It is important to select the best reptile thermostat to remain fit and healthy for your reptiles pets.
The market offers a wide variety of options, but as always, not all of them are ideal.
As such, as you look for an ideal option, we are here to assist with a compilation of the best the market has to offer.
Contents
- Buyer Guide: What should you look for when buying a thermostat?
- Best Reptile Thermostat
- iPower Digital Heat Mat Thermostat
- Habistat Dimming Thermostat
- Herpstat 2
- Century Digital Mat Thermostat
- Vivarium Electronics VE-300 Themostat
- Bayite Digital Outlet Themostat
- WILLHI WH1436A Digital Thermostat
- Inkbird Dual Stage Digital Thermostat
- Leviton TBL03-10E Slide Control Lamp Dimmer
- Vivarium Electronics VE-200D Thermostat
- Bonus: How to set up a thermostat for your reptile tank?
- A sharing of a snake keeper after buying a thermostat
Buyer Guide: What should you look for when buying a thermostat?
A thermostat is a device that senses a temperature in a device and it can interrupt the contact between two legs when reaching a certain temperature range.

A thermostat can be said that it is a temperature relay depending on the manufacturer of the thermostat. It can be a negative temperature thermostat or positive thermostat depending on the manufacturer for what purpose.
Before you buy one of these thermostats, you need to make sure that the wiring is compatible with your reptile tank. Not all thermostats work the same, nor do all houses have the same wiring.
Best Reptile Thermostat

iPower Digital Heat Mat Thermostat
Last update on 2020-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It is arguably the cheapest and simplest option available on Amazon.
iPower Digital Heat Mat Thermostat is a simple mat and as such all that you need to do is turn it on and off as needed. It has a simple design, which does not have bells and whistles.
It is simple and reliable and does not have a day and night variance. Once you set the temperature, it is ready to go. Its mat displays temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. Note that the temperature is dependent on the heat mat itself.
Pros
- Proper temperature control in cold or warm environments
- Highly versatile
- Easy plug-in operation
- Comes with LED indicator lights
- Relatively inexpensive
Cons
- Not deal for heat bulbs or ceramic heater
- Only works with low powered heat mats
- It is not enough to create extra warm spots
Habistat Dimming Thermostat
Last update on 2020-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It is designed to control the light bulbs and it offers one of the most accurate approaches to temperature control. The thermostat comes with two plug sockets that make it easy to use.
It is accurate and comes with handy features that shut the bulbs as soon as the set temperature is reached. It can run in the background for almost any heaters.
Pros
- Plug sockets are provided by the manufacturer
- Does not damage light-emitting sources
- Temperatures can be set beforehand
- Highly accurate
- Auto shut off
- 2 plug sockets
Cons
- Not designed for non-light emitting heat sources
Herpstat 2
Last update on 2020-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It is a digital proportional thermostat that suits any proportional heating needs. The system monitors and adjusts the amount of heat produced so as to maintain the ideal temperature.
It is suitable for initial warming to prevent damage due to overpowering. Therefore, it is useful for heating a vivarium and management of humidity, light, and cooling. It can successfully simulate moonlight, sunset and sunrise.
Pros
- Temperature tracking to monitor heating system
- Precision temperature sensors
- Day or night schedules can be set
- Programmable
- Soft start-up to avoid damages caused by overpower
Cons
- Not great if you are looking for a static temperature which does not vary throughout the day
Century Digital Mat Thermostat
Last update on 2020-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It is a best seller on Amazon for terrarium heat mats, and it offers an effortless heating set up through the setting of temperature probe. The display supports both Fahrenheit and Celsius unit readings. It has an LED heating and the power indicator lights enable its use in darkness.
Pros
- ETL listed
- Extra-long cords
- Highly versatile
- Easy and effortless heating setup
- Bright, easy to read display
- Strong and sturdy housing
Cons
- Not suitable in water
Vivarium Electronics VE-300 Themostat
- Standard features on VE-100 & VE-300; 700 watt capacity fuse protection, displays probe temp, set point and current, remembers settings after power interruption, 10' probe, grounded receptacle, safety backup relay shutoff cuts all output power if the probe temperature more than 6 degrees above set point.
- Special “extra” features on VE-300, pulse proportional style OR on/off style thermostat operation, high/low temp alarms, high/low temp history storage, built-in “Night Drop” capability, clock battery backup. 3 alarm functions; Sensor Failure, Temperature Overshoot and the Too Long to Setpoint Temperature alarm. Stores the High and Low temperatures during operation, saved by the battery backup.
- Night Drop feature makes it easy to cycle your animals during breeding season without controlling the temperature of the whole room or manually changing the settings twice a day.
