New Healthy Ball Python - Need Some Tips

[mattchibi]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

ANY heater used for animals, in my opiniion should only be used with a thermostat to prevent any risk of oveerheating or underheating the animal.

I understand this. I am desperately looking for the brand name and model number of this magical "Thermostat" that regulates heat pad temperatures. I have been looking all over the posts on this site and have had no luck yet.

As of right now, I just bought the Exo Terra Heat Wave Desert Medium Pad; however, I will hold off on using it until I either get a good suggestion on a reliable thermostat, or until I figure out a good way to use it with my probe-thermometer.

I have given her a second hide on the cooler side, which she immediately went to check out. However, she did not stay long and promptly went back under the hide that is under the heat lamp.

I could not find the ZooMed Forest Floor cypress mulch, and the only other cypress mulch available was the All Living Things one. I decided against it because the woodchips seemed unforgiving. Instead, I went with the Exo Terra Plantation Soil, which I heard holds humidity very well. Probably just needs to be cleaned a bit more often than other substrates.

[youngster]

This is the cheapest functional thermostat you can get- Easy-to-use Zoo Med Reptile Rheostats for Less
You'd be much better off with a good one, $50+ USD.

[mattchibi]

Originally Posted by youngster

This is the cheapest functional thermostat you can get- Easy-to-use Zoo Med Reptile Rheostats for Less
You'd be much better off with a good one, $50+ USD.

Thanks a lot for the link, man.

I don't want to get the cheapest one, I want to buy the one that works the best.

I am looking at the mid-price range thermostat on that page, heres the link:
BAH-1000DC Reptile Thermostat New Model - Incredibly Reliable Digital Chip for Accurate Temperature Control

Has anyone used this one before? Its called the: NEW DIGITAL CHIP - BAH-1000DC Reptile Thermostat With DC Chip Technology

Again, thanks for all the help. I would be a little worried if you guys werent here !

[Lankyrob]

You defo want a THERMOstat rather than a RHEOstat - in my opinion anyways.

An example - the rheostat is adjusted by hand - by you, you set it at the right level on day one, day two the ambient temps are higher - you need to adjust it again, day three there is a freeze, you have to adjust it again etc etc, imagine that you are away from home and there is a freeze or a heatwave.........

With a thermostat once it is dialled in to give the right temperature at teh probe then the ambient temperature is irrelevant as that thermostat self adjusts to keep the temps in the right place. Yes you do need to check them couple of times a month just to be sure but the majority of them are reliable enough to never need adjusting. I use HAbistat pulse proportional stats for my ceramic heat bulbs - i check them approx every 14 days with a laser thermometer jobby, apart from the stat that the cats jump over everytime they get on top of the viv i have not had to adjust ANY of the other 6 that i use once they were set up and on temp they hold that temp perfectly.

[mattchibi]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

You defo want a THERMOstat rather than a RHEOstat - in my opinion anyways.

An example - the rheostat is adjusted by hand - by you, you set it at the right level on day one, day two the ambient temps are higher - you need to adjust it again, day three there is a freeze, you have to adjust it again etc etc, imagine that you are away from home and there is a freeze or a heatwave.........

With a thermostat once it is dialled in to give the right temperature at teh probe then the ambient temperature is irrelevant as that thermostat self adjusts to keep the temps in the right place. Yes you do need to check them couple of times a month just to be sure but the majority of them are reliable enough to never need adjusting. I use HAbistat pulse proportional stats for my ceramic heat bulbs - i check them approx every 14 days with a laser thermometer jobby, apart from the stat that the cats jump over everytime they get on top of the viv i have not had to adjust ANY of the other 6 that i use once they were set up and on temp they hold that temp perfectly.

Thanks rob! I will definitely check out the HAbistat. Does anyone know which thermostat works best with UTH's ? As I think that is the route I want to be going.

A quick update on Morticia. She is doing fantastic now. Humidity is well in the 60% range, temps were at 76 F on the warmer and 74 F on the cooler during the night time. I put a space heater on at 74 F for a few hours after i fell asleep last night and I can already tell she loves the tropical weather. The last two days I had her, she would only stay in her big hide under the light. However, when I woke up, I found her in the second hide that I provided, and now, I believe she has a way to thermoregulate.

Again, Im still looking for which exact Under-Tank-Heater to purchase, as well as suggestions on which thermostat to buy with it. I bought the Exo Terra Heat Wave Desert, but I havent opened it yet. I have a feeling I might have wanted to get the Rainforest one instead, just because this one says "for dry climates, sand or gravel".. This has been the damn longest week ever, I've played with all my friends' snakes before, but waiting 7 days before handling Morticia has proven difficult! Hopefully on Sunday she eats when I try and feed her !

