Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I am planning on brumating my garter snakes this year but live in an apartment. In the past I have had the luxury of having a garage that gets to ideal temperatures but am at a loss to find a spot in my apartment that will work. I have a "mini" fridge that I can use but even at the lowest setting my temps are in the low 40's... SO, my question is: has anyone used a dimmer on a mini fridge before or do you know if it will work to get my temps around 55 degrees??? I don't want to ruin the fridge or anything so I thought I would ask to see if anyone else has done this with any luck.

Thanks in advance,
-Joe-
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0.1.0 Colombian Red-tailed Boa (100% Het. for albino)
0.0.2 Western Hognose Snakes
0.2.1 Plains Garter Snakes
1.0.0 Red-sided Garter Snake
1.2.0 Barred Tiger Salamanders
0.0.1 Red-eared Slider
0.0.1 Common Snapping Turtle

No, a dimmer on the compressor motor is not a good idea.

An ON/OFF controller built to handle 10-13 amps, like the available Ranco thermostats, will be a better approach. I forgot what their lowest-temp setting is on the Ranco.
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Mark

>>No, a dimmer on the compressor motor is not a good idea.
>>
>>An ON/OFF controller built to handle 10-13 amps, like the available Ranco thermostats, will be a better approach. I forgot what their lowest-temp setting is on the Ranco.
>>-----
>>Mark

Let me second this. A dimmer will only result in burning out the compressor motor. Another thermostat, to override the thermostatt in the refrig is the only real option.

deg

awesome, thanks guys. i see where the current thermostat is, do i just buy a replacement thermostat and wire it in where the factory thermostat is? where would i even buy a new thermostat? an HVAC supply store or something?

thanks so much,
-joe-
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0.1.0 Colombian Red-tailed Boa (100% Het. for albino)
0.0.2 Western Hognose Snakes
0.2.1 Plains Garter Snakes
1.0.0 Red-sided Garter Snake
1.2.0 Barred Tiger Salamanders
0.0.1 Red-eared Slider
0.0.1 Common Snapping Turtle

What about the snakes AIR SUPPLY?

or else you will have a brumated dead snake!!

I've known people to use a "wine cooler" with success before, but it MUST be set up with some sort of fresh air circulation.

You could probably use an inexpensive aquarium pump to do this, but you better be cautious of power outages!

best regards, ~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

>>awesome, thanks guys. i see where the current thermostat is, do i just buy a replacement thermostat and wire it in where the factory thermostat is? where would i even buy a new thermostat? an HVAC supply store or something?
>>
>>thanks so much,
>>-joe-

Well, that would work, but an easier solution is to plug the refrig into something like a Ranco thermostat and put the Ranco temp probe in the refrig. As long as the temp setting on the Ranco is higher than that of the refrig, it will act as an override and result in the temp set on the Ranco.

As another poster noted, you will need to provide some ventilation.

deg

Ok, I get you with the "Ranco" thermostat, I didn't understand what you were saying. Do you know where I can purchase one of these "Rancos"? As for the ventilation, I have been told by several other people that all they have done is open the fridge up every day or even every other day and the air exchanges... This was my main concern to begin with. I remember reading a couple years ago that someone had run airline tubing from and aquarium air pump to provide fresh air to their fridge. I am considering trying this... This whole process is proving to be much more complicated than I thought it would be, I'm glad I'm thinking ahead so I can have everything ready in a couple months... Thanks for your input guys, any other thoughts???
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0.1.0 Colombian Red-tailed Boa (100% Het. for albino)
0.0.2 Western Hognose Snakes
0.2.1 Plains Garter Snakes
1.0.0 Red-sided Garter Snake
1.2.0 Barred Tiger Salamanders
0.0.1 Red-eared Slider
0.0.1 Common Snapping Turtle

I did this exact thing last year to brumate my black pines.
A mini fridge will not work without the thermastat. A wine cooler will work though, the temps were very easy to maintain as wine is not nearly as cool as a fridge. I suggest putting your brumation boxes in the cooler as well as the substrate they will be brumating in, otherwise your temps will not stay close to the same. I also installed a small aquarium pump hosed into the bottom with an outlet on the top (warm air rises). Bred successfully and had a 100% hatchrate.
Nate

nate,

awesome man, thank you times infinity... i'll keep you guys posted and maybe post some flicks when i get a chance...

-joe-
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0.1.0 Colombian Red-tailed Boa (100% Het. for albino)
0.0.2 Western Hognose Snakes
0.2.1 Plains Garter Snakes
1.0.0 Red-sided Garter Snake
1.2.0 Barred Tiger Salamanders
0.0.1 Red-eared Slider
0.0.1 Common Snapping Turtle

I've brumated plains garters at 40 F without any problems. So I do not see a need to change the thermostat.

Open the door and swing it a couple of times every day for air exchange. Make sure the snakes have a bowl of water because dehydration is a concern.

Good luck.

Paul Hollander

Awesome, thank you Paul. I moved the sensor for the thermostat right next to the cooling device in the fridge and got the temps to raise up to where it's ranging from 47 to 55 degrees now. I am just going to give it a shot and keep a close eye on my snakes when the time comes.
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0.1.0 Colombian Red-tailed Boa (100% Het. for albino)
0.0.2 Western Hognose Snakes
0.2.1 Plains Garter Snakes
1.0.0 Red-sided Garter Snake
1.2.0 Barred Tiger Salamanders
0.0.1 Red-eared Slider
0.0.1 Common Snapping Turtle