Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need to pick up a new thermostat to control the temp in my borneo's cage and I have a few questions. Right now I'm using a rheostat for the undertank heater and its awfully inacurrate. Does anyone have experience with the ZOO MED 500 Watt Thermostat? the description says(from lllreptile.com):

"Precise temperature control. Range from 70 - 110 degrees. Can be used in conjunction with a timer for day / night cycle simulation. Maximum of 500 watts. Direct contact, not probe"

I was wondering how they are direct contact instead of utilizing a probe? Can anyone explain to me how these work?

The thermostat I use is a Zoo Med, and it's 500 watts, but it uses a probe. Maybe they have a couple of different models?

The experience I have with it has been pretty good -- once I set the temperature range, it stays within that range. However, if I (or my blood python, who has the probe in his cage) move the probe, and the temp gets off, it must be reset again to get to the proper temperature. Which makes sense, if you think about it...

Maybe they switched over to direct contact (which, I would assume, would have the thermostat in the cage??) for that reason!
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Kitt

so the entire thermostat goes inside the cage, I would assume on the hot end? I'd still need a thermometer on the cool end of the cage then too? lol, I was going to call zoo med to see if they could explain it to me but I couldn't even find the product on their web page.

I personally use it and love it. Makes it so much easier for me and Snappy my Sumatran.

the hot spot I use the heat tape under the tank so the probe comes with the suction that goes right in the tank above the hot spot. No you dont need another probe for the cool side just the hot side thats all.