Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have just aquired a vision 322 cage, I have the radiant heat panel from Pro-products being shipped and am getting a controller, either Johnson Controls/Helix/or Herpstat ND (some advise on these would he appreciated!!! Anyway, I plan to use cypris bedding, a couple hides, water bowl, ect. I am thinking of keeping the two BRBs (1.1) together until I can get another vision set-up, they are only about 5 months old now. Does this seem like an appropriate housing for these snakes? If anyone has any suggestions or ideas I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Both the Helix and the Herpstat are nice units. You'll be happy with either. The only advantage I see with the Herpstat is that you can move forward and in reverse when setting the temps. With the Helix, you can only go forward. But, I like the probes on the Helix a little better.

The vision 322 is 36" x 23" correct? This is a little large for a small snake but if your ambient temps don't get any lower that 70 or so, you will be all right.

Be very careful during feeding time if you're housing two animals together.

It sounds like a few people are moving away from bottom heat in favor of the Pro-Products heat panels. These are very nice products. I use them with my chondros and have been very happy. BRBs however, spend most of their time on the ground. I'll be interested to see how the radiant heat works out with Epicrates. If you all have success, I might have to invest in a few more.

Good luck with your animals,
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

I own a Helix and have no complaints other than a night drop cable cost some bucks to add on to their unit which includes a wire and brings you to almost 200 or you can get the built in night time drops built in the Herpstat. My Helix says it came with a 6 foot probe and I'm lucky if it is 3 foot -no problem for my rack but it is still 3ft. I like the Herpstat for the night time drops- Herpstat ND 1 channel with ND for the price of a Helix with no ND feature. Herpstat II for 220 and ND capabilities and two Helix's have to around 3something and a Herpstat Pro 4 channel and night drops is 320 , four Helixes is expensive and at least double with no ND feautures. If you plan on maybe one day getting another cage to split them up, I would plan ahead and get the Herpstat II so all you need is to run your probe to the cage and I think they are 10 foot too. Hope it helps and plan for the future to help you from buying another thermostat. I do not own any Herpstats but will only buy them for now on, when space is a consideration when housing a lot of snakes, outlets start becoming scarce and so the Herpstat justs looks like the better idea for me at least.
Bob

I have a bunch of helix DBS 1000's and two herpstat pro's. Only disadvantages to the helix (like others have stated) is with night drop more pricey and a PITA to lower the temp a couple of degrees - you can omnly cheange temp up so to drop two degrees have to go all the way around. Also the helix came with shorter probes.

I do like the helix for single application like a rack where you don't want/need night drop. Like my hatchling racks.

I have to admit, I love the herpstat pro's! Long probes (8 or 10 feet) four seperate channels, easily programmed with built in adjustable night drop.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
19.29 BRB
14.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Has anyone had any luck with the Johnson controls? Sounds like the Helix or Heprstat ND might be the better choice, but I have heard that the Johnson are good units, except for the on/off only.