Do i REALLY need a thermostat?

[Morgoth]

Originally Posted by Ssthisto

From the fact that without at least temperature regulation (and without adequate parasite control, which is another issue entirely) there were a significant number of animals that didn't live out their natural lifespans in captivity.

"Temperature regulation" I agree with completely. I disagree that a thermostats the only way it can be provided. But it is certainly the most efficient and least time-demanding, but neither qualify as absolutely essential (providing we are not talking young nippers whom have been bought the snake as a pet and have no idea how hot 85f is).

[Ssthisto]

You see, Morgoth, I *AM* talking "young nippers" - who are the ones who may not have done enough research and haven't set up their enclosure weeks in advance to get the temperatures right either.

And impatient people, who want their snake and setup right now.

And people like me who work away ten hours of the day and can't keep close tabs on the cage temperatures when the outside temperature soars.

Anyone selling a setup to a person where you are also selling the snake *at the same time* should be selling that setup complete with thermostat because there is no other way to safely immediately house an animal in a new heated setup without one.

[Morgoth]

If that is the case then the title of this thread - "Do I REALLY need a thermostat' - and the following posts and content is a bit misleading. It should be catagorised into two sections:

Are you new to the industry, quite young and haven't much idea about heat build-up and heat-loss? Yes, a thermostat is essential.

Are you acquainted with some basics of said subject - then with trial and error over time a thermostat is not absolutely essential.

Otherwise just a blanket "They are ESSENTIAL and I will murder anyone who says otherwise" is a bit misleading.

[Ssthisto]

And, if you're using a heat mat as a *sole* or *additional* source of heat I'd also argue that these are not inherently "safe" heaters unless used with a thermostat, the same as an open pan of hot fat is much less safe than a deep fat fryer with a temperature setting.

It is quite possible to set up a heating system using a BULB that does not require a thermostat if you set up the equipment correctly. But I do not believe - now any more than previously - that unregulated heat mats are "safe".

[SiUK]

I use thermostats on everything, however whats to stop a thermostat breaking and over heating anymore than a heat mat is likely to?

[Ssthisto]

Quite simply, *every* heat mat I have owned has a normal (not *failing* but NORMAL) running temperature higher than the basking temperatures of the species I keep. My heat mats average 110 or so degrees surface temperature unregulated.

That's between twenty and thirty degrees too hot for any species I keep and use heat mats for (the monitors and tegs, sure, they'd do fine with those heat mat temperatures - but I use ceramics and/or bulbs for them!)

So a heat mat working NORMALLY is already "overheating" for my animals - they have to be restricted and held back in order to run at the correct temperature for what I keep.

Sure, a thermostat that a heat mat's plugged into could fail; that's one reason I mostly buy Microclimates, which tend to fail "off" rather than "on". But that involves a failure of the equipment rather than just plugging the equipment in and letting it run as normal.

[shiprakaul]

Great explanation. Keep it up!

[Barry.M]

I find it staggering that anyone would defend the practise of not using thermostats with any heating element.The plain fact is that heat mats WILL run too hot if unregulated by a stat.Simple.
It's a stupid risk to take with the well being of any animal,a risk that could well end in terrible injuries and suffering caused.All for the sake of £25?

[jabbawockymark]

wow this is a very good thread and i agree all heating should be controlled by a thermometer, i went to a shop yesterday and the lady told me the only heating i should be using is heat matts,,, lol wow i think she needs to do her home work before giving out advice to people who have kept reptiles for years

[Ssthisto]

Originally Posted by jabbawockymark

wow this is a very good thread and i agree all heating should be controlled by a thermometer, i went to a shop yesterday and the lady told me the only heating i should be using is heat matts,,, lol wow i think she needs to do her home work before giving out advice to people who have kept reptiles for years

Remember that a *thermometer* just tells you the temperature - it can say "Yup, your snake was cooked by THIS many degrees"....

A *thermostat* is what will prevent the heating equipment from getting to a dangerous level.

Both pieces of equipment are vital, in my opinion.