ZooMed Repti-Temp 500R

Are these worth $20 a piece? A local guy has a bunch of new-old-stock.

They're like 35 new. Maybe more. But they're junk.

Alot of mixed opinions on them. I had one for a few weeks with no problems but i've heard horror stories about them though.

They are not junk. Are you saying that based on your own experience, or was it something you heard?

I have a few of them, and have never had issue. they are a bit of a pain to set up because they don't have a digital temp display... so you have to use with a digital thermometer or heat gun to get them set.

But once they are set, they are good to go. They keep my temps within 1 degree. And never need further adjustment.

Obviously they are not a helix or herpstat.... they are not proportional (meaning they turn the eat source on and off, not adjust the power) but they also don't cost over a hundred bucks!

Reptile basics sell them for 20 bucks, but you can't get them at a local pet shop usually for less then $35.

If you look hard enough you will find a horror story for every single thermostat out there. That is why you should use a backup thermostat when you can... two 500 R's can do that for $40. One to do the normal work, and one set for 5 degrees higher "just in case"

I've read that they can be used as backups in case the regular one fails...

I had said they were junk solely on the fact of the horror stories I hear about em crapping out.

Either shutting all the way down. Or sticking in the on position and cooking a snake. Worst case scenario, a whole collection.

No I don't use them, nor have I, I should have said that. But that's the reason I don't.

I look at it as there's a reason they're so cheap. They're made cheap. And you get what you pay for.

I wouldnt say they're crap but obv you get what you pay for. I still use one for my boas tank and dont have any issues with it. I was using 3-4 at one time and never had any issues. For a newb looking to get started off I'd say get one bc they work and theyre cheap... If your planning on having multiple snakes down the road its a better decision to go with one of the better more expensive ones. For 1 or two snakes the zoo med will be fine.

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Originally Posted by ChrisBowsman

Are these worth $20 a piece? A local guy has a bunch of new-old-stock.

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No they are not, you would be better of with a 10 dollars switch dimmer.

They are prone to failure, not reliable, and allow temps fluctuation.

When they fail instead of cutting the power off, they just fail to control the temps allowing them to increase dramatically which can be VERY dangerous.

Disclaimer: This is base on my personal experience not hearsay :rolleyes:

I would not recommend anything other than Ranco or Johnson on the low end.

The one I had, had Velcro on the back and I had it stuck to the wall and it kept falling over and I would stick it back to the wall. I don’t know if laying flat for any amount of time had anything to do with it but my temps would go from 94 to 112 to 84.. So when I was able to get something better I did. I got tired of going in and checking on them every chance I got. Plus I did not sleep very well knowing that it did not work correctly. But for 20 bucks why not try it and see if it works for you, I may have just had a bad one. I just remembered that I did have this hooked to my incubator for my tortoise eggs and it did work correctly at one point in time. That is my experience

I havent had a problem, but they are a pain to adjust, A digital readout would be better. But again id go crazy with the rancos noise it makes ever time it turns on/off.

Every product has failures, ive heard of them with Helix, Zoo-med, and many others, so low or high, all have em.

But when i do get a new cage, ill probably invest in a herpstat, just for the options it has.

I'm currently running my two heaters off a rheostat, and it holds the temps really well, as the room the tubs are in holds a constant temp. The tub temps only really fluctuate when I open the lids, and I check the hot spots at least twice a day with a temp gun (in addition to the thermometers).

The only problems I've had with temps changing is when I moved the snakes to the room they're in now, but it's settled since doing that.... should I even worry about upgrading to a thermostat?

I think that they are okay for the money. I plan on moving up to a herpstat or a Helix when I have the extra loot. I have not had any issues with the zoomed. You have to keep an eye on temps if the room is subject to drastic temp changes. I've heard plenty of horror stories with Helix, Herpstat and just about any other product out there.

There is a horror story for every thermostat out there.

All of mine lay on the table next to their tank / rack.

Bottom line is, there are a lot of newbees out there that can't afford a helix or a herpstat... or even a rancho... the 500R works fine with a little extra effort.

I have tanks / racks all over the house. I can not afford a helix for each one! And now that I have had such good experiences, with the 500R I feel no need to change them out.

At the same time, when I finally do get my big racks.... I will upgrade. then it would make financial sense to me. when there are 10 snakes living off of one thermostat, it is time!

Agreed. There are horror stories about nearly every control device out there. Best advice is to get the best that you can afford.
ReptiTemps are cheap, but they are a ton better than a rheostat or dimmer in a home where temps fluctuate more than a few degrees! I currently own 5 and have three running now, and the only problem with them is initial setting. One of them has been running for about 6 months now on one of my corn setups and hasn't wavered beyond a degree or two at most. Of course, I also have one Ranco and one Johnson stat (running my BP setups), but I can't afford anything better right now.

Bottom line: when you're poor, those ReptiTemp stats are lifesavers!