I brought the thermostat, now what?

OSMDEATHOWNER · 02-09-12, 01:47 PM

Can you all just give me some general heating info. I got the thermostat cuz I didn't want to stock them thermometers on the inside of the tank and risk it getting stuck to ma bp since she knocks it down everynite but now how do I measure heat and how do I set the thermostat if it just says hi and low. the digital thermometers have the stickys too. Please just tell me Wat you all do for heating. Also should I keep my uth on all nite and day now that I have the thermostat

**millertime89** · 02-09-12, 02:41 PM

I seem to be the odd ball out in my methods. I put the probe in the enclosure on top of the substrate to get the most accurate temps. I do this because I use belly heat but I also use cypress mulch as substrate. I use both heat pads and flexwatt for a heat source.
up top: thermostat bung on the left, flexwatt in the middle, hygrometer (humidity sensor) on the right

the lower ones have all the cables routed in behind.

OSMDEATHOWNER · 02-09-12, 03:16 PM

How do you know Wat the temp is on the probe, your thermostat displays it after it reads it? I can't set a number temp on mine or get a digital reading from it??

mattchibi · 02-09-12, 03:35 PM

It sounds like got a rheostat. Any good thermostat will have a digital readout on it for the temperature on the probe. I suggest looking into Herpstat (made by Spyder Robotics), or Vivarium Electronics (sold on Reptile Basics Inc website, google it). The cheapest thermostats that I know ~work~ are the Ranco, which is about $80, and the Hydrofarm, which is a bit cheaper, but they are on/off thermostats and aren't as reliable. Much more susceptible to heat spikes.

The on/off thermostats are generally cheaper, and the way they work is for example the Ranco: You set a the Max temp to 92, and the Min temp to 88. Then what the thermostat will do is heat up the flexwatt or Under-tank-heater until it reaches 92 degrees on the probe. Then it will automatically turn off the heating element until the probe reads 88 degrees. Then the cycle goes on and on, trying to optimally keep the temps on the hot side between 88 and 92 at all times.

The proportional thermometers are MUCH better, I've used them since I got my first ball python. I personally use the Herpstat, I have a few models of them. How they work is you set the temperature to say 92 degrees again. The thermostat will make the heating element go up to 92, and then proportionally reduce the amount of energy until it needs to heat up again. The difference between the proportional thermostats and the cheaper on/off ones is that they stay within a much smaller range (within +/- 0.5) like within 91.5-92.5, rather than 88-92. My tank has a constant hotspot of between 92-93 at all times of the day or night. My tubs have a constant hotspot of between 90-91 at all times of the day.

I highly recommend it. The thermostat will be able to be used for the rest of your ball's life. You will realize that you want to upgrade once you've used the crappy ones for a few weeks, or once your snake gets a burn. Heres some links:

Spyder Robotics

Reptile Basics Inc

exwizard · 02-09-12, 04:09 PM

Alife is much cheaper thermostat. LLL Reptiles sells them for $26.

theapexgerman · 02-09-12, 04:45 PM

this is the what I use
BAH-1000DC Reptile Thermostat New Model - Incredibly Reliable Digital Chip for Accurate Temperature Control

presspirate · 02-09-12, 05:04 PM

Respect to the op. He already got the thermostat. He wasn't asking what to buy, but what to do now that he has it. The answer is monitor your temps. Use your current thermometers for now. When you can, buy yourself a laser thermometer. These can be gotten for around $20 - $30 and you can measure your temps at any part of the enclosure.

theapexgerman · 02-09-12, 05:12 PM

I got mine lazer thermometer at amazone for 16 bucks free shipping to and works good I miss understood the question I'm on my cell so I didn't read everyrthing

mykee · 02-09-12, 06:45 PM

I know, off topic of the OP, but in good conscience I can't let this one slide:

Quote:

"I seem to be the odd ball out in my methods. I put the probe in the enclosure on top of the substrate to get the most accurate temps. I do this because I use belly heat but I also use cypress mulch as substrate. I use both heat pads and flexwatt for a heat source."

The reason you feel like to odd ball out is because with your probe placement, should your ball python (like ALL ball pythons do) burrow under the substrate to the bottom, the temps will be so hot that you WILL have to deal with a nasty case of belly burn.
Just saying.

OSMDEATHOWNER · 02-09-12, 07:04 PM

I brought a repti temp 500 r. From lllreptile for 32bucks and it sucks I dunno how to place the probe or where I'm getting so overwhelmed with all dis stuff but I'm determined so Imma keep throwing way cash till I get it rite smh

Gungirl · 02-09-12, 07:47 PM

What do you have for a heat source? If it is a heating pad or flexwatt place the probe on the very bottom of the tank on top of said heat source. Do not place the probe on top of the shavings or paper you have as a base put it under it. However if you have a light or a radiant heat panel place your probe on top of your sub-straight.

You want to place the probe in the hottest area your snake can get to. The snake will burrow or climb to get to the heat it needs. Ball Pythons tend to not be climbers so this leaves you with a choice of under the sub-straight or on top of it. The style heat source you have will determine where to place the prob.

OSMDEATHOWNER · 02-09-12, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theapexgerman

this is the what I use
BAH-1000DC Reptile Thermostat New Model - Incredibly Reliable Digital Chip for Accurate Temperature Control

Does this use a probe too? Cuz ma main problem is placing the probe and still keeping the nice clean look and the viv top locked

OSMDEATHOWNER · 02-09-12, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

What do you have for a heat source? If it is a heating pad or flexwatt place the probe on the very bottom of the tank on top of said heat source. Do not place the probe on top of the shavings or paper you have as a base put it under it. However if you have a light or a radiant heat panel place your probe on top of your sub-straight.

You want to place the probe in the hottest area your snake can get to. The snake will burrow or climb to get to the heat it needs. Ball Pythons tend to not be climbers so this leaves you with a choice of under the sub-straight or on top of it. The style heat source you have will determine where to place the prob.

I use a 100 watt exoterra bulb for day and a Uth 6 x 8 in at nite

theapexgerman · 02-09-12, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSMDEATHOWNER

Does this use a probe too? Cuz ma main problem is placing the psrobe and still keeping the nice clean look and the viv top locked

Yes but there's a modle that use a heat dector its one of the more ezpensive. U could just use the heat dector and not even use the probe

**millertime89** · 02-10-12, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

The reason you feel like to odd ball out is because with your probe placement, should your ball python (like ALL ball pythons do) burrow under the substrate to the bottom, the temps will be so hot that you WILL have to deal with a nasty case of belly burn.
Just saying.

I'm aware, shortly after taking that picture spacers were placed between the tubs and the heat sources. I'm struggling with the balance between the convenience of a tub/rack system, and my desire to keep smells at bay and provide the maximum comfort to my animals by providing them substrate to bury in. Any tips? I've measured the uth/flexwatt temp when inside tub temp is set to 85F, and the heaters are usually right around the 100F mark. Although lately my room ambient is just below 80 so the heat elements haven't had to work nearly as hard as they used to. I think I've asked about this before and nobody has a good solution.