Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need to find a good thermostat for my new addition. I bought a Zoo-Med Rheostat at Petsmart, but apparently got pretty bad reviews online (has a tendency to stay too hot, even on low). I want to return it and order something good, but not terribly expensive (under $30 would be great). Any suggestions?

I will be using a 10-gallon with an UTH. I'll probably get some Coconut husk substrate, since that's what the breeder recommended. I just need to find something that will let me keep a steady temp in the enclosure.

In this price range Zoo Med also makes a Thermostat. Until you get to $100 or so I am not sure of a good thermostat. I still have one in use and it sems to work fine - as I do check temps with a temp gun on a regular basis.

Also, for substrate for a rainbow I would recommend Cypress as it will hold water quite well and resist mold.
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Mike

7.13 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

Those Petsmart Rheotstats are okay, but don't use any Thermostat under $50. I've heard many horror stories about them malfunctioning and reptiles being cooked. I'd much rather invest in a $70 Johnson Control thermostat (or better yet a Helix) to save my $170 dollar snake rather than fry it on a $25 electronic. What you definitely want to get that is very cheap though is an indoor/outdoor thermometer so you can keep track of the temps at both sides. Especially with a BRB where you don't want super hot temps, a thermometer is cheap yet indispensable.

A 10 gallon will be okay for a bit, the UTH is good in my opinion because you want belly heat. The best substrate in my opinion is paper towels. It doesn't look that nice but it's so easy to clean, especially since mold can accumulate so rapidly in a tank that must be kept at 80% humidity or higher (I only have one BRB and I still use this to save time and keep the tank super clean). You do want to cover off most of it though, I use Reflectix insulation after hearing about it from Dave on this forum, it's worked wonders for me for keeping in heat with the glass and humidity (covered the screen top with it) for my BRB in the winter.

That's just my 2 cents from being a BRB beginner last year. Congrats on your new BRB, they really are great snakes to look at as well at to handle (mine is at least!). Post pics once you get him/her!
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Danne
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1.0 BRB "Monroe"
1.0 Pastel BP "Sebastian"
1.1 Leos "Bowser & Peach"
0.3 cats "Beast, Smokey & Thelma"
0.2 Dumbo (non-feeder) rats "Josie & Holly"
0.4.2 fish

Thanks, I'm going to be calling around to reptile stores here (St. Louis) in the morning to see if any of them carry decent thermostats. There's a show coming up, but it's not until the 26th. I'm hoping to bring the new BRB home this weekend, and if I order online, I'll have to wait on the thermostat to get here and wait until the tank is up and running. I hope I can find something decent here.

This is one of those cases where if you buy cheap you get cheap!!

The least expensive way to go with a safety plan is one of the inexpensive on/off dial type thermostats PLUS a dimmer switch between the t0stat and UTH so the UTH will never get full power. That way you can limit the upper temp possibility even if the t-stat fails full on.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

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

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Yeah, I'm just going to suck it up and pay for a basic Herpstat or something similar. I really hope I can find one locally so I don't have to wait for it to come in the mail

Good choice to go with the Herpstat. They ship really quick, you'll have it within a week's time.
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Julie
www.[url ban]/gfx