Make it easier on yourself and your pet by using one of the best reptile thermostats. When you plug in a heat mat or lamp, a thermostat gives you precise control over the environment. It senses the temperature and turns equipment on or off. That way the conditions remain consistent, which is important for the health of your pet.
Reptiles are dependent on external temperatures. If they get too cold, they stop being as active and may even stop eating and drinking. Although there is no problem in controlling their environment manually, using a thermostat greatly simplifies everything. It can also reduce your worry about their well-being if you can’t be at home to keep an eye on things.
While we prefer digital thermostats for their higher-level precision, some analog models are less expensive. But please make the choice according to your pet’s needs. For example, geckos or turtles might be content with a little in their environment, but pythons won’t be.
It’s one thing to use a timer to control heaters and lights. But it’s even better to install a thermostat to protect against sudden changes of temperature.
Top 14 Reptile Thermostats on Amazon 2021
Our research discovered the top reptile thermostats for use with terrariums and other enclosures. We hope our reviews help you find what works best for your situation.
#1 VE-200 Thermostat (Reptile Basics)
The Vivarium Electronics VE-200 can manage up to 700 W of devices. In other words, you can connect a small room heater, a heating pad, or a heat lamp that’s compatible with thermostats. It has a digital display so that you can see both the temperature you set and the probe’s reading. Moreover, you can view the highs and lows.
More important, this is just an on/off thermostat. It works in pulse proportional mode, too. This means that it sends just enough power to something like a ceramic heater to maintain the proper conditions.
Other features include a built-in safety shutoff, a 10-foot probe cord, a 6-foot power cord, a user-replaceable fuse, and compatibility with a Night Drop Module. If you purchase more than one of these thermostats, you can stack them one on top of the other neatly. Customers who use these for snakes report consistent, reliable performance.
#2 Zoo Med ReptiTemp RT-600 Digital Thermostat Controller
Zoo Med sells this compact and simple digital thermostat controller. It’s handy if you only have one vivarium to manage. The settings offer a wide range of flexibility between 50 and 122°F. Additionally, you can choose between Heat or Cooling modes. This feature allows you to plug in a heater up to 600 Watts or a cooler like a fan up to 150 W.
This device offers built-in memory that retains the settings in case of power fails. There’s also an audible and visual alarm if temperatures go too high or too low.
#3 Hagen Exo Terra Reptile Dimming Thermostat, 600 W
The Exo Terra dimming thermostat has a pulse proportional function. In other words, if you connect a ceramic heater, the thermostat will send just enough power or reduce the flow of electricity just enough to maintain the perfect temperature.
It works between 50 and 140°F, but it’s only for heating devices, not cooling. On the other hand, it’s possible to set both daytime and nighttime temperatures separately. And the waterproof remote sensor is safe to use in aquatic environments.
#4 Inkbird ITC-306T Pre-wired Electronic Heating Thermostat
Inkbird’s ITC-306T functions as both a timer and thermostat. It offers separate settings for daytime and nighttime operation. In addition, it can handle two heating devices for a total of 1200 watts and 10 amps. Besides reptile husbandry, owners use it for incubating eggs, germinating seeds, and brewing. The package includes a remote probe sensor with a 6 ½-foot-long cord that’s accurate to plus or minus 1°F.
#5 Inkbird Digital Heating and Cooling Outlet 1100W (ITC-308)
Inkbird’s ITC-308 is a step up in one way from the previous model above. Although it supports only 1100 watts, it provides a way to control both heating and cooling. But note that there is no timer.
You can set this thermostat between 58 and 210°F, which makes it compatible with other functions besides caring for reptiles. Some cooks say they use it for sous vide.
In any case, it provides both high and low temperature buzzer alarms. It comes with a sensor on a 6 ½ foot cable. Finally, the digital display has a resolution down to 0.1°F with an overall accuracy of plus or minus 1 degree Fahrenheit.
#6 Inkbird ONLY Heating Thermostat Digital (C206)
The C206 model from Inkbird controls only heating devices and doesn’t have a timer, either. It works with a variety of temperature sensors. And the temperature control range is 50 to 108°F.
#7 Century Digital Heat Mat Thermostat Controller
Century’s digital thermostat doesn’t take up much space and it’s easy to use. Connect it to a wall outlet. The LED display helps you select the temperature you want. Then all you need to do is place the probe inside the vivarium and plug in the heating device to the controller.
For best results, set everything up ahead of time and test it before you place your pet inside. Then monitor it for a while to see if it meets your expectations.
There are two things to note. First, the probe is not waterproof. Second, the temperature control range is between 40 and 108°F.
#8 Vivarium Electronics VE-100 Thermostat for Snake Habitats
The Vivarium Electronics VE-100 can handle up to 700 W. It’s an on/off-style thermostat, not a pulse proportional like the one we reviewed above. But it comes with a 10-foot probe cord, a stackable tabletop design, and a grounded receptacle. It also has a user-replaceable fuse.
Keep in mind that this kind of thermostat suits habitats where precision isn’t absolutely necessary. There may be up to 2°F of variance before the heating device kicks on again. If you have a reptile that requires precise temperatures, or if you’re incubating eggs, go with the VE-200 pulse proportional controller.
#9 iPower 40-108°F Digital Heat Mat Thermostat Controller
iPower lets you control up to 1000 W worth of heating devices like heat mats. They suggest using their own company’s mats with this thermostat. It has a controllable range between 40 and 108 degrees Fahrenheit. The ETL certification ensures that it complies with safety standards.
#10 Hydrofarm Jump Start MTPRTC Digital Controller Thermostat
Hydrofarm’s Jump Start Heat Mat Thermostat is ETL-certified for safety and is covered by a one-year warranty. The manufacturer recommends their own brand of heat mats for use with this device. It features a water-resistant temperature probe – you can’t submerge it, but it stands up to splashes and misting.
#11 bayite Temperature Controller BTC201 Pre-Wired Digital Outlet
The bayite BTC201 temperature controller isn’t just for reptiles. It is compatible with various electrical appliances including refrigerators and heaters up to 1100 W total. You can plug in two at a time, one for heating, and one for cooling. Plus, there are alarms for both high and low temperatures. The package includes a 10-foot probe and a one-year warranty.
#12 Zilla 11939 Temperature Controller
Zilla’s 1000 W analog thermostat allows you to preselect any temperature between 68 and 95°F. If the device senses 110°F, it automatically shuts down. Please note that this device should never be used with a heat rock. It’s also not digital, therefore it may not be as accurate as other models.
The probe is not waterproof, but it includes a suction cup for easy placement. Just put it in the warmest area of the enclosure that doesn’t get direct radiant heat from a lamp or mat.
#13 Encompass All 1000W Combined – Terrarium Heat & Habitat Lighting
If you have difficulty finding the Zilla thermostat for sale, try this one from Encompass. It offers three power outlets, not just one, for connecting a total of 1000 W of heating devices. The analog dial lets you set it to turn on the heater between 68 and 95°F.
#14 WILLHI WH1436A Temperature Controller 110V
The manufacturer of this thermostat improved their design from earlier models. It now has a better sensor probe that’s waterproof. Furthermore, you can set the single outlet to control either cooling or heating. It can handle up to 880 W, 10 A.
The alarms flash when temperatures go too low or too high beyond your settings. And the built-in timer shuts off the electricity to the device when time runs out.
Conclusion
We hope you discovered the perfect reptile thermostat today. Your shopping will go faster once you identify how many devices you’ll need to use and what their total load will be. It also helps to know in advance the ideal temperature ranges for your pet. Finally, we recommend a pulse proportional controller when you need absolute precision.