Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just purchased a thermostat as listed above, but I have some questions about operating it. In the directions it doesn't say much about the placement of the sensor. Where should this be located. I don't want to use the adhesive pads to cling the thermostat to the tank because I would prefer to be able to use it once again when I upgrade my tank to a larger tank. Is is neccesary to let it cling to the side for the sensor to work properly. How does everyone use theirs? Thanks for any help.

While I don't use this particular thermstat, I do use a thermometer with an adhesive pad on it's sensor. The adhesive pad is no longer sticky so I currently use a piece of masking tape to secure it to the spot I want it at.

Hope this helps.

Bob

I would recommend against any type of adhesive in a snake cage as they can stick to snake scales very well. Maybe you can get away with masking tape but I once had a corn tear some of its skin off trying to get out of furnace tape. It's amazing how well it sticks to those scales.

My probes have long since lost their adhesive but I often stick them under a hide spot pot and that holds them in place at a point in the cage I happen to be interested in testing anyway.

I've never had any problem with the light adhesive on masking tape. In the case of a thermostat probe, there is a greater danger that the animal will move it from the desired location if it's not secured.

I started securing my Helix sensor in this manner after my BP's moved it off from above the flexwatt as the were pushing thigs around their cages in search of food. They were almost cooked as a result.

Masking tape provided just enough hold and was easy to remove when cleaning the cages.

Just my opinion.....

Bob

attached to the tank.

And I find they work really well.

However, the little temperature dial is useless, given that it goes by color shade. What you really need to operate this thermostat correctly is a digital thermometer, with an indoor/outdoor display and a probe for the outdoors.

I use a garbage tie (or elastic) to connect the probe on the thermometer to the probe on the thermostat. (Connect them just below the probe .. at the end of the wire).

Then, put your probe wherever you are concerned about the temps. The best place, IMHO, for a BP is in his warm hide, or on the warm side somewhere. Now, you can read the thermometer and adjust the thermostat until you get the temp you like.

Once you have this temp, you can remove the thermometer and use it elsewhere.

Spot check the temps periodically, though.

Hope this helps,
Joel

PS: You can, in fact, put the probe anywhere, and just put the probe for the thermometer where you are concerned about the temps. IE: Both probes don't HAVE to be in the same place. The point is that you need a good thermometer to gain full use of the thermostat.
-----
3.6 Leopard Geckos (1.4 Albino)
~~20 Leo eggs cookin'~~
1.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 African Fat Tail Gecko
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake