Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So after looking at a few cage manufactures & seeing what their advise is for thermostats and flexwatt I deciced to take their advise and not put the Tstat probe inside my tanks and put it outside directly on the flexwatt itself and then use a thermometer with a probe to "calibrate" the Tstat.

First the issue I am haveing with doing it this way is I will "calibrate" it and it works fine but mabie a week later I will have to re-calibrate. For instance this week the tank was getting a little cold. So I had to up the Tstat.

Second I am looking at getting opininons on doing it that way. How many people set it up like that or how many put the Tstat probe in the tank/cage instead. Why do you use it that way?

I hear the main reason to have it set up that way is "You know exactly what temp the flexwatt is running at" The only real concern with that I see is if you have a blackout or are turning on and heating the cage for the first time. While its heating up to desired temp inside the cage the flexwatt might be running higher but I dont think it will melt a PVC/boaphile/AP cage. Its generaly being kept at 90 degrees. With the probe inside I find the temps are more consistant. Is there any real danger for putting the probe inside?

What kind of t-stat are you using?

Bart

I have a Herpstat Pro and a few Rancos. I am keeping leopard geckos. The main issue is I have to recalibrate every few weeks. Trying to get an idea of if I really need to do that or if putting the probe inside would be easier/better or worse?

Having a probe in the cage is the most direct method to ensure your setting is what the heater actually does. However the animal may move the probe. An easy way to remedy this is to setup a small similar box or cage with no animal in it, then put the probe in that. This small cage is your control item.

PVC cage material can handle 105 deg easy w/o any damage. It can handle higher actually. I've done 105 for a full day, no problems.

There is no need to keep the heat tape temperature exactly at one temp. Here is pretty much what you want to achieve:

The ambient room temp is below 75 (for most colubrids anyway, maybe not necessary for large boids) and the heat tape temperature falls in the 85-95 range, preferrably 90. The cage is large enough to support that.

The above scenario can be done with the probe on the heat tape and the controller adjusted accordingly, or by having the probe in a cage. Either way. Remember, the snake can thermoregulate itself. You provide heat and cool, the snake will move on and off the heat as needed. Don't worry so much about 88 versus 95. The snake can manage.

Now, the real problem is when the ambient air temp gets too high. If you room or house is protected against that, great, but if not, then that is your main concern, not the actual heat tape temp. I use a Ranco that turns off all heaters when the room air temp hits 80, because where my snakes are, if the room has hit 80 deg, it isn't going lower for hours on end, and I simply want to protect the snakes at that time.
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Mark