I now reach out to you all....

[West Coast Jungle]

Here is a link for the herpstats
http://spyderrobotics.com/

Here is a link for Rancos and others
http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermostats/

[Animals As Leaders]

You know everyone knocks on the zilla tstats, but for small collections I think they work fine...I had one for over a year, and it never once gave me an issue. Would I use this on the long term, probably not. I since replaced it with a ranco, but when I first started I opted to use one of the zilla ones. I was tight on money, and didn't want to rely on a dimmer anymore. Just make sure you monitor it daily making sure its turning on, and turning off at the right point. I would say if you only got 50 bucks to spend there ok.

I didn't run into this problem...One important thing is they all have to be running on identical heating elements. Meaning they all have to be the same size. Different UTH's have different amount of current that run through them, so if you have different sizes hooked up to one tstat you'll run into that problem. I did have to insulate my one tank by putting a towel underneath the uth. Just make sure each tank has its own thermometer, and your monitoring each of them separately and not going off of one reading.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

On the low end Ranco or Johnson and high end Herpstat, I would not recommend anything else below those.

[Animals As Leaders]

I'm just curious, but why does everyone say that the zilla tstat will fail? Is there a lot of evidence I am not aware of? Never had one problem, and just because it says Zilla doesn't make me weary...Whats with everyone huge fear of these? I mean I get the saying you get what you pay for, but has there been an on-going issue with these?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

With the collection I have I just want to buy what a superior T-Stat that is not pron to failure, and that is ACCURATE (accuracy and stable temps are very important to me)

Over the years (been doing that a while) I have tried about every t-stat out there including the ones like zoomed or anything made like it and here what I can conclude

They are not accurate
The temperature varies greatly
They are prone to failure
The wattage does not feed my needs

So is saving $45 worth that to me? NO

Can it work for some sure why not but I have too much to lose to risk it.

And when someone ask for advice I recommend a quality product that I know will not cost that much more but will be reliable and work for years to come.

[BMorrison]

I would definitely recommend a herpstat. I have 2 of them and they've never failed me once and keep temps spot on!

[cinderbird]

I'm just curious, but why does everyone say that the zilla tstat will fail? Is there a lot of evidence I am not aware of? Never had one problem, and just because it says Zilla doesn't make me weary...Whats with everyone huge fear of these? I mean I get the saying you get what you pay for, but has there been an on-going issue with these?

The issue is that if the room temps are not almost exactly stable, the thermostat will not keep the UTH at a stable temperature.

I did some unofficial tests of my own with the zoomed reptitemp 500R. I will NOT ever use one again.

Unregulated zoomed UTH -- 121F
Regulated zoomed UTH with zoomed reptitemp500R- 114 (this is after letting the unit set up. The temps fluctuated greatly in the room the snake was in). 114 was not an acceptable temperature for an UTH for me. I took multiple readings over the few weeks it took me to get my thermostat (a johnson control). 109F, 111F, 112F. It never really settled around 95. It was always above or below and i had to watch it like a hawk.

Spending the extra 45 for a johnson or ranco was completely worth it. I check my thermostat every few days and Ive got a temp gun and accruites on the heat tape in my racks.

[Zach Nasty]

Buy a Herpstat. Problem solved.

[Delco Baller]

I would like to thank everyone for the help and insight. My decision is going with a herpstat But which model do I go with? Is the cheapest model Good enough for 5 Balls? Does it come ready to hook up and plug in? I dont want my collection to suffer they, mean the world to me and just want it right.

thanks again......going Crazy