I bought a used fridge for $100, then I bought a controller from Willaims Brewing that allows a fridge to go above the "normal" 42 degree max. (Not positive about that max#) and won't burn out the compressor.

Anyway the controller allows you to plug the fridge into this device. Then you can set the temp for 75, 73, 71, etc. daily until you get down to the temp you desire. I stack clear polycarbonate boxes in there with the animals in them and voila! In spring I do the reverse, I raise the temps daily until I get back to room temps, then move them back into the herp room and that is it. It won't work on the freezer part of the fridge so look for one that has the largest fridge section and small freezer section. I'm buying a new cheap one this year since my other one has reached stacking capacity and I need to cool more animals this season. I got the idea from Dr. Mark Seward's gila book.

Works great for us.

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