Looks like I'm building a rack

[Gloryhound]

In all honesty I would not build a 6qt unless you plan on big time breeding and selling. Our little ones moved out of the 6 qt tubs quick! A 16 Qt something like this:

Will hold them up to around 800 grams and you just make sure to use small hides and a larger water dish to take up space until they reach about 250 to 300 grams.

Then from around that 800 gram to about 1500 grams we use 32 QT. After that they go in the big 41 Qt tubs.

I do have a 12 unit 6 qt rack that is sitting empty right now since all our balls have out grown them. Once we start breeding and have enough eggs in the incubator that selling off our hatchlings after 3 or more good meals is what we want to do I will have to build more 6 Qt racks. Until then they are pretty much a waist of space since most snakes will out grow them in 3-4 months if they are being fed for growth and not just maintenance fed.

[Papa Burgundy]

I came up with a design that has 5 41/32 qt slots, and 2 levels that I can slide 6 qt tubs in with back heat. When they grow out of that I can replace the 6 qts with 16 qts.
Once my females come of age I will build a 6 qt rack, but that wont be for a couple years.
I just really don't want to build something that won't be of any use in a year or two, so if I make the mistake a little big thats fine. I'm not going to fill up all my tubs this summer, but that just leaves more room for additions when the time is right.

[Papa Burgundy]

Ok, so I just came up with another design I am pretty set on. I have come to the realization that I don't need a 41 qt slot until my girls get pretty darn big. So I will hold off on that for now and stay with a simple 32 qt design.
But, my question now is (that everyone has faced), what thermostat do I buy? My budget, for now, is an issue. I will be able to spend more money later in summer, when I can save up more, but I would like to get this thing built in the next month. I have a snake on hold, and clutches are starting to hatch.
I can get a Johnson, flexwatt and wire/clip/insulator set for $140, which I would be able to order soon.
But they don't sell Herpstats on Reptile Basics, and that would be the proportional I would consider. The Herpstat would be $60 more, including shipping from another source.
I have heard many say proportionals are the way to go, and I can see why. But this is not a very big rack, 8 32 qts tubs.
I would love some input.
I live in southern California, so room temps vary from 70 in the winter, and 90 in the summer. I am will seek help later on insulating the rack over winter to keep temps up.
Thanks.

[Papa Burgundy]

But, my question now is (that everyone has faced), what thermostat do I buy? My budget, for now, is an issue. I will be able to spend more money later in summer, when I can save up more, but I would like to get this thing built in the next month. I have a snake on hold, and clutches are starting to hatch.
I can get a Johnson, flexwatt and wire/clip/insulator set for $140, which I would be able to order soon.
But they don't sell Herpstats on Reptile Basics, and that would be the proportional I would consider. The Herpstat would be $60 more, including shipping from another source.
I have heard many say proportionals are the way to go, and I can see why. But this is not a very big rack, 8 32 qts tubs.
I would love some input.
I live in southern California, so room temps vary from 70 in the winter, and 90 in the summer. I am will seek help later on insulating the rack over winter to keep temps up.
Thanks.

Anyone?

[Gloryhound]

Proportional are the way to go as they regulate the heating element into a tighter band than an ON/Off type will. The On/Off is better than a rheostat or nothing at all. The rheostat is the Yugo (gets you there but you may have to push it at times), the On/Off is the Chevy (It does the job), the Proportional is the Cadillac (Not only does it get you their but in style and comfort). Flex Watt should never be used with anything less than an On/Off type T-stat. Your more inexpensive method will work using the Johnson T-stat and Flex Watt. On the other hand I think most people would rather use a proportional T-stat over an On/Off due to the tighter control it has and the added features of alarms and such available on the Herpstat ND, II, or Pro step them up from the basic Cadillac to a fully equipped BMW convertible.

[Papa Burgundy]

Alright, so I should get a proportional. End of story. So now here my dilema...

I can get all my tape, wires etc., and a helix for around $200 from Reptile basics.
OR
I can get a Herpstat from Spyder Robotics shipped for about $120, and my wires and tape for $60. Total of $180.

What do you think is the best call. I lean more towards a Herpstat, but have heard great reviews on both.

Also, when I buy a proportional, regardless of what one I choose, do they come with a power cord and all the necessities?

Thanks Gloryhound, I appreciate all your help.

[ani15174eva]

Everyone I spoke to advised me on Herpistat or Ranco. I got one of each I like th Herp better!

Hope this helps....

~Hollie~

[Gloryhound]

Alright, so I should get a proportional. End of story. So now here my dilema...

I can get all my tape, wires etc., and a helix for around $200 from Reptile basics.
OR
I can get a Herpstat from Spyder Robotics shipped for about $120, and my wires and tape for $60. Total of $180.

What do you think is the best call. I lean more towards a Herpstat, but have heard great reviews on both.

Also, when I buy a proportional, regardless of what one I choose, do they come with a power cord and all the necessities?

Thanks Gloryhound, I appreciate all your help.

I don't think the basic Herpstat or Helix really does not have any major differences other than the probe on the basic Herpstat is a plug in type unit so if it ever has a problem you order another $20 probe. Compared with the Helix you have to send the unit in. With this said I have yet to have a probe go bad and neither my two Helix units or two Herpstat Pros have given me any problems. That makes it a personal choice for me at this time and I say Herpstat, but that is just me. If you can swing the little extra get the Herpstat ND (Night drop) as it adds alarms and other features that are nice to have around. Hopefully you have someone close by to help out a little with the flex watt your first time trying it. If not someone on-line here can direct you to the write up most preferred by members on the site at this time. I do things differently and if you PM me I can direct you to another forum where I posted one of my earlier methods of doing it before I spent the money and bought the proper crimping tool. I would post it here, but I feel it can be a little tacky posting links to other forums on an established forum. So I avoid it when I can.

[starmom]

I would go with the Herpstat II for now.
Helix is doing a big redesign and so I would wait for the new ones to come out if time were on your side.
I have both Helix's and Herpstat's and they are both terrific units and Helix and Spyder Robotics both have great customer service (Dion at SR and Jeff at Helix).
I would get the Herpstat II over the Pro because it can handle higher wattage. I would get the II over the ND because you might want that feature in the future.
I think it's a good idea to put hatchlings in a 6qt tub as I feel it increases the chances for promoting excellent feeding responses

[Papa Burgundy]

If I were to buy at Reptile Basics, which I am planning on, wouldnthey 'crimp' it for me? My Dad is in the process of building a 55 Chevy 2 door, and has built motorcycles all his life, so if I need any help with wiring he'll have my back.
This rack is only going to be 4 shelves high, 3 feet wide, and I'll be using 4 inch Flexwatt. So thats 3ft x 8 watts per foot= 24 x 4 shelves= 96 watts. A 500 watt capacity thermo should be plenty.
And I won't need night drop for a while, at least another year till be females are up to breeding size, right? Or should you lower temps ate every age? I am planning on building a 41 qt rack next year when they need it, which will definitely have a night drop thermo.
Plus I don't have a male to mate her with, not yet! Should be getting him next week.