Thermostats

[Mistreated]

I'm looking to purchase a digital thermostat to connect to my uth and have been getting mixed reviews. I need some advise on which ones are the best for the money. I'm hope'n to be able to buy one for around 100 dollars

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

I have 2 tanks and both have UTHs and both are connected to hydrofarm thermostats. Can find them on eBay for about $28-$32 total that includes shipping. That's where I got mine. You don't need to spend up to a$100 a hydrofarm for $30 will do great,alot of ppl here use them,but to each there own.

is nice to see you have the money to spend to make you snakes home and health as good as possible.. Good luck.

[led-zep]

I use Helix. Others also recommend Herpstats. Also very good Thermostats.


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[satomi325]

If you're willing to pay, then buy a Herpstat by Spyder Robotics. They are the best thermostats you can get. The base model costs $99.

Hydrofarms work ok if you're on a budget, but I will always recommend the Herpstat if you're willing to pay for it. What you pay is what you get.

I have a Hydrofarm on my quarantine rack, but a Herpstat on my main enclosures.
The Hydrofarm is an On/Off type thermostat where it turns on, if the temp drops below the set temp and turns off when it reaches the set temp. It has about a 3 degree temp swing. So basically it gets hot-cool-hot-cool.
Herpstats are proportional thermostats where it keeps the temp constant by regulating how much power goes into the heating element itself. What I like the best about Herpstats is that they turn into the Off position if they malfunction. Most T-stats do not do that and leave their heat mats to turn on full blast, which is a potential hazard. Higher models also have other safety functions.

[Mistreated]

Thanks... The hydrofarm has the best reviews out of all that I have seen under 100. I just wasn't sure how long they hold up. This will be my first setup with a ball python and just wanted to make sure I do it right with the best equipment that I have the money for. I'm gonna order the hydrofarm and give it a try. Thanks for the reply

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

Herp stat sounds great.

now,Satomi,I think for what you have the amount of snakes and reptiles the yeah a herp stat is great..but for a snake or a couple a hydrofarm is fine and it's what a lot of ppl use with no problems at all. If you hydrofarm conks out,how long will it be before u actually realize,your snake won't burn to death in that period of time. Atleast with me,I check my tank and the probes and temps every single day!!! ...my probe broke loose from the mat two days ago( was my fault) I woke up 8 hrs later to Kocur still in his hide and when I checked the UTH mat with an ir gun it was 127.. I immediately disconnected everything,took him out and he was perfectly fine,belly was fine etc...


I think people here go very very overboard about every single little detail..I know ppl with snakes that have just heat rocks for heat,ppl that have no t stats hooked u to there matts,ppl that have no UTHs to begin with and just a bulb and these snakes are healthy and perfectly fine.

[DooLittle]

Herp stat sounds great.

now,Satomi,I think for what you have the amount of snakes and reptiles the yeah a herp stat is great..but for a snake or a couple a hydrofarm is fine and it's what a lot of ppl use with no problems at all. If you hydrofarm conks out,how long will it be before u actually realize,your snake won't burn to death in that period of time. Atleast with me,I check my tank and the probes and temps every single day!!! ...my probe broke loose from the mat two days ago( was my fault) I woke up 8 hrs later to Kocur still in his hide and when I checked the UTH mat with an ir gun it was 127.. I immediately disconnected everything,took him out and he was perfectly fine,belly was fine etc...


I think people here go very very overboard about every single little detail..I know ppl with snakes that have just heat rocks for heat,ppl that have no t stats hooked u to there matts,ppl that have no UTHs to begin with and just a bulb and these snakes are healthy and perfectly fine.

Overboard?? Or taking every precaution to keep our animals safe and at optimal living situation?

Personally I would recommend the herpstat. I would only use a hydrofarm temporarily.

[MsGolightly]

If you're willing to pay, then buy a Herpstat by Spyder Robotics. They are the best thermostats you can get. The base model costs $99.

Hydrofarms work ok if you're on a budget, but I will always recommend the Herpstat if you're willing to pay for it. What you pay is what you get.

I have a Hydrofarm on my quarantine rack, but a Herpstat on my main enclosures.
The Hydrofarm is an On/Off type thermostat where it turns on, if the temp drops below the set temp and turns off when it reaches the set temp. It has about a 3 degree temp swing. So basically it gets hot-cool-hot-cool.
Herpstats are proportional thermostats where it keeps the temp constant by regulating how much power goes into the heating element itself. What I like the best about Herpstats is that they turn into the Off position if they malfunction. Most T-stats do not do that and leave their heat mats to turn on full blast, which is a potential hazard. Higher models also have other safety functions.

Do all of the Herpstats have the function of going into the off mode if they malfunction? I am planning on getting the Herpstat 1 Basic and it says it does not have the "built in safety power relay" is this a different function than the one you are talking about? The reason I am wanting to go with the Herpstat 1 Basic rather than the Herpstat Intro is because is says they are not recommended for racks. Which model are you running?

[satomi325]

Herp stat sounds great.

now,Satomi,I think for what you have the amount of snakes and reptiles the yeah a herp stat is great..but for a snake or a couple a hydrofarm is fine and it's what a lot of ppl use with no problems at all. If you hydrofarm conks out,how long will it be before u actually realize,your snake won't burn to death in that period of time. Atleast with me,I check my tank and the probes and temps every single day!!! ...my probe broke loose from the mat two days ago( was my fault) I woke up 8 hrs later to Kocur still in his hide and when I checked the UTH mat with an ir gun it was 127.. I immediately disconnected everything,took him out and he was perfectly fine,belly was fine etc...


I think people here go very very overboard about every single little detail..I know ppl with snakes that have just heat rocks for heat,ppl that have no t stats hooked u to there matts,ppl that have no UTHs to begin with and just a bulb and these snakes are healthy and perfectly fine.

Hydrofarms can work. Yes. I use one on my QT rack. It's in temporary use at the most.
It's not as accurate or steady as my Herpstat though. Kitedemon(who no longer posts), was notorious for hating Hydrofarms. He went through testing dozens and concluded that they can have huge temp swings and/or just fail to properly function. In the end, Hydrofarms are designed for hydroponic gardening, not reptile enclosures. It was just merely adopted into reptile keeping, while the Herpstat was designed specifically for it.



I think the Hydrofarm works way better than the Zoomed/Zilla/Petstore T-stats. But I still prefer the Herpstat. It doesn't matter how many snakes you have or what kind of enclosures you use. It's all about how much are you willing to pay for the safety of your animal and the accuracy of your temperature regulation. I'm not saying, don't use a Hydrofarm. Tons of people have used it fine. But if you're willing to dish out the money, buy something that is guaranteed to be quality and reliable.


And holy crap @ the heat rocks.....Most dangerous thing you can put into a reptile enclosure. I can guarantee that no body in the reptile hobby will ever recommend using one. And anyone using a heat rock, shouldn't own a reptile......

[satomi325]

Do all of the Herpstats have the function of going into the off mode if they malfunction? I am planning on getting the Herpstat 1 Basic and it says it does not have the "built in safety power relay" is this a different function than the one you are talking about? The reason I am wanting to go with the Herpstat 1 Basic rather than the Herpstat Intro is because is says they are not recommended for racks. Which model are you running?

Yes, that's the function I was talking about.
I do believe you can use the Intro on racks, depending on how many levels and how much heat tape you run. But it's their recommendation to use the 1 or higher since they have a higher wattage capacity to handle multiple levels of heating element. But you can always email Spyder Robotics themselves.

I run a Herpstat 2.