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

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.

i'd get the helix (grounded)

http://www.reptilebasics.com/store/home.php?cat=250

and, in my experience, shipping from mgreptiles is a long process... i've heard rich is next day guaranteed!

You'll be lucky if you get one of those items by christmas. Might as well make it Valentine's day...:P

well since Santa is the one bringing it to you get the Herpstat pro III.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

well since Santa is the one bringing it to you get the Herpstat pro III.

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I hear he's got a whole new addition to the toy factory....just for making t-stats and flexwatt and other sundry goodies. Those elves are just amazing! :P

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Originally Posted by JLC

I hear he's got a whole new addition to the toy factory....just for making t-stats and flexwatt and other sundry goodies. Those elves are just amazing! :P

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Its the ears. Those ears make their powers limitless. Ask Evan he speak elvish. :cool:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

well since Santa is the one bringing it to you get the Herpstat pro III.

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im 17, i know theres no santa :D

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

You'll be lucky if you get one of those items by christmas. Might as well make it Valentine's day...:P

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are you serious??!?! :eek:

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

i'd get the helix (grounded)

http://www.reptilebasics.com/store/home.php?cat=250

and, in my experience, shipping from mgreptiles is a long process... i've heard rich is next day guaranteed!

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too expensive :oops:

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

and, in my experience, shipping from mgreptiles is a long process... i've heard rich is next day guaranteed!

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I have to agree. Long process, and they didn't even fully pay the shipping. To get my stuff, I had to pay the post office 5 bucks. Took from 11/3 to 11/18 with mgreptiles. They're nice guys. I am not sure I like everything they sell, but it is for a good price, save for having to pay for S&H twice and wait 2 weeks. :(

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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???

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

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+-.

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It seems like tape would be unsafe inside a snake's enclosure, especially foil tape. I read a thread recently that talked about a ball python that somehow got the foil tape off of the bottom surface of the enclosure and was stuck to the tape. Also, when I want to clean the tub, I'd either have to peel the tape off or take two thermostats with me. Although, having it inside the enclosure would keep the temperatures more stable when room temperature fluctuates (which mine does a lot in warmer weather).

If the probe is placed in the enclosure, how would you make it so the snake couldn't peel the tape off and get stuck on it if it ventured under the newspaper?

I mainly use two pieces of electrical tape. It's sticky enough to keep the probe down and adhered to the dry tub bottom, but after it's been stuck once, it's really not sticky at all anymore. I've been doing it this way for around 5-6 months(in the same tub) and no tape has been moved. And the snake in that tub constantly gets under her paper or gets everything soaking wet(she's naughty.. but eats well, so who cares, LoL). If she ever does move the probe or get tape unstuck, I'll do something else to control the temps.

I believe it was Vaughn who said that the on/off tstats like Johnson's and Rancos work better if the probe is stuck to the inside bottom of the tub instead of taped directly to the flexwatt.

Oh, and when I clean her tub(every few days as she is a messy little snot, flings her hides, water bowl and paper everywhere and LOOKS at me to clean it right NOW) I just untape the probe, wipe it with chlorhexidine, slip it underneath the flexwatt to hold it in place, clean the tub, and then tape the probe back with new electrical tape. Seems to work pretty well for me, but it could be different for others.

Does anyone recommend ceramic heat bulbs?

I use one for my boa's tub as the air space inside is too big to adequately heat with only flexwatt.

You might get more responses if you post another thread concerning just CHE's :)

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

I mainly use two pieces of electrical tape. It's sticky enough to keep the probe down and adhered to the dry tub bottom, but after it's been stuck once, it's really not sticky at all anymore. I've been doing it this way for around 5-6 months(in the same tub) and no tape has been moved. And the snake in that tub constantly gets under her paper or gets everything soaking wet(she's naughty.. but eats well, so who cares, LoL). If she ever does move the probe or get tape unstuck, I'll do something else to control the temps.

I believe it was Vaughn who said that the on/off tstats like Johnson's and Rancos work better if the probe is stuck to the inside bottom of the tub instead of taped directly to the flexwatt.

Oh, and when I clean her tub(every few days as she is a messy little snot, flings her hides, water bowl and paper everywhere and LOOKS at me to clean it right NOW) I just untape the probe, wipe it with chlorhexidine, slip it underneath the flexwatt to hold it in place, clean the tub, and then tape the probe back with new electrical tape. Seems to work pretty well for me, but it could be different for others.

