Going away overnight, do I need timer?

[donprec]

We're going away in 2 weeks, just an overnight stay. We'll leave early Sat morning and come home hopefully before 5pm (if we don't come back before then, the dog will have to stay an additional night at boarding).
I have no problem getting timers for the lights, but I was wondering...for just that amount of time, could I possibly let Precious go that long without lights and heat? Or would it stress her out and I'd be better off getting a timer?

 

[donprec]

5pm Sun, I meant to say!

 

[river-7]

Hi; I would go for the timer`-are you going to feed?? especially if your feeding before you go she needs the lights on to digest her food. river-7

 

[donprec]

I was thinking more along the lines of heat and not thinking about her digesting food. Totally forgot about that, thanks for reminding me. Timers it is!

 

[river-7]

yes, it is really worth while.river-7

 

[Canicke]

If you dont feed, and it's not cold, ya probably dont NEED timers. But - they aren't that expensive, and they really are a convenience! I use them even if i'm home.

 

[Hdrydr31]

I'd say timer is the way to go that way you keep her on her schedule as best as possible, yep they need the heat for digestion...

 

[donprec]

I'll admit I'm a little paranoid about the idea of electricity going on and off while I'm not there, or what if it malfunctioned or something. That's why I was hesitant about it. But I'll get the timers this weekend and start using them right away so I'll have a couple days to test them out and feel confident they're working ok before I leave.

 

[donprec]

I'm sorry for sounding so stupid but I have questions about the timers.
I found this one online, was originally excited that it had 8 outlets. Is this one good?
http://www.petco.com/product/122053/Zoo-Med-Repticare-Terrarium-Controller.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch
For all 3 of my lizards enclosures, I need 6 outlets (1 heat, 1 uvb each). But as I read further, it says 4 are timed and 4 are continuous. So that means only 4 will turn off and on at a certain time? I kind of like this one, I just hope I can find it in the store as I don't think I could get it shipped to me in time. My skinks would be ok without the uvb for that time so I guess I could just use 1 outlet each for their heat and then for Precious, connect her uvb and heat using up the 4 of them.
If I get this one, would I still connect it to the power surge or does it take the place of a surge?

 

[PatsyB]

I have this one and it works just fine. You can also get a digital one from Menards or Loews that might be cheaper. I have 3 total timers because only 4 outlets are on timers and 4 are continuous and I I need 8 on a timer! I got my Zoomed one from Petco.

You are going to kick yourself for not having them on timers before this, they are a godsend! Don't have to worry any more about waking up at a certain time to turn the light on and don't have to be home to turn them off!

 

[Lynchman18]

Another thing to think about with lighting with a timer vs. no light. Bearded dragons are awake during the day and if the room she is in doesn't get enough light they tend to sleep during the day.. So not only does the light help with digestion it also helps keep their day/night schedule.

 

[donprec]

That's a good point! I did get the timers...absolutely love them, will be using them all the time now!

 

[donprec]

Our little getaway was canceled because of the storm . We were going to Chincoteague and Assateague, the island with the wild ponies. We were going on a cruise one day where they take you to see the ponies and you get to see dolphins too (dolphins are my favorite!). The next day we were going to do a bus tour of the island. Both tours contacted me this morning to cancel and fortunately the hotel we were going to stay at waived their cancelation fee because of the weather.
But at least I found out how wonderful the timers are, which I probably wouldn't have if I wasn't planning on going away.

 

[PatsyB]

Such a bummer that the trip was cancelled sounds like it would have been fun. My landlord has been excited for the last month because his sister is coming this weekend to visit but he told me yesterday she might not be able to come because flights might be cancelled. I think she has to worry more about going back home on Sunday than coming here tomorrow.

I LOVE timers! Actually there is something that I love a bit more. Zoomed makes this thing called a hygrotherm, I use it for the frogs. You attach your fogger and your heat lamp to it, you set a maximum/minimum temp and humidity and the thing turns everything on and off as needed through out the day! It even has a nighttime setting so when it gets dark out it defaults to your nighttime temp! The only thing that is a pain is in the winter time I change the heat bulb daily, red at night and a brighter one during the day.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Love my timers! Izzy is up and basking when I get up....so she's all ready to eat her salad when I put it in there then a bit later i give her her roaches...
Timers make things so much easier!

 

[donprec]

So Patsy, was your landlord's sister able to come or was she canceled? A couple years ago, we were driving back from family's house and it started to pour. There was hardly any visibility and I had my son and mother in the car with me. So I pulled over to the side of the road for about 45 mins until it tapered a little...I wasn't the only one pulled over either. But my son was maybe about 4 years old, crying and scared, kept asking if we were going to die and if we were ever going to make it home! It was crazy lol!

Hdrydr, yes I love that they're already up and about when I wake up!

 

[PatsyB]

Awe, your poor son I'm sure that was scary for him. I don't know if his sister made it. I didn't hear anyone so I don't think she did.