others have said, it'll let you plug in multiple heating elements as long as they're identical and don't exceed the wattage of the unit.

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Okay ^^

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

It's going to have one probe because it's not intended to have multiple heat settings. As the others have said, it'll let you plug in multiple heating elements as long as they're identical and don't exceed the wattage of the unit.

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So why is it that we can't use thermostats that you can find at Walmart? Do they not work for it?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

So why is it that we can't use thermostats that you can find at Walmart? Do they not work for it?

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The thermostats at walmart don't have probes because they are meant to measure the temp of the room and don't plug into a socket they attach to the heating wiring. They are also more or less terribly inaccurate other than a digital one (same price as most reptile thermostats anyways).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jhill001

The thermostats at walmart don't have probes because they are meant to measure the temp of the room and don't plug into a socket they attach to the heating wiring. They are also more or less terribly inaccurate other than a digital one (same price as most reptile thermostats anyways).

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Makes sense

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