People are often confused with the different types of thermostat and their application, so I’ll try and explain them here,

A thermostat does two things, it keeps the Vivarium or terrarium at a specific temperature via a heating source, and it is a safety device ensuring that the heater does not overheat and possibly catch fire.

When keeping Reptiles, amphibians, tarantulas we need to keep them at species specific temperatures this is where thermostats come in. We heat the vivariums in basically 4 ways bulbs, ceramic heaters, heat mats (including tube heaters) and aquarium heaters for turtle’s salamanders and some other amphibians.

Aquarium heaters mostly come as a heater thermostat combined so we will not discuss this as our main interest is in the dry thermostats.

At ValueAquatics we offer Thermostats by Komodo and Habistat. They are both well known and respected companies and have been making high quality products for many years.
What type of thermostat do I need?

Simply it depends on the heating source so we will start with the most popular the Heat mat. ValueAquatics recommend the Habistat Mat Stat (maximum load 100w) or the Komodo (maximum load 300w) habitat thermostats. Both are typically an on/off switch type and will control the temperature of the heat mat. Both calibrated in Fahrenheit and Celsius. Setting them up is very simple just follow the instructions that come with them. With heat mats lay or fix the thermostat probe on top and in the centre of the heat mat then put the substrate on the top, no more than about an inch thick.

Also used with greenhouse tube heaters and cable heaters.  

For heating with bulbs (incandescent and infra red) use a Dimmer type thermostat, that is one that slowly turns up and down rather than on or off. Similar to the light dimmers or rheostats in your home. This prolongs the life of the bulbs element and controls the heating ability of bulbs much better.

The Habistat dimming thermostat comes in two types a standard dimming and a day/night dimming thermostat. The Habistat dimming thermostat requires a minimum load of 40watts but a maximum of 600watts /230volts.

The Habistat Day/Night Dimming Thermostat is the same as the standard dimming thermostat but will allow for a drop the night-time temperature when attached to a timer.

Heating with ceramics use Habistat pulse proportional thermostat this supplies the power to the ceramic heater in regulated pulses giving a very accurate temperature. They greatly improve the life of the element as the heater rarely needs to run at full power. Controls heaters up to 600watts

Calibrated in Fahrenheit and Celsius

Habistat also do a Habistat Day/Night pulse proportional thermostat works in the same way as the standard pulse proportional thermostat but will allow for a drop the night-time temperature when attached to a timer. 

ValueAquatics offer two other Habistat thermostats the Habistat Temperature Thermostat which is a standard on/off type for heat mats, tube heaters, cables with a maximum load of 300w.

The Habistat Twin Thermostat is simply two on/off thermostats in one box. It is perfect for controlling two heaters separately to give a specific temperature gradient… For heat mats, tube heaters, cables where the maximum load is 300w on each heater.

John

Komodo products are made by Underworld one of the biggest suppliers and manufacturers in the UK. Their Komodo Ceramic Light Fitting is heat resistant and designed with the reptile keeper in mind. The Ceramic light fitting is an Edison screw type NOT bayonet and so will take most makes of reptile bulbs and ceramic heat emitters. It comes with a good length of power cable, an inline manual on/off switch and fitted 3 pin plug. Fixing the fitting into a wooden vivarium could not be easier, I use a screw in hook screwed into the inside top of the vivarium and loop the cable in place then secure it with a tie wrap to stop it from slipping. Fixing a heater or bulb guard is easily slipped over the Ceramic fitting and screwed in place.

Can be used with the following lamps and heat emitters all of which can be supplied by ValueAquatics

Arcadia          D3 Compact Reptile Lamp 23w
Exo Terra       Solar Glo Sun Lamp 125w & 160w
Exo Terra       Sun Glo Neodymium Daylight Lamp 15w to 100w
Exo Terra       Night Glo Moonlight Lamp 15w to 150w
Exo Terra       Sun Glo Neodymium Daylight Basking Spot Lamp 50w to150w
Exo Terra       Sun Glo Tight Beam Basking Spot Lamp 50w to 150w
Exo Terra       Repto Glo 5.0 Compact  13w & 26w
Exo Terra       Repto Glo 10.0 Compact  13w & 26w
Exo Terra       Heat Glo Infra Red Lamp 50w to 150w
Exo Terra       Ceramic Heat Emitter Heat Wave Lamp 40w to 250w

SAFETY

All the above should be used with the appropriate thermostat.
Use a heat guard with any heat source.

John

Heating a vivarium or Terrarium with bulbs at first sounds strange but bulbs are a good source of heating both the animal and Air by radiant heat. The first bulb I’ll mention are the Infra Red bulbs, ValueAquatics offer the Exo Terra Heat Glo Lamps which come in four sizes 50w, 75w, 100w and 150w. These bulbs work by emitting infra red heat waves, they also have a built in reflector to send the heat where it is needed. The red light that is emitted is not seen by the reptiles so can be used 24:7 as a heater.

