Reptile Thermostats
Reptile thermostats can be confusing when you are a beginner, there are so many different types which vary in price and function in quite a big way. With that in mind it has always been my intention to write a concise but informative guide to thermostats, detailing the differences between them, and how to use them most effectively.
Important note: Thermostats are one of the most essential pieces of kit. Most reptile heating equipment is built to be used in conjunction with some form of temperature control. As well as being an essential piece of safety equipment, you should remember temperature within the room will vary from day to day, night to night and use of a thermostat helps to buffer those changes and ensure you are providing the proper temperature for your reptile regardless of other factors.
This guide will offer an introduction to thermostats, discuss how to use your thermostat most effectively (namely, where to place the temperature sensitive probe), cover the different types with product examples and will finish with a quick reference of what thermostats are suitable for use with different heating products.
Guide to Thermostats
Simply put, thermostats are devices which control the temperature in a given area by controlling the power output on a given heating element. In the case of reptile thermostats, a probe is used to take temperature readings, this information is then used to limit the power of the heating element in order to achieve and maintain a temperature you set on the thermostat unit. The method used to control the power output of the thermostat varies between different types, and it is important to understand these types to make sure you are using the correct thermostat for your equipment.
How to use a thermostat
Not as simple as it sounds, I’ve lost count of how many times I have wondered in to a pet shop to find they are using ALL of their thermostats largely incorrectly. There are two key points to using your thermostat correctly, the most important being placing the probe in the correct area. The probe is only able to measure its local temperature, ie the temperature of the area it is in. With this in mind you need to make sure the probe is in the area where the reptile resides, ie it is measuring the temperature the reptile comes in contact with.
For example, with a terrestrial snake which spends much of its time sat on the floor within its hide, put the probe on the floor inside the hide. For something like an arboreal chameleon, you will need the probe somewhere in the canopy, either measuring the ambient temperature or the temperature of a basking spot, for instance. For something like a bearded dragon the thermostat is unlikely to go high enough to control the basking spot, so should be positioned somewhere it can measure and control ambient temperature (somewhere in the middle perhaps – there will be an element of trial and error as you work out where you need to place the probe for optimum temperature control).
This kind of positioning is essential to properly use your thermostat, there is no point controlling the temperature in an area of the vivarium your reptile never comes in contact with!
The other key to using thermostats correctly is to remember they are slightly inaccurate; use of a thermostat does not negate the need for an accurate thermometer. When you are setting up your vivarium, it is important to use the thermostat and thermometer together to gauge the correct setting needed on the thermostat to get the correct temperature (they are usually out by a couple of degrees).
Types of thermostat
On/Off thermostat – these are your cheaper basic thermostats, they work simply by turning the heating element on when the temperature drops below a certain threshold, and then off again when it rises above a certain threshold. Over time this means the temperature is maintained fairly steadily, however there is a small amount of fluctuation above and below the mean. These budget heat mats can cost as little as $30 and are best used with heat mats.
Product examples: Habistat mat stat, Habistat on/off thermostat, Lucky reptile thermo control
Dimmer thermostat – these are a little more sophisticated than the aforementioned on/off thermostats, they work by actually dimming the power output, rather than using the slightly haphazard method of simply turning them off. These thermostats are likely to cost in the region of $60 and are the only ones suitable for use with light bulbs, they are also suitable for more or less any other heating method.
Product examples: Habistat dimming thermostat
Pulse thermostats – a fairly sophisticated and very accurate method of temperature control, these thermostats control the temperature by sending pulses of power to the heating element, and varying the frequency of these pulses to control the temperature to within a very narrow band. Pulse thermostats will cost in the region of $55-70 and are the best thermostats to use in conjunction with ceramic/infra red heat emitters, they are also great for use with heat mats.
Product examples: Habistat pulse thermostat
Cool control thermostats – relatively new on the market, cool control thermostats work in much the opposite way to other stats, their aim being to cool down the vivarium. As far as I am aware, most cool control stats work on a simple on/off premise, and are used in conjunction with fans.
Product examples: Habistat cool control
Quick reference
Below is a quick thermostat reference guide where you can check which thermostats are suitable for use with your equipment. All suitable thermostats are mentioned, and the best one is underlined.
Heat mat: On/off thermostat, Dimming thermostat, Pulse thermostat.
Ceramic/Infra red heat emitter: On/off thermostat, Dimming thermostat, Pulse thermostat
Light bulb (any heat bulb which gives off visible light): Dimming thermostat
Fan: Cool control.
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