Do i REALLY need a thermostat?

[v3n0m]

admitadly im not that experienced, i have only had 5 corns and 1 brb, whch as i am at home all day i spend alot of time watchin them, and they never burrow under substrate to sit on the mat and i am not saying i disagree that stats are important, jus that there is the other side to it aswell (e.g stat could fail )

[Ssthisto]

The reason I contradicted you, V3n0m, is because "the chances of a stat failing" are not the same as "the chances of a mat's temperature soaring". The former represents the equipment breaking down - which should be a rarity. The latter represents the equipment working within design parameters... which should be expected.

Therefore, it's much less likely for a thermostat to fail than it is for a heat mat to exceed safe basking temperatures.

[Dragon84]

People ask me if they really need a thermostat. I usually tell them that if they don't want one they should be prepared to sit infront of their viv 24/7. Think about it this way £20 for a matstat or a nice big vet bill and possibly a dead rep, it's your choice.

[Binski]

Don't shoot me down for ignorance -I've been keeping my snake on an un-statted mat for 6 months due to misinformation at the petshop when I bought her. Since reading this and other horror stories I'm getting a thermostat ASAP. Could anyone advise on a cheap yet reliable model as I'm on a budget. Cheapest I've found are the microclimate ministat 100's -would they be ok to run 2 mats from?

[Malc]

Originally Posted by Binski

Don't shoot me down for ignorance -I've been keeping my snake on an un-statted mat for 6 months due to misinformation at the petshop when I bought her. Since reading this and other horror stories I'm getting a thermostat ASAP. Could anyone advise on a cheap yet reliable model as I'm on a budget. Cheapest I've found are the microclimate ministat 100's -would they be ok to run 2 mats from?

There has been lots of debate about running two heaters (mats or ceramics) from a single stat. Like most things there is no real clear cut answer, however a lot will depend on if both mats are the same wattage, size etc and don't exceed the max wattage rating of the stat. If both are the same then you could get away with it, but my personal opinion is that each heat source should have it's own thermostat.

I'm not having a dig, but it does annoy me when people will pay good money on the animal, but then look to by the cheapest equipment to maintain it's environment. £54 gets you a Habistat twin stat ( Reptile Crazy - Accessories Thermostats, thermometers and Guages ) that will last you for years and, unlike mat stats, are rated higher wattage loads so you can use it for ceramics at a later stage if required

[Binski]

Malc - I hear what you're saying and agree with your points. Was I aware of this earlier I would have budgeted for, and purchased 1 during the intial set up. I was just trying to rectify my error as quickly as possible within the constraints of my present budget.
Thanks for your advice -if I hadn't joined this forum I wouldn't be aware of the potential hazard, so your help is much appreciated. What hacks me off is I was told bad information at the pet shop who probably couldn't give a damn about the animals well being after it's been paid for -just because they don't sell thermostats.

[Malc]

Originally Posted by Binski

What hacks me off is I was told bad information at the pet shop who probably couldn't give a damn about the animals well being after it's been paid for -just because they don't sell thermostats.

Oh I totally agree with you... there are a lot of shops out there that don't have ant idea and will pass on bullshit to any prospective customer.. when I purchased my first snake (a garter) back in 1986 I was told exactly the same.

Snake keeping is not a cheap hobby when it comes to setting up or running. Heating and lighting, rack or viv, you can spend hundreds of pounds. At least now you know the consequences of not using a stat, and you are making a step in the right direction to rectify your set up...

[neerg]

Do i REALLY need a thermostat? - Yes
No two ways about it. No arguments, just yes.

[Gileadites]

Funny thing is that there are 2 reptile shops near where we live and one told us NOT to use a stat and they also suggested running 2 or 3 mats off 1 stat.

CLEARLY they were wrong we took no notice of what the young boy had to say and got all the right stuff from the other shop BEFORE we ever got a reptile in the first place.

I know there is a huge debate about what is right and wrong but, as I see it the reptile gets one chance for you to screw it up why waste a perfectly good life of a reptile because you couldn't be bothered, told differently or straight out couldn't afford to buy the correct equipment.

The point is if you can't afford them after researching the animal of your choice then simply dont get it in the first place, if you can't be bothered to buy the correct equipment then simply dont get it in the first place, if you didn't do your research properly then simply dont get it in the first place, as we all have the internet and if not you can access it at your local library, if the only place you took your advice from is a bloody shop then simply dont get it in the first place.

There are LOADS of books available on this and if you can't read then simply dont get it in the first place.

Killing a reptile because of ignorance is no excuse for your own stupidty and lack of IQ.

Get a STAT

[Meko]

Originally Posted by Gileadites

Funny thing is that there are 2 reptile shops near where we live and one told us NOT to use a stat and they also suggested running 2 or 3 mats off 1 stat.

CLEARLY they were wrong we took no notice of what the young boy had to say and got all the right stuff from the other shop BEFORE we ever got a reptile in the first place.

you can run more than one mat off a stat as long as you don't exceed the wattage on the stat