Several Questions

1. I've heard that you can temporarily use lamp dimmers as thermostats. How does one accomplish this? I recently moved out (bout time) and my t-stat still isn't here...the house is kinda cold, and I've asked them to turn the air down a bit but no luck... right now we use lamps, but I DO have pads.
2. My girl, Eden, hasn't pooped in almost 2 months. She has shed twice and eaten quite a bit and yet...no poo. Is this cause for concern?
3. I'm picking up a new baby *squee* and I was made aware he currently eats live mice but HAS had f/t before. Should I just go ahead and buy f/t? I'd like to get him on rats.

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Originally Posted by SCWood

1. I've heard that you can temporarily use lamp dimmers as thermostats. How does one accomplish this? I recently moved out (bout time) and my t-stat still isn't here...the house is kinda cold, and I've asked them to turn the air down a bit but no luck... right now we use lamps, but I DO have pads.

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Basically, you plug the UTH into the dimmer and adjust the dial up or down as needed to maintain the proper temps in your enclosure. Adjust, measure, adjust, measure, adjust, measure, etc... It takes considerably more monitoring than a thermostat because it won't account for changes in room temperature, but it is an effective temporary solution.

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Originally Posted by SCWood

2. My girl, Eden, hasn't pooped in almost 2 months. She has shed twice and eaten quite a bit and yet...no poo. Is this cause for concern?

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It's probably nothing to be worried about. I'd say you're doing the right thing by keeping an eye on it for now and taking notes like a good BP parent should.

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Originally Posted by SCWood

3. I'm picking up a new baby *squee* and I was made aware he currently eats live mice but HAS had f/t before. Should I just go ahead and buy f/t? I'd like to get him on rats.

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I would start off with what he's used to (live) for his first feedings. Getting him to eat with you is more important right now than getting him to eat what you prefer. You can always work on switching down the road.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Basically, you plug the UTH into the dimmer and adjust the dial up or down as needed to maintain the proper temps in your enclosure. Adjust, measure, adjust, measure, adjust, measure, etc... It takes considerably more monitoring than a thermostat because it won't account for changes in room temperature, but it is an effective temporary solution.

It's probably nothing to be worried about. I'd say you're doing the right thing by keeping an eye on it for now and taking notes like a good BP parent should.

I would start off with what he's used to (live) for his first feedings. Getting him to eat with you is more important right now than getting him to eat what you prefer. You can always work on switching down the road.

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Thanks :) always good to know! I'm glad to hear I'm being a good mommy.

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Are there pics of such setups?

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Are there pics of such setups?

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What kind of setups? Like a picture of a UTH plugged into a dimmer?

Here's what you should be looking for: Lamp Dimmer. They shouldn't cost much at all. Beyond that, there's not much to plugging the dimmer into the wall and the UTH into the dimmer. :)

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

What kind of setups? Like a picture of a UTH plugged into a dimmer?

Here's what you should be looking for: Lamp Dimmer. They shouldn't cost much at all. Beyond that, there's not much to plugging the dimmer into the wall and the UTH into the dimmer. :)

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Can multiple items be plugged in?

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You'll have to check the dimmer's wattage rating to see how many appliances it can handle. You also have to constantly monitor them since all they do is dial back the amount of electricity going to the heat pad, they don't adjust up or down as the ambient room temperature changes.

So, if you set it for 90*F with a room temp of 70*F and your request to dial back the A/C is granted, and you come back to a room temp of 76-78*F then your heat pad temperature will also have climbed by 6-8*F.

Lamp dimmers do have a place in your setup if you are using a cheap thermostat that usually fails wide open instead of off. Placed in between the thermostat and the heat pad, and set so the heat pad is around 96*F, they will prevent a failed thermostat from killing your snakes due to overheating. Your snakes will be uncomfortable for a while but they won't be cooked or suffer neuro damage.

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Can multiple items be plugged in?

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As long as they are the exact same items (same brand, size, etc) and do not exceed the maximum wattage of the dimmer, you should be able to.

Think about it like this - if you apply the same amount of pressure to the gas pedal of a Toyota Prius and a Chevrolet Corvette, you're going to get very different acceleration rates and final speeds. The same logic applies to plugging in different heat mats (the cars) to the same thermostat (the gas pedal). If you want any chance at reaching the same speed (temperature), you need the cars (heat mats) to be the same too. Make sense?

Yes! Thanks very much :)

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So, how does everyone drill nice holes in their tubs? Some of mine don't have any. However, it's a lid-less rack, so is it safe to house in for now?

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I like using a soldering iron to melt holes into the tubs. I've tried to drill before but ended cracking a couple that way. The soldering iron is inexpensive, just a few bucks at harbor freight. It will make, nice, smooth, uniform sized holes. Be careful to just not touch it, It gets hot and do it where there's some ventilation.

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Originally Posted by Bigfish1975

I like using a soldering iron to melt holes into the tubs. I've tried to drill before but ended cracking a couple that way. The soldering iron is inexpensive, just a few bucks at harbor freight. It will make, nice, smooth, uniform sized holes. Be careful to just not touch it, It gets hot and do it where there's some ventilation.

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It doesn't leave that nasty black gunk in the hole?

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No black gunk with a soldering iron. Back when I would drill, I would burn/melt the edges and that would leave the gunk. But there is no burning to cause the soot with the iron.

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Originally Posted by SCWood

It doesn't leave that nasty black gunk in the hole?

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Nope, its actually pretty clean and smooth looking. If you hold it to the plastic for too long, I'm sure it may darken. Plug the iron in , let it warm and when its ready, it takes about 1-2 seconds to make the holes.

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Originally Posted by Bigfish1975

Nope, its actually pretty clean and smooth looking. If you hold it to the plastic for too long, I'm sure it may darken. Plug the iron in , let it warm and when its ready, it takes about 1-2 seconds to make the holes.

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Originally Posted by Tsanford

No black gunk with a soldering iron. Back when I would drill, I would burn/melt the edges and that would leave the gunk. But there is no burning to cause the soot with the iron.

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Any specific recommendations?

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I got a cheap soldering iron from Walmart. Works great

I've used a hot glue gun in the past.

Just use the tip of the glue gun after its hot, don't pull the trigger. In a pinch you could heat up a nail with a lighter, but that will leave black stuff in the hole.

i got mine for $4-5 i think from Harbor Freight. Walmart or any hardware store will have them.

I used one I got today for $3.99 at Harbor Freight and it was great!

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Originally Posted by SCWood

I used one I got today for $3.99 at Harbor Freight and it was great!

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Just don't use it to melt holes in tubs unless you're in a well ventilated area. I melted 100 holes in each of 20+ tubs one afternoon. Even though I was outside and stayed downwind as much as possible, I was still a little light-headed when all was said and done. :rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Just don't use it to melt holes in tubs unless you're in a well ventilated area. I melted 100 holes in each of 20+ tubs one afternoon. Even though I was outside and stayed downwind as much as possible, I was still a little light-headed when all was said and done. :rolleye2:

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That's a good safety tip. Do it outside and stand upwind. I'm glad it worked for you.

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Originally Posted by Bigfish1975

That's a good safety tip. Do it outside and stand upwind. I'm glad it worked for you.

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Ha! I just realized what I typed. I meant I stayed upwind and kept the tubs downwind to avoid the fumes as much as possible. :rofl: