Snakes N Adders, Specialist Reptile Shop Leeds UK

Thermostats, Advoiding Disaster
Thermostats must at all times be considered a must have item on any new herp keepers shopping list. Thermostats regulate the finite temperatures necessary for reptiles & amphibians to thermo-regulate effectively.

Thermostats come with a range of abilities to control certain types of heaters. (please consult our ‘Thermostats and their uses’ article.
The risks involved with maintaining animals without a thermostat range from dehydration, constipation, burns and most saddening, Death!
There really is no excuse for not having a thermostat on an enclosure, simply not being told by your local shop is not a water-tight excuse. Any new keeper has the responsibility to any charge under their care to research the best possible means of maintaining said animal (s). This involves having the correct control systems present to effectively maintain their environment.
Because of this Snakes’N’Adders has a policy of providing all full setups both for beginners as well as experienced keepers with a relevant thermostat.

You Can’t go wrong, we won’t let you
Thanks Charles Thompson @ Snakes’N’Adders

Case Study:
This is a story of a poor Royal Python that was made to endure conditions no animal should be exposed to. This story was brought to my attention by members of online bulletin boards.
I contacted the man involved in trying to save the animal’s life. This is what he had to say:
“The background of that royal is that it was for sale and a friend of the shop went round to see and found it in that condition. The cage was filthy, so he took it away and brought it to us. It went to the vets for an operation but died afterwards from the stress of the whole process, the tail was burnt to the bone, and most of the body had 3rd degree burns underneath. It was kept on a mat inside wooden vivarium
BRIEF OUTLINE OF THERMOSTATS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
Mat-Stats: -
As it says on the tin. Usually low max ratings (100w), use only on heat pads. Cheapest form.
Temperature Stats: -
These are basically the same as Mat-Stats but with higher max ratings (300w)
Pulse Proportional Thermostats: -
These are very accurate. Although they can only be used with non-light emitting heat sources. Such as Ceramic bulbs and Heat plates. High max rating (600w)
Dimming Thermostat: -
The most consistently accurate thermostat, but also the most expensive. Can be used used on bulbs as a controlled heat source. High max rating (600w)
Please Note:
Temp stats cannot be used with bulbs, the switching on and off of the bulb increases stress to the animal.
Special points of interest:

Thermostats are cheaper than you think. Usually £30-50!!
Lower electricity and bulb replacement costs.
Many manufacturers provide guarantees.
Most thermostats can run multiple tanks often up to 600w max rating