1. SensorPush Temperature Loggers (HT1 Temperature and Humidity Smart Sensor & G1 Wi-Fi Gateway)
The SensorPush Temperature loggers were a very eye-opening addition to the toolbox from the moment I began using them. I set up a SensorPush device in every cage and in at least one tub of every rack that I am using. Within 2 days I began noticing that there were discrepancies (2-6 degree variance) in the set temperature on the thermostat and what my readings were within the cage/tub. In addition to measuring the cage/tub temperatures, I also place sensors in the center of my reptile rooms to have 24/7/365 data on the ambient temperatures and cross reference this to the tub/cage data to see how the ambient conditions affect the cages and tubs throughout the seasons. I have set the SensorPush Data to be collected at one-minute intervals. The data is automatically pushed to the SensorPush mobile application where I can view and check my temperatures and humidity from anywhere in the world in real-time (the additional purchase of the SensorPush G1 Wi-Fi Gateway is required for remote viewing and data download if you wish to view outside of the 100m range). There it is stored for graphing and analysis. Additionally, the apps allow alert ranges to be set, so you can know if there is a problem without constant checking. I highly recommend the SensorPush application and devices to anybody who is looking to dial in their set up that much more, or if you are just a data junkie like myself.
2. Geeni Smart Outlets (Geeni 6-Outlet Smart Surge Protector) and Cameras (Geeni Aware 1080p HD Smart Camera)
I use the Geeni Smart Outlets and Cameras throughout all of my reptile rooms. I plug all of the cage and room lighting into the Geeni Smart Outlets so that I am able to remotely edit and turn off the light cycles in my room and cages. This is useful because I primarily keep arboreal boas and pythons and work full time, so many times I am arriving home from work after the lights have gone out for the night. On my way home I am able to keep the lights from going out so that cleaning and water bowl changes are possible instead of having to do them in the dark. If anybody knows anything about Green Tree Pythons and Emerald Tree Boas, they come to life at night and assume their hunting positions as soon as lights are out. I prefer not dealing with a riled-up collection during cleanings and water bowl changes. I also use the Geeni cameras to keep tabs on things when I am away, and primarily to keep an eye on pairings. The Geeni cameras have been the best bang for the buck that I have found on the remote WiFi camera market. The models I use stream 1080p video quality Geeni mobile application from anywhere in the world. The cameras also offer video playback, so I have been able to document and witness copulations that I would not have otherwise seen. The Geeni Smart Outlets and Cameras are all controlled in the same place on the easy to use Geeni mobile application.
3. InkBird C206T Thermostat for Room Heaters
The InkBird thermostats are an easy to program thermostat that I use to power and moderate all the oil filled radiant heaters in my reptile rooms. The thermostats come with a plug-in external probe that can be placed anywhere you wish to achieve the most accurate and best temperature reading. I taped the probes to the front of the closest rack to the heater to ensure those tubs are not able to overheat. I use an air purifier tower pointed at the heater to blow the air around the room, along with various other small ceiling mounted fans throughout the room to achieve minimal temperature variance from the ceiling to the floor. I use heat sources in all of my caging and rack systems, so I use the heaters to hold my preferred ambient temperatures of 81-degree DTH and 77-degree NTL during the summer. Being able to control the maximum and minimum temperatures in the room has been a big help in getting things dialed in and especially allows me to have a lot of control during the breeding season. Additionally, the C206T thermostat is one of the only models on the market that fails OFF in the event of a failure.
4. Utility Sink
Putting a sink in my reptile room is arguably one of the best things I have done. I recently built two additional reptile rooms in my basement and a sink was an absolute must have and a total game changer. Having a slop sink has made water bowl changes and the deep cleaning of tubs a breeze. My efficiency in the reptile room has increased greatly since installing the sink, and I couldn’t imagine having another reptile room without one. Next time around, I’d hook up a Reverse Osmosis filter under the sink so that I can have a separate faucet for drinking water for the animals (I give all of my animals bottled water as the water in my town isn’t the best).
5. AirCare 6 Gallon Evaporative Humidifier 831000
Achieving adequate humidity for me was something I struggled with for a couple years as I was getting into arboreal snake keeping. I constantly was trying to keep up with spraying cages when my oil filled heaters would kick on and suck out any of the little humidity I was able to have in my rooms. I purchased numerous models of humidifiers in hopes of keeping up but filling up the reservoirs in my reptile rooms daily, and sometimes twice a day, was a huge pain. The AirCare 6 Gallon Evaporative humidifier is by far the best humidifier I have gotten. The 6-gallon capacity is one of the largest on the market and requires filling every 2 days, and I am able to maintain an ambient room humidity of 55-80% effortlessly. One of the things I was trading when trying to maintain high humidity in tubs and cages prior to getting the humidifier was ventilation. Now, my animals can have as much ventilation as I feel is right without compromising the humidity. Maintaining an ambient humidity in my rooms has proven to be a much simpler path than aiming to maintain it in the cages, and I have noticed much more nighttime activity in my arboreal boids as a result. I have not had one stuck shed in the last year since I have been using this model, and I would highly recommend this humidifier to anybody that has had the same humidity struggles as myself.
Great picks!