heat just right now too hot

[fishingman1]

I had my thermometer in the tank 4 days ago and the temp was around 91. the battery died and i replaced it today. the temperature is now almost 98.

i have a 16 watt heating pad and reptile carpet. any suggestions besides a rheostat to lower the temps?

would downgrading to an 8watt lower the temps to around 91?

 

[acpart]

It's worth a try to downgrade, or you could just get a cheap thermostat.

Aliza

 

[fishingman1]

so with a thermostat i just plug the heating pad in to that and set the temp?

where can i pick one of those up?

home depot has ones for houses. are they the same thing?

 

[acpart]

The thermostats at Home Depot are meant to be wired into the wall and I don't think it would work too well with the tanks. Also, the 90's is really high for a home thermostat. The best bet is to find an ESU or Alife (the same thing I think) or Zoo-med thermostat either on ebay, at an online reptile store or at a pet store, though the price there will be the highest. You can use a rheostat, you'll just have to keep adjusting it if there are major changes in the ambient temp.

Aliza

 

[fishingman1]

if i put a couple paper towels under the carpet, would that keep the temps down?

 

[Shera]

The thermostats at Home Depot are meant to be wired into the wall and I don't think it would work too well with the tanks. Also, the 90's is really high for a home thermostat. The best bet is to find an ESU or Alife (the same thing I think) or Zoo-med thermostat either on ebay, at an online reptile store or at a pet store, though the price there will be the highest. You can use a rheostat, you'll just have to keep adjusting it if there are major changes in the ambient temp.

Aliza

They make these as well.

 

[Kaspar825]

i think paper towels would work

 

[sammer021486]

A thermostat meant for a house also normally runs off of 24V instead of 120V, which is what we get from our outlets.

Paper towel should do the trick, but it does not hurt to purchase a thermostat or rheostat. You will have more control over the heat though with a thermostat.

 

[acpart]

They make these as well.

That's a rheostat and I was talking about a thermostat. I do recommend the Home Depot rheostats over the "reptile specific" rheostats because they're probably a lot cheaper and work the same.

Aliza

 

[fishingman1]

the paper towels worked fine. it is now at 93. thanks