Soon To Be Owner-- Am I Ready?

[chrid16371]

You most definitely can have a bp without a thermostat, as long as you have your heating elements hooked up to a reheostat or dimmer you will do just fine. Make sure that the room the enclosure is located in doesn't have wild temperature swings itself and you will do just fine. Make sure to use an IR temp gun to check hot spot temps daily.

The point was you need something to regulate the temp. A thermostat is the safest. Yes you can use dimmers, I used them for awhile with my snakes and other reptiles but 2 failed and good thing I was home or it would of cooked them. Then I bought a Herpstat 6. Things happen and its best to be prepared and a quality thermostat is being prepared. You can't always be home watching it.

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[JoshSloane]

If a reliable dimmer fails, they fail in the off position, thus turning off all heat and preventing any danger.

The point I'm making about your post is that it's never good to use definitive language on a topic that is debatable. People read these forums and take things literally, so saying "you can't own a bp without a thermostat," while the sentiment is correct, it can be misinterpreted as fact.

[chrid16371]

It actually depends where the dimmer fails if it stays on or off. I had a 2 $40 heavy duty dimmers do it so you can't say a reliable dimmer cant fail. I'll be happy to send you the model and you can see they were reliable. Thing is they failed at the adjuster themselves. Also there not made for what we use them for. People often are going to buy the cheapest dimmer they can find.

Yes I'm sorry I should of said you cant keep a bp without regulating the heat source. That was my point and I should of voiced it better. I would also like to add that a drastic change in room temp with a dimmer can be just as harmful as having nothing to regulate your heat source. Like if you have your heat going bc its 30 at night and you wake up and go to work and temps during the day reach 70 and your house is really hot when you come home and then your temps in your enclosure will higher. Bottom line in my experience I don't think a heat regulating device should be skimped on do to the reasons I stated and they are all experiences I've had. Also a quality thermostat like any electrical device can fail but have a decreased chance of doing so.


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[JoshSloane]

It actually depends where the dimmer fails if it stays on or off. I had a 2 $40 heavy duty dimmers do it so you can't say a reliable dimmer cant fail. I'll be happy to send you the model and you can see they were reliable. Thing is they failed at the adjuster themselves. Also there not made for what we use them for. People often are going to buy the cheapest dimmer they can find.

Yes I'm sorry I should of said you cant keep a bp without regulating the heat source. That was my point and I should of voiced it better. I would also like to add that a drastic change in room temp with a dimmer can be just as harmful as having nothing to regulate your heat source. Like if you have your heat going bc its 30 at night and you wake up and go to work and temps during the day reach 70 and your house is really hot when you come home and then your temps in your enclosure will higher. Bottom line in my experience I don't think a heat regulating device should be skimped on do to the reasons I stated and they are all experiences I've had. Also a quality thermostat like any electrical device can fail but have a decreased chance of doing so.


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The point I was making about background room temperatures is that most are thermostatically controlled themselves. If your apartment has a thermostat regulating heat/AC then your room temps will not be jumping wildly all over the place.

[chrid16371]

The point I was making about background room temperatures is that most are thermostatically controlled themselves. If your apartment has a thermostat regulating heat/AC then your room temps will not be jumping wildly all over the place.

Agreed. Some houses don't have central air. My house doesn't so we use window ac units. This morning temp outside was 32 and inside was 65. I came home on lunch and temp outside is now 75 and inside is 87 with the sun beating on my house. If I was using a dimmer my temps would of been higher than they should. It has happened before. You just have to prepare for these changes. Ok I'm done hijacking this thread. I misused my words and I'm sorry and I corrected it.

To the OP, my mistake and JoshSloane and my conversation gives you a little insight on dimmers. You need to monitor them more closely than thermostats. You still need to monitor thermostats but they will constantly adjust to give you the right temp. I think one thing me and JoshSloane can agree on is if you have the funds buy a quality thermostat. Like a Herpstat or ve-200d. There is cheaper on/off models like ve-100 and even cheaper is hydrofarm which others members have said are good. I personally would not use an on/off style for a lamp heat source bc the light will constantly flicker on and off but for a uth it would be fine. If those thermostats are out of reach for you then yes a lamp dimmer will work.

Also once you get your enclosure set up post some pics and ask for advice. It worked well for me!

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[Albert Clark]

Also, remember that Herpstat makes a "intro" model thermostat that is probably more appropriate for a new owner who is concerned about affordability but wants quality.

[PitOnTheProwl]

If a reliable dimmer fails, they fail in the off position, thus turning off all heat and preventing any danger.

The point I'm making about your post is that it's never good to use definitive language on a topic that is debatable. People read these forums and take things literally, so saying "you can't own a bp without a thermostat," while the sentiment is correct, it can be misinterpreted as fact.

NOT if the resistor shorts. Yes I did have one melt and once the windings become "one" there is no more voltage reduction.
Still the safer two bets are a thermostat and remembering that what works on one house may not in another.
Also cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil is a lot easier and lighter than melamine.....

[reptilover22]

Also I wanted to comment on hides. My male would not use half log hide at all bc of the lack of security so he was always in his cool hide. I bought 2 reptile basics hides and now he regulates his body temp and eats like a champ. If you get these hides and a young bp get the medium, don't get anything smaller than the medium the smalls are tiny.

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I know that it may not be used for a while on security reasons but a friend of mine has one, a baby, who loves the half log. I'm just going to put it in there among the other hides (which are all small, don't worry ) and see if he takes to it or not. If I don't see him in it at all, I will wait until he is larger to try it out again or I will just discard that idea. Thanks for the commentary

[chrid16371]

I know that it may not be used for a while on security reasons but a friend of mine has one, a baby, who loves the half log. I'm just going to put it in there among the other hides (which are all small, don't worry ) and see if he takes to it or not. If I don't see him in it at all, I will wait until he is larger to try it out again or I will just discard that idea. Thanks for the commentary

It's worth a try. I would try hanging fake leaves or something kinda over the front so its not so exposed. As for the commentary, no problem lol

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