Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just had another thermostat fail in the perpetually "on" mode. I was looking over my animals, and one of the larger enclosures seemed to be radiating heat. I reached in and gently tapped the thermostat and there was a "click" from the thermostat and the heating devices turned off. That cage was overheating the smaller one on top of it, whose thermostat was acting normally.

The brand is ESU Reptilite and cost $35 each. I also use ZooMed's similarly designed thermostat that failed, so I don;t trust them any more One of my prized lizards died a couple months ago when it's thermostat wouldn't turn off. I still feel guilty about not picking up on some clue.

My conclusion is that the ESU and ZooMed thermostats use technology that periocically fails. Failing in the "on" mode is the absolute worst. Because my herp room faces south and gets very warm all on it's own. I need to depend on all the thermostats to turn off. If only they failed in the "off" mode then aat least the lizards won't be getting heat stroke.

*I need thermostats that work dependably* Any suggestions? So far I need four new thermostats because I don't trust the $35 models.

I'm gonna cross-post this.

Roger

I just had another thermostat fail in the perpetually "on" mode. I was looking over my animals, and one of the larger enclosures seemed to be radiating heat. I reached in and gently tapped the thermostat and there was a "click" from the thermostat and the heating devices turned off. That cage was overheating the smaller one on top of it, whose thermostat was acting normally.

The brand is ESU Reptilite and cost $35 each. I also use ZooMed's similarly designed thermostat that failed, so I don;t trust them any more One of my prized lizards died a couple months ago when it's thermostat wouldn't turn off. I still feel guilty about not picking up on some clue.

My conclusion is that the ESU and ZooMed thermostats use technology that periocically fails. Failing in the "on" mode is the absolute worst. Because my herp room faces south and gets very warm all on it's own. I need to depend on all the thermostats to turn off. If only they failed in the "off" mode then aat least the lizards won't be getting heat stroke.

*I need thermostats that work dependably* Any suggestions? So far I need four new thermostats because I don't trust the $35 models.

I'm gonna cross-post this.

Roger

Why do you entrust the safty of your precious reptiles to a cheap petshop piece of equipment? They deserve more.

I would think one of the first things you learn as a beginer is to think of and support the safty of your charges. This would include the purchase of good equipment, and using forethought in the placement of your cages. Let me think, lets put our wonderful reptiles on the hot wall/room, so they can die if the thermostat breaks.

The above is a very important part of keeping reptiles, and its very basic(for beginers) As any person with experience in any trade would tell you, the first thing to learn is, USE THE RIGHT TOOLS.

In the end, I am so surprised at you, I believe you have critizied me, like you were a peer. Then to find out, you have not learned the basics of keeping reptiles, planning ahead and preparing for problems.

If your going to keep your reptiles in a room that the cage can get TOO hot, then put an air conditioner in that room and have it set to go on only when it gets hot.

In most trades, cheap tools only hurts the person, in this case, it hurts the caged animal who cannot escape to safty. I feel you should know better.

Remember what I said above, I am saying this, not for you, its for others who may be willing to learn. FR

p.s. At this time I use Ranco's, I have around 15 in service now.

Ive had some do the same, but I do not trust any thermostat to work without expecting something to go wrong. My experience with monitors and thermostats is one of the temp probe or the wire just above it going bad, this causes either perpetual on or off. Ive yet to have any other reptile with that problem, I guess most other reptiles dont damage the sensors or wires so easily.
Because of this and the fear of cooking them, Ive tried to always set them up so as the heat source can only heat the cage to a certain temp and nowhere beyond.
Dare I say another reason to set up and use 24/7 constant basking lights, forget thermostats and light cycles.
Of course when I used thermostats and such with them I also offered a water dish big enough to soak in, they are very smart, this is what saved one for me once, I learned to cut back on wattages and allow the ability to escape the heat from that experience.
I use thermostats on incubators and on a hatchling raise up cage only.

My question is why not give them a warm spot and side with a contant on heat source and then let them have a large enough enclosue that they can get to a cooler spot if the heat gets too much or a water bowl to soak in???? I just leave my basking lights on for my Nile I had for years and for the New timor I have They both seem to know pretty well when they need to be in and out of the basking spots and how to controll there temps for themselves. I have not seen any reptile in general that can't do the well at least as anything but tiny babys and they are still learning or they don't get to be bigger.

Shawn
0.0.1 Blue Spotted Timor Monitor

Come on now, there is no reasont they should be kept in a hott room like that relyin on a thermostat, the air conditioner is the best bet ina room like that, or a room change.
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0.1.0 BCI, 3 yr old
0.0.1 Ridge Tail Monitor, Juvi.
0.0.1 Leoperd Gecko, Juvi (My girlfriends)