Incandescent bulbs also radiate heat and light so can only be used for daylight hours. They only give out a small amount of UVA (Ultraviolet A) but no UVB (Ultraviolet B) which most reptiles require. So should not be used as the sole source of lighting except for most snakes and a few lizards. These tend to be used to create a basking spot in the vivarium. At ValueAquatics we offer the Exo Terra Sun glo tight beam heating spot lamp. The tight beam on these means that the heat can be directed exactly onto a rock giving a basking area. They can be combined with a heatmat, ceramic heat emitter or Infra red bulb to give 24 hour heating.

The Neodymium day basking lights give out a white light that simulates the full spectrum of daylight and can be used as the incandescent bulbs. At valueaquatics we offer the Komodo range of bulbs (50w,75w & 100w), Also the Exo Terra Sun Glo Neodymium daylight lamps, these are available in different bulb types the long torpedo shape 15w, 25w, 40w & 100w and the ordinary bulb type 60w, 100w & 150w. They also come as a spotlight type as in the Exo Terra Neodymium Daylight Basking Spot Lamp available as 50w, 75w, 100w and 150w.

Features:
Broad spectrum of daylight light
Creates hot spots for thermoregulation
Increases ambient temperature of the air
Can be combined wit other heat sources to give a 24 hours cycle

These bulbs do not give out any light in the UVB range.
Fitting these is easy with the ADCH Arcadia ceramic fitting and bracket or the Komodo Ceramic lamp fixture. These bulbs also need a bulb cage to stop the animal from climbing onto them and getting burnt. All these bulbs should be used with a Dimming thermostat similar to the Habistat Dimming or the Habistat Dimming day night model.

Finally the Mercury Vapour Lamps, more and more people are starting to use these as they give out UVA and UVB light and also heat so there is no need to supplement them with UVA/B bulbs or tubes. Most tortoise owners now use these, they can also be used for Bearded Dragons, Monitors and other large lizards.

ValueAquatics sell the Exo Terra Solar Glo which is available in 125w & 160w.  The Solar Glo is a full spectrum light with carefully tuned peaks to ensure appetite, activity, brilliant colours, and calcium absorption through Vitamin D3 production, and above all to prevent metabolic bone disease.

Features:
Optimal levels of UVA and UVB, visible light and heat in one bulb.
Self ballasted
Helps prevent metabolic bone disease
Increased UVB penetration distance (+30 cm) As these are self ballasted bulbs they do not work with a thermostat so you have to raise or lower the bulb in order to obtain the required basking temperatures.

These are best used with a reflector with a fitting cage.

Ceramic fittings like the Arcadia ADCH and Komodo ceramic lamp fitting should be used.

John

What is the best method of heating my vivarium?

Wish I had a pound for every time I have been asked this.

The most commonly used method of heating a Vivarium or Terrarium is with Heat Mats, they come in different sizes and wattages. The bigger the Heat Mat the higher the wattage.

Heat Mats come in two types the square or oblong types for vivariums and Terrariums and the long Heat Strips that are used for heating a row of smaller containers and small plastic tanks usually holding hatchling snakes or tarantulas.

Heat mats work by emitting invisible ultra long wavelength infra red heat which heats the animal and furnishings, rather than the air which can remain quite cold if the room it is in is cold.

Though saying this heat mats do get warm and the animal can lie under or on top of the mat. I find it best to tape the mats down or onto the vivarium floor or back wall with masking tape. Do not use any other type of tape as they are difficult to remove from the animal if it gets entangled in it. Or place a piece of slate on top of it if on the floor of the vivarium.

Do not place too much substrate on top of heat mats, no more than 37mm (1.5”), or cork bark as they will reflect a lot of the Infra Red back into the heat mat causing hot spots in the heat mat.

Under normal usage heat mats are perfectly safe giving off a gentle heat, though accidents happen and I have seen a couple of heat mats where the plastic outer envelope has melted and in one case actually caught fire. So ValueAquatics recommend the use of a thermostat with heat mats.

For all glass Vivariums and Terrariums like the popular Exo Terra range of Terrariums the heat mats should be placed under or on the outer wall or walls. Exo Terra make two types of heat mats for these the Rainforest Heat Mat and the Desert Heatmat both come in three sizes available from ValueAquatics. The Rainforest Heat Mat gives out a very gentle heat simulating the rainforest and the desert Heatmat give out a more heat simulating the heat of the desert. Both types are Self-adhesive making them easy to install to the outside glass base or wall of the Terrariums.

Do not use them where there is excessive moisture, they are not waterproof.

• Safe to use
• Gentle heat
• Not intrusive
• Easy to clean
• Low maintenance
• Inexpensive

ValuAquatics Recommended Thermostats for heat mats, Habistat mat stat Komodo habitat stat

 John

www.ValueAquatics.co.uk