Once you have the cool end regulated and leave the cage to stabilise itself, you then know how much energy you have going into the cage. It's then the distance between the basking bulb and the basking spot that will determine the basking temperature. The point is that the hot end isn't "regulated". You set it up with the energy available, which is adjusted according to the temperature of the cool end. If you are using the correct wattage bulb (this wouldn't apply to CHEs), there should be almost no dimming, so it's in effect using an unstat'ed bulb, but with that safety feature in place should it ever be needed. This would only apply to animals where the basking spot is much higher than the cool end "safe" temperature - as far as I'm aware, with a BRB, you need an ambient air temperature in the warm end, not a basking spot as such. As the BRB won't sit on a rock and bask, this method doesn't really work for them.


I see where you're coming from - you could possibly set it up with:

socket -> stat -> 3x timers (with 1 bulb per timer)

That would give you a crude (but I imagine effective) way of doing it. You wouldn't be able to dim basking spots though for a gradual transition - it would just be on / off - although probably much more affordable to set up...


Ian, I'm sure many people have not yet had a problem with your method. However some have. I have had emails from people and read on forums about cases where the vivarium has overheated, and caused serious problems (and even death in a couple of cases) because the cool end was not regulated. I don't remember a specific case on this forum, but have only been around here for 10 months or so. As explained in my original post, if you allow the cool end to get to the same temperature as the basking end, it won't allow a hot dragon to cool down quickly if it needs to. It would break my heart if someone on this forum put up a post about their dragon having gotten overheated this summer because they didn't ensure that there would be a cool end available for it at all times. That's why I wrote this - about the "safe" (but possibly slightly more involved to set up) way of using thermostats.

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Hi Hades
I wasn't doubting what you said, I'm just very thick when it comes to this sort of thing so was looking for clarification The logical and practical side of my brain is definitely absent without leave!!

Yes, the BRBs are more a requirement for ambient temps but still with a "hot" and "cool" end to provide the gradient. We have had a couple of warm/hot days here and the temps have stayed fine as far as I can see, but I monitor everything about 20 times a day, my OH thinks I am obsessive about it!

thanks for your reply

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Member number 9717 (thanks Kathryn666!)

that alot hadesdragons this guide has helped alot you certainly know your stuff thanks again