Thermostat

Do you need a thermostat with a heating lamp? My cage only gets to a high of like 92 degrees so i dont really see the point of having one. I know with heating pads they are needed.

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Originally Posted by bjfoste1

Do you need a thermostat with a heating lamp? My cage only gets to a high of like 92 degrees so i dont really see the point of having one. I know with heating pads they are needed.

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Yes you need one. The reason is that today your cage is only getting to 92...what happens when the house temp rises (like in the summer) the thermostat keeps the temp in check otherwise it the cage temp will rise with the ambient house temp. It is a huge risk ANY change in the house higher (ambient temp) could lead to catostrophic consequences.

Hope this helps,
Sean

I would say no, its not good practice and if something went wrong with the lamp it could cause problems. Odds are that in Arizona you're going to have a hard time keeping humidity up with a lamp anyways.

yes, i consider themostats a basic need.


for me better safe than sorry...



vaughn

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

I would say no, its not good practice and if something went wrong with the lamp it could cause problems.

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huh?

I think you mean to say you don't think he needs the lamp at all? Though his question is if he needs a thermostat for the lamp. Just want to be clear on what you are saying :)

Thermostat = control of enviroment.
Things change stuff happens. By the time you realize usually the damage is done.

Can you guys recommend me a thermostat? Preferably not very expensive since I still need to buy another hide, water bowl, some kind of a branch, digital thermometers, UTH heating, and a power strip (day/night)

Unfortunately, the thermostat may be the most expensive piece of equipment you have to buy, but it's a pretty important one.
I think that Big Apple Herp has a pretty reasonable, and reliable, analog thermostat. Proportional thermostats hold a heat gradient more accurately, and are easier on your heating equipment. I'm very happy with my Herpstat thermostat.

Based on my experience (and I have experimented with many different thermostats) I would recommend Ranco or Johnson on the lower end and nothing less. http://www.reptilebasics.com/Thermostats-p-1-c-250.html

Analog thermostats in my opinion are not reliable and more prone to failure you basically would be better off with a simple rheostat.

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Originally Posted by GA_Ball_Pythons

Based on my experience (and I have experimented with many different thermostats) I would recommend Ranco or Johnson on the lower end and nothing less. http://www.reptilebasics.com/Thermostats-p-1-c-250.html

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I agree I have use Ranco's on 2 of my display tanks. They are easy to set and very reliable. I have tried 2 analog based thermostats and both failed (luckily no one was injured)

Ok Ranco's 60$ one would have to do. The only other qusetion I have is how many thermostats do I need. Can one regulate both the warmer and the cooler end of the viva? I'm gonna have a heating lamp on one end and UTH on the other(cooler end)

How exactly do they work?

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

huh?

I think you mean to say you don't think he needs the lamp at all? Though his question is if he needs a thermostat for the lamp. Just want to be clear on what you are saying :)

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Yea that doesn't read right what I wrote...refer to my "be carful how you cough thread"

I'm on meds sooo I'm a little loopy:rolleye2:

i dont think you would want your uth on one end and your heating lamp on the other :colbert: :colbert: then your snake can not escape the heat and we like happy snakes :sunny: :carrot:

I'm new to this whole thing (was just given a healthy beautiful possibly female (thats what the store said, who buys from a reputable breeder) BP!) and am not really sure how the thermostat works for the cage. I put an under the tank heater in and noticed it gets pretty hot to the touch...should I worry about the snake digging down and burning itself? If I plug it into a thermostat it will obviously regulate the temperature of the sensor, but will it regulate the heat output at all or is it a simple on/off function? Should I think about adding a dimmer switch to moderate the heat? Or am I thinking too much about this and should I just plug the UTH into a thermostat?

THANKS!!

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Originally Posted by cgrinter

I put an under the tank heater in and noticed it gets pretty hot to the touch...should I worry about the snake digging down and burning itself?

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Yes! Snakes can and do burn themselves if they come into contact with surfaces that are too hot.

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Originally Posted by cgrinter

If I plug it into a thermostat it will obviously regulate the temperature of the sensor, but will it regulate the heat output at all or is it a simple on/off function?

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There are different kinds of thermostats. Lower end ones are just on/off. There are also ones called proportional thermostats that, as I understand it, are sort of like a dimmer switch and a thermostat all in one. They'll keep the heat source turned on medium until the temperature gets too high or low, and adjust accordingly.

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Originally Posted by cgrinter

Should I think about adding a dimmer switch to moderate the heat? Or am I thinking too much about this and should I just plug the UTH into a thermostat?

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Using a dimmer switch is probably a good idea if you don't have one of the proportional t-stats. So you'd plug your UTH into the dimmer switch, and the dimmer into the t-stat.

if you get a thermostat for the lamp you WILL need a dimming one otherwise you will get a constant flashing light as the thermostat regulates the heat. any other thermostat will be good for the heat mat as they use a, as said before, pulse proportionate or simple on/off function.
hope this helps.

Thank's for the tips, I went ahead and got myself a HerpStat...bad for the wallet but great for the snake!

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Ok Ranco's 60$ one would have to do. The only other qusetion I have is how many thermostats do I need. Can one regulate both the warmer and the cooler end of the viva?

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If you want to regulate 2 sides at 2 different temps you will need 2thermostats unless you are buying the Herpstat pro.

One thermostat will have to be set to achieve 90-94 on the warm side and the other will have to be set to achieve 80-84 on the cool side if the ambient temp of your home does not allow you to achieve proper temps on the cool side without an additional heat source.

OR if you're in a financial bind(like I am most of the time), you can get a Johnson Controls/Ranco/Helix/Herpstat, connect it to the warm side, set the temp, then plug a dimmer into the thermostat, plug your other heating pad into the dimmer, dial it down until you reach the temps you want, and leave it alone. The thermostat will do all of the work and the temps shouldn't move.

On one of my racks, I have a Helix controlling the hot side(3") set to 95(probe is in an empty tub over the flexwatt). I then plug in a dimmer to the thermostat, plug the cord for the cool side heat(11" flexwatt) into the dimmer(Lutron Credenza dimmer from Home Depot) and dial it down maybe 1/4-1/2 inch on the dimmer. The temps on the cool side haven't fluctuated past 1-2 degrees.

Even if the dimmer fails, all of the flexwatt isn't going to get over that 95 degrees. The snakes would be fine(albeit a bit grouchy) until you noticed the problem.