[mattchibi]

Did a little more research online, found a posting of the top thermostats which arent on/off but are PROPORTIONAL thermostats

idk, ive heard a lot of bad things from them, i would suggest a new thermostate, they make plent but for a good one your lookin at least i would say 75 dallers. Heres a bunch of links, number one will be the cheapest but these all are suppossed to be the best of the best.

1.Ranco thermostat, $88 shipped. Snake Cage and Reptile Cage at PVC Cages | Snake Cage
2.Spider robotics $100ish. Spyder Robotics
3.the best of the best Helix DBS-1000 DBS-1000
4.The big Cahoowna, Very expencive, $500, but can regulate almost everything
http://ecozonevivarium.com/products-...ntrollers.aspx

Can anyone comment on the above listed thermostats ? Herpstat seems to be commonly used, and I've heard Helix a few times as well. Anyone have any experience using these ones ?

[mattchibi]

Bump : P

Can anyone comment on the following thermostats ? All of them except the Ranco is Proportional Heating, rather than on/off.

1. Ranco thermostat, $88 - Ranco Thermostat | Snake Cage and Reptile Cage at PVC Cages
2. Herpstat $109 - Spyder Robotics or Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce
3. Helix DBS-1000, $139 - DBS-1000

Need one that works with a UTH. Anyone with suggestions or advice welcome !

[mattchibi]

Just an update for you guys:

I bought the herpstat last night online, I watched a whole bunch of reviews for the helix, the ranco and I heard the herpstat is the simplest to use as well as the most reliable.

i will let you guys know how it goes, im excited to try the UTH + thermostat. Morticia doesnt seem too friendly at the moment, and i really want to give her the best environment possible

[youngster]

Good job The rheostats aren't very good no matter what I was just pointing that out in case you needed one in a hurry or something. They're very unreliable as Rob said, I have to adjust the one on my corns cage at least 3 times a week. I only use it because corns (since they are native to North America) are pretty lenient as regards to temp. humidity etc. BTW if you ever have a question the first thing you can do is hit the "Search" button at the top and try to find what you need. If that doesn't work feel free to ask as many questions as you like

[mattchibi]

thanks bud, i got a question..

what are those snake names in every body's signature ?
in urs its "1.0 black motley cornsnake; Sage", whats it mean ?

also, can anyone confirm if the Exo Terra Heatwave Heat Pad Desert is good ? Picked up the medium for $30 at petsmart, seemed pretty reasonable

[Gungirl]

Originally Posted by mattchibi

what are those snake names in every body's signature ?
in urs its "1.0 black motley cornsnake; Sage", whats it mean ?

That tells people the sex, kind and name of his pets. He has a male motley corn named sage.

1.0 = 1 male
2.0= 2 males
0.1=1 female
0.2=2 females
0.0.1 = 1 unknown sex
0.0.2= 2 unknown sex
1.2.1 would be 1 male 2 female and 1 unkown..

hope that helps clear it up

[youngster]

Originally Posted by mattchibi

thanks bud, i got a question..

what are those snake names in every body's signature ?
in urs its "1.0 black motley cornsnake; Sage", whats it mean ?

also, can anyone confirm if the Exo Terra Heatwave Heat Pad Desert is good ? Picked up the medium for $30 at petsmart, seemed pretty reasonable

It's code for the gender and how many snakes we have 1.0 means one male snake, 0.1 means one female snake, 0.0.1 mean one unsexed snake. 1.2 means one male and two females and so on. We have a sticky thread for all the lingo we use Here it is, read up http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/gener...erp-lingo.html

[mattchibi]

Ooh thanks guys.

Anyone know about the exo terra heatwave heat pad desert ?

Edit: And.. Real or Myth ? Are infrared lights completely safe to use with BP's ? Someone once told me it causes cancer and ive been hesitant to try it. Although a lot of youtubers who film their snakes actually usually have the UTH on the bottom to control the hot side temp, and then a small infrared light on top to control ambient temps. Does anyone else do that ?

[youngster]

Originally Posted by mattchibi

Ooh thanks guys.

Anyone know about the exo terra heatwave heat pad desert ?

Edit: And.. Real or Myth ? Are infrared lights completely safe to use with BP's ? Someone once told me it causes cancer and ive been hesitant to try it. Although a lot of youtubers who film their snakes actually usually have the UTH on the bottom to control the hot side temp, and then a small infrared light on top to control ambient temps. Does anyone else do that ?

I do that when it gets cold, don't see why infrared would cause cancer. But I use this UTH and it works like a charm Zoo Med Repti-Therm Under Tank Heaters - Reptile - Sale Category - PetSmart

[blindfireak40]

I can almost guarantee that infrared does not cause cancer. It's less energetic than visible light; if it caused cancer then seeing things would cause cancer as well lol

Also, GREAT job with your setup!! It's always nice to see a new owner who did their own research but is still willing to take expert advice Hopefully she calms down for ya soon, so you can get us pictures