Review: iSTAT Compact reptile thermostat
We recently added a few new additions to our family in the form of some beautiful corn snakes Asa, Amber and Ash. I believe that most people think that caring for snakes is hard, I know that my mother felt that way when I was growing up and it was the main reason why we never had one when in fact they are pretty easy to look after once you have the right set up for them.
Of course, everyone knows that snakes are ‘cold blooded’ and the main thing you have to think about when setting up a vivarium is how to give the snake the chance to regulate its temperature as they can’t do this themselves. You do this by having an area of the vivarium set up with a heating device (usually a lamp or heat mat), which provides heat for the snake to warm up in should it feel the need.
I have heat mats in each of my vivariums (safely beneath glass so the snakes can’t accidentally burn themselves by direct contact), to keep one end of the habitat a toasty 30°C which is the optimal temperature for a corn snake.
It is generally accepted in the reptile community that when using a heating device it is safest to use a thermostat to regulate the heat to ensure a stable atmosphere. I will admit that when I simply had the heat mats running without a thermostat it was a struggle to keep the temperatures in all three vivariums (which are stacked on top of each other) stable, especially as they are right next to a radiator.
Having done some research I decided to go for the iSTAT compact which had all the functions I needed in a perfect size, is available in a range of attractive colours, within a reasonable price range. iSTAT is dedicated to creating products that mimic the natural environment and offer the tools to monitor and control Humidity, Temperature, UV lighting and LED Lighting.
The iSTAT compact measures in at just 10cm x 5cm whilst having all of the functionality of a large thermostat boasting 6 different modes:
- On/Off – suitable especially for heat mats
- Pulse – perfect for ceramic bulbs
- Dimmer – good for basking and spot bulbs over 40w
- Cooling – for fan and cooling units
- Humidity Control Modes (perfect for rain and misting systems)
- Burst Continuous
The device comes with three cables – a cable powering the device which plugs into the wall, a temperature probe to measure the heat level in the vivarium and a plug into which you plug the heating device. The thermostat works by measuring the temperature and adjusting the power level going to the heating device as required to maintain the temperature set by the user.
The compact is quick to install in the vivarium and is easy to use – simply use the dial to select the mode and to change the settings by pressing or turning. After only a few minutes of running, I watched the temperatures level out nicely from 37°C down to 30°C and they have been stable ever since, making me much happier in the knowledge that my snakes have the correct living conditions.
I really like the iSTAT compact thermostat device. It is easy and simple to use, works perfectly and gives me peace of mind. I love that it is a great size and I could choose the colours; I have three different ones so I know which one controls which vivarium. I recommend the device to anyone who keeps reptiles and award the iSTAT compact 5 out of 5 stars.