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(sorry, rmune, if I'm intruding on this thread :D)

So, if that method was used, the cool and warm side temperatures would stay stable at 92-94 and 82-84? I'm using two sections of 11" Flexwatt, each connected to its own thermostat. Half, or more, of each section isn't used (sticks out from under the tub; I don't want to overload the tank with heat and humidity), and one probe is foil taped to each piece of Flexwatt. The warm side thermostat is set at 106 (wow!) to get in the low nineties, and the cool side thermostat is set at 91 to get in the low eighties. I have, however, noticed a little fluctation. When it gets 2-4 degrees cooler in the room, the temperature decreases about two degrees. Same when it gets warmer. What I'm afraid of is that this will turn into the same situation I had when using a dimmer; My room temperature can swing from 67 at night all the way up to 86 in the daytime (80-82 avg., 86 high) when the weather is warmer here. When I used the dimmer, the temperature in the tub would go way up unless I turned the dimmer way down, resulting in cold temperatures until the room warmed up in the afternoon. Me being at school until 3:00, I cannot do anything to adjust it until I get home. If I have the probes inside the tub, then, it'll stay at 83ish and 93ish, even if the room temperature goes up? Unless of course the room temperature gets above 83, then the cool side would get warmer; I understand that. I just a little confused, here; Jamie says that the probe should never be in a place where the snake could move it, yet you say it's better to put it in there if it's an on/off. I'm torn; do you think I should move the probes into the cage? Of course, I'd turn each thermostat down to 83 and 93 as the probes would be in the cage.

Once again, sorry about this, rmune; hopefully you'll get some info. out of this as well.

And yes, Sorry Ryan for hi-jacking the thread :) It DOES pertain to flexwatt and heating, so it's ok, hehe.

Here's how I have one of my 4 tub systems controlled.

4-15qt tubs set up identical(2 hides, water bowl, 2 layers newspaper). They each have 2ft of separated 11" flexwatt underneath(I know, Cpt. Overkill, but my room is COLD and it helps alot). The 4 pieces of flexwatt on the left are all plugged directly into a JC Tstat, which is set to 95(I think.. the babies do like it warm and eat like starved panthers). Here is where it gets a bit odd. I then have the other 4 pieces of flexwatt plugged into 4 separate Lutron Credenza dimmers(dialed halfway down and taped so they don't get bumped). Those are then plugged into the same thermostat.

I have the probe taped in the tub 2nd from the bottom, under the newspaper, with 2 smallish strips of electrical tape. The snake in that tub, as I said before, is a little hell's angel. Trashes everything at least every 3-4 days, flings water everywhere, makes her tub all steamed up, flips her hides and makes her water bowl go here and yon. That probe has never once moved in the 5 months I've had her.

Temps stay constant between 94-95 warm side and 83-84 cool side. No one's missed a meal(unless I skip a week), and that thermostat keeps everything very steady(even with my room around 70 degrees right now).

And no, if you have a thermostat set to 83, and the room temp gets higher than 83, it will just shut off power to the flexwatt until the temps go down.

Hope that helps some. :)

Yes, it helps a lot. I should probably move the probes...

Also, I've never seen my ball python go under his newspaper. He keeps everything neat, LOL, no sloshed water, flipped hides, etc. I'm starting to think that Jamie meant that the probe on the outside was a good idea if it's a proportional thermostat. And it's a good idea to use electric tape if the snake DOES peel it off, then it won't be as sticky. I think I'll try your method and see what happens.

what does flexwatt do???

i thought if i just got the ranco pre-wired t-stat i would be ready to go, didnt kno i have to buy this flexwatt stuff too :confused:

Well, whatcha going to heat the cage with if you only have a thermostat? :) That's what the flexwatt is for, goofy :cool:

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Well, whatcha going to heat the cage with if you only have a thermostat? :) That's what the flexwatt is for, goofy :cool:

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Give him some slack...he is a green bay fan

flex-watt is your UTH. but it's made a little differently and come in 3" or 11" wide pieces... cut to any length you desire.

it gets wired just like a UTH and plugs in. it's cheaper than a UTH though!

couldn't you just put your probe in the enclosure and have a hide hold it in place? or does that not work?

cause tape in a snake enclosure scares me.... a LOT! :eek:

No, that really doesn't work well, for me anyway(I've tried...). The JC tstat probes are pretty heavy guage and aren't about to be held down by a 10gram 4" plastic saucer, LoL. If you take a piece of electrical tape(black stuff), and mess with it, it stops being sticky after a very short time. It's still sticky onto itself though, if that makes sense. Also, if you stick it to the warm, dry, plastic bottom of the tub, it sticks very well and is pretty hard to get off. Little Mininth(ok, not little, 300g) trucks all around that tub and that probe hasn't been moved once. And she's been in that tub 5 months.

That's just how I've got mine set up. Others get it done differently I'm sure :) This just works for me and my snakes let me know that.

thanks becky!

my JC probe is just taped down. tape it down nice and tight and have no problems

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Originally Posted by tmlowe5704

Give him some slack...he is a green bay fan

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hey! :colbert:

whats ur team? :sabduel: