Thermostats?!?!

[JodiLeigh]

Which thermostat is better?

The Ministat by Microclimate or the Komodo Thermostat, both can control up to 100w?

I have my eye on both but can't decided as the price is the same and I don't have any experience with either

Has anyone used both and can anyone help?

[GarterGuy17]

Well in my opinion I think a thermostat for a tank is really a waste because either way a garter is supposed to have a cold side and a warm side. They don't have to have that exactly but its preferable , Your temp on the warm side should not go over 85F as the snake can get burns for your heat source if your using any. The cold side should be in the low 70s F. I have about the same size tank that you ordered but mine is glass with a wire mesh top. I have no way of controlling my temps unless I have my A/C on which makes the room go to the low 70s , but I cant always have it on so my tank is always up and down but my jade seems to like it. Just you have to see what works best for you and what your snake loves the most ; either being on the warm or cold side. jade loves it warm so that's how I keep it. Once you get her in her new viv and she gets settled you will know what's best. Good luck

Maybe some other members have more opinions and better ones then mine since i'm pretty fresh out the box when it comes to snakes

[kibakiba]

Many people do have thermostats, because you do need to know what the temperature is. I don;t have any experience with them (I cant get any until I find a job, which is a long ways away with my mental issues... haha) If you can afford it, perhaps you could buy both, and use one for the hot side, andone for the cool side. Or, use both in the middle to get an idea of how they get the temperature, and if one of them doesn't work as well or isn't satisfactory, take it back.

[katach]

I have just a $12 Walmart thermometer with a humidity gauge. It works very well. I just put the sensor on the inside of the tank in the warm side. It tells me the inside of the tank, the outside of the tank (which is very close to the cool side if the tank),and the humidity. I'm very happy with it.

[EasternGirl]

I was under the impression that thermostats were used mostly with UTH (under tank heat) mats...I guess some people use them with lamps too. The point of the thermostat is to shut the heat off if it gets too high when you are not around so that the snake does not get burned or overheated. Wiring can always go wonky and a mat or a lamp could get too hot...and temps fluctuate depending on the ambient temps in your house...so a thermostat can ensure that the tank...even if only on one side...doesn't get too hot. I think they're a good idea...and I do use UTH mats as well as lamps...I just haven't been able to afford a good thermostat yet. Some members also use timers on their lights to control the amount of light the snake gets in a day...also a great idea...but another thing I just can't afford at the moment.

[kibakiba]

It can happen with lamps, too. If a lamp is a high wattage it can actually melt some of the plants in the tank, which has happened ot another member, if it's hot enough to melt a plant, it can harm the snake easily.

[chris-uk]

I do not use any heating without a thermostat. Heatmats uncontrolled can raise the temp up to the mid-30s, which is hotter than needed. Lamps can raise the temp even more depending on the wattage and height above the substrate. I think the need with lamps is less than with a heatmat, lamps behave in a very predictable way so if you have the right wattage for the height and temperature you should maintain a constant temp (as long as the room temp doesn't fluctuate wildly).

I've not used either the Komodo or Microclimate stats. I know at least one person with garters who uses some Microclimate stats, never heard anyone mention using the Komodo ones. I use Habistat thermostats on all my tanks, except the one that uses a Lucky Reptile Thermocontrol II PRO unit. I've got Habistat matstat on one, and Habistat dimming stats on two others. The only difference between the matstats and dimming stats is that the dimming stat has a know that is easier to turn, the matstat needs a small screwdriver to adjust. When I started using them I used the dimming models to turn down the heat overnight manually, but now I have them on timers and cut off the heat completely at night.

So I'd recommend using a stat to control the temperature and to switch off the heat source if it malfunctions. I can personally recommend Habistat, and from a conversation I had with an experienced garter keeper who uses both Habistat and Microclimate I think the quality of the two brands is pretty much on a par with each other.

[Stefan-A]

Still looking for a thermostate that can deal with a timer without breaking and that can control multiple enclosures. The last one I had (Zoo Med 500R) could only control two devices with one probe and it broke on day 2.

Heat mats without a thermostat... Haven't had any problems so far, but all it takes is for a heat mat to break and that's just a matter of time. With single sheet of newspaper as substrate, the temperature just above the mat is 36 C and the ambient temperature is typically 22-24 C. Even a thin layer of any other substrate will drastically reduce the temperature.

[Mommy2many]

I have the humidity thingy and the thermostat that stick to the glass side. Besides giving me a vague idea of temp and humidity at anytime, they are jungle gym appliances for my snakes.

Just a warning

[JodiLeigh]

Wow! A lot of advice here, thanks guys!

I do also have my eye on the Habistat mat stat on eBay but I think it will go for more then the other two, if it does I will go for the Microclimate stat. So we'll just have to wait and see.

It's the heat mat I worry about most and that is what I am buying it for. I have a heat lamp too but that will only be on for a few hours a day.
I intend to turn the thermostat down at night for the heat mat as I don't want to turn it off completely as my house is very cold, in summer I will switch it off completely.

I have a separate thermometer/hygrometer to monitor the cold side and will be getting some small led strip lights for consistent but gentle lighting threw out the enclosure, purely for show, they give off close to no heat and use up minimal space.