- We have also included a bottle of our Chlorhexidine Solution 2%; 1 refill makes 32 oz. of working solution – just add water! This is the best cleaner for your reptile’s habitat; used and recommended by exotic animal vets for cleaning your cages and other habitat items. We love this anti-bacterial, anti-fungal cleaner because it is easy to use and non-toxic to our reptiles. Great for daily maintenance cleaning as well as monthly cleaning from top to bottom.
- See also our Carolina Custom Cages’ listing for “Chlorhexidine Solution 2%; 32 oz. Sprayer, plus 2 refills” and our listing for “Chlorhexidine Solution 2%; 3 refills make 32 oz. each of working solution”. Carolina Custom Cages is a division of Carolina Designer Dragons, Inc.
Last update on 2020-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It is a table tip model that sits on top of cages or racks. It is ideal for ceramics as it is a pulse thermostat. Its temperature range is from 25oF to 140oF. It also features an auto shut off feature that prevents overheating. If needed its features can also include sound alarms.
Pros
- Stackable
- Large backlit display
- 3-button keyboard
- The single outlet can be expanded with the use of outlet strips
- Automatic temperature drop at night
- Auto shut off feature
- Sound alarms
- Ideal for ceramic heaters
- Tabletop model
Cons
- Not recommended for incandescent bulb
Bayite Digital Outlet Themostat
Last update on 2020-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Independent heating and cooling so as to keep your vivarium in the right temperature range.
- It has a waterproof sensor, which increases its accuracy.
- An alarm is being installed with it.
It is also ideal for incubation, breeding and aquarium heating. A highlight feature is it has an automatic power delay, which assists in the protection of the compressor to promote longevity. It uses exhaust fans.
One thing stop this thermostat become the best reptile thermostat is because it doesn’t have the timer. So, you have to do it yourself.
Pros
- Saves money on electricity
- Can be used as a cooler or heater
- Waterproof
- A wide range of uses
- Temperature alarm
- Automatic power on delay
Cons
- Does not have a timer
WILLHI WH1436A Digital Thermostat
Last update on 2020-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It can be used to turn on and off any electric appliances at the required temperature. This digital thermostat has low and high temperature alarms that notify the person once the desired temperature is reached or when it rises or drops suddenly. It has an auto-shutoff time, which should help save the electricity.
Pros
- Auto shut off timer
- Can switch from refrigeration to heater
- Versatile for various uses
- Temperature alarms
- Waterproof thermocouple included
- Compressor safety timeouts
Cons
- Does not include the battery
Inkbird Dual Stage Digital Thermostat
Last update on 2020-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It is an easy setup thermostat hence ideal for you if you don’t have experience with reptile thermostats.
With a dual-display window, it can be used to check and set temperatures. It can also be connected to heating refrigeration equipment. In case of damage, it is also possible to replace the sensor and it has an alarm.
Pros
- Includes a manual
- Temperature calibration
- Over temperature and sensor fault alarm
- Dual relay output
- Reading in both Celsius and Fahrenheit
- Dual display window
Cons
- Not suitable for water tanks
Leviton TBL03-10E Slide Control Lamp Dimmer
Last update on 2020-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It produces lighting controls and dimmers. And can also be used around the house and replace standard switches.
A highlight of this thermostat is it needs no installation.
Pros
- Versatile use
- 5-year warranty
- Tabletop design
- 6-foot cord
- Requires no installation
- Compatible with halogen, incandescent, and dimmable CFL and LED bulbs
- Cheap
Cons
- Dimmer is a bit quirky
- Not specifically designed for tanks
Vivarium Electronics VE-200D Thermostat
June 2020 update: This product is no more available on amazon
It also has dimming qualities and also incandescent heat lamps. Its temperature control range is between 40oF to 150oF. It can also control heaters with up to 700 watts and it has a day and night temperature drop.
Pros
- High controlling temperatures
- Control heaters of up to 700 watts
- Day or night temperature drop
- Auto shut off feature
- Suitable for incandescent heat lamps
- Full backlit display
Cons
- Not suitable for fluorescent bulbs and mercury vapor
Bonus: How to set up a thermostat for your reptile tank?
The video explains the necessity of thermostats and demonstrates how to properly set up a thermostat for reptile heat mats.
A sharing of a snake keeper after buying a thermostat
I didn’t think I could afford a thermostat for my snake when I first got him so I put the heat mat right on the glass tank. A few months later as I’m cleaning it out I notice a crack all the way down the bottom of the tank and that the mat was so hot it had deformed its own plastic coating.
Luckily my snake was ok but I had to buy a new mat and will have to get him a new tank soon as I just duct-taped over the crack. I found the money for a thermostat.
Lesson learned when saving up for a snake, choosing the best reptile thermostats are part of the cost, don’t be cheap and go without, it’ll cost you more in the long run, maybe just replacement mats, maybe a tank, maybe your snakes’ life. Seriously, the mat got hot enough to crack the glass, that’s scary.
Linna Guillen
Last update on 2020-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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