HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi everyone!

I'm about to purchase a 11x11 inch Flukers Premium Heat Mat for my 10 gallon tank. Is this brand reliable and can it be insulated? Also, would the 11x11 adequately heat my tank? The house temp drops to about 65 degrees in the winter.

Thanks for the help!

I used the same setup in my bedroom which drops to 60 degrees in winter, and had no complaints! Toasty warm 80 degrees in the tank all winter long. I insulated with a couple pieces of cardboard wrapped in foil, over the pad and on the lid.

@wodesorel - I have a question that doesn't really have anything to do with this topic. Sorry. But I know you're a reptile expert. My daughter has a banana ball python and her thermostat isn't working. She's in college and doesn't really have money for a herpstat, which she has heard is the best brand. Is there another, cheaper brand you can recommend? She of course wants digital. Thank you!

Hermiesguardian wrote:@wodesorel - I have a question that doesn't really have anything to do with this topic. Sorry. But I know you're a reptile expert. My daughter has a banana ball python and her thermostat isn't working. She's in college and doesn't really have money for a herpstat, which she has heard is the best brand. Is there another, cheaper brand you can recommend? She of course wants digital. Thank you!

Thank you, but I'm still learning too!

Herpstat and Vivarium Electronics are the most recommended. I don't think any of the thermostat makers have a cheap digital unit though. The analogue dial versions are a lot less expensive and do work the same without all the extra bells and whistles. (I actually wish I had gone analogue because the digital displays are super bright and cannot be turned off.)

Have her try online classifieds, especially local Facebook reptile groups. I see cheap used equipment all the time up for grabs, and when someone makes a post needing something the community is usually really good about getting them what they are looking for.

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wodesorel wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 18, 2019 7:34 pm

Thank you, but I'm still learning too!

Herpstat and Vivarium Electronics are the most recommended. I don't think any of the thermostat makers have a cheap digital unit though. The analogue dial versions are a lot less expensive and do work the same without all the extra bells and whistles. (I actually wish I had gone analogue because the digital displays are super bright and cannot be turned off.)

Have her try online classifieds, especially local Facebook reptile groups. I see cheap used equipment all the time up for grabs, and when someone makes a post needing something the community is usually really good about getting them what they are looking for.

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Thank you so much. I've passed this on to her.

Check out Inkbird. You should be able to buy it on Amazon. I bought one to control my heat tape. Super important to calibrate it though,

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Hermiesguardian wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 18, 2019 7:47 pm

Thank you so much. I've passed this on to her.

She found one on facebook. Thank you for the suggestion. It was still $100 but almost brand new.

Thank you wodesorel!