911 UTH going to probably cook my gecko!

[Smidget88]

I just bought a Zoo-Med repti therm UTH for a 10-20 gallon tank . when i fist clogged it in it was in the mid 80s-low 90's I checked the temp a minute ago and im up to 102.2 degrees!!!! my Gecko is still hanging out on the hot side too. For now I am just going to unplug it, when the tank was not heated it ranged betweem 73-82 degrees I feel no heat is being better than getting cooked alive. Anyone know how and can tell me how to get this better thermal regulated so my pal isnt cooked alive? He doesnt seem to mind it he came out of the hot side to hunt down a cricket and went straigth back, but im worried any ideas?

 

[acpart]

You're right to be concerned since sometimes geckos end up burning their tails and don't notice. There are several solutions:

--I have noticed that a smaller UTH, the zoo-med 1-5 gallon one, will heat up to about the right temp with a ceramic tile substrate in a 10 gallon tank

--go to Home Depot or Lowe's and get a "lamp dimmer". This is something you plug your lamp (or UHT) into and then you plug the dimmer into the outlet. It works just like a light dimmer: if you turn the dimmer halfway down, for instance, you get 50% less light, and with a UTH you would get 50% less heat. You just keep adjusting the dimmer till the temperatures are right. The biggest disadvantage to this is that when the air temperature changes significantly, you'll have to adjust it again. The biggest advantage is that it's only about $12

--the best solution: get a thermostat made for the UTH. A reasonably functional and cheap one is Alife or ESU (they look the same to me). I know they're sold at beanfarm.com and you can also find them on ebay, for example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330417744126&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I hope that helps.

Aliza

 

[Smidget88]

i swear they should make them dang things with thermo-regulators on em.. but then alas they wouldnt make another 10+ bucks off of us

 

[acpart]

I have seen a UTH with a built in rheostat, but then you have to keep adjusting it.

Aliza

 

[Northstar Herp]

You're right to be concerned since sometimes geckos end up burning their tails and don't notice. There are several solutions:

--I have noticed that a smaller UTH, the zoo-med 1-5 gallon one, will heat up to about the right temp with a ceramic tile substrate in a 10 gallon tank

--go to Home Depot or Lowe's and get a "lamp dimmer". This is something you plug your lamp (or UHT) into and then you plug the dimmer into the outlet. It works just like a light dimmer: if you turn the dimmer halfway down, for instance, you get 50% less light, and with a UTH you would get 50% less heat. You just keep adjusting the dimmer till the temperatures are right. The biggest disadvantage to this is that when the air temperature changes significantly, you'll have to adjust it again. The biggest advantage is that it's only about $12

--the best solution: get a thermostat made for the UTH. A reasonably functional and cheap one is Alife or ESU (they look the same to me). I know they're sold at beanfarm.com and you can also find them on ebay, for example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330417744126&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I hope that helps.

Aliza

in the meantime, you can adjust down the heat that makes it to your cage floor by adding to the substrate. cardboard, vinyl tile, ceramic tile, all kinds of stuff can buffer the heat til you can get a thermostat or dimmer.

 

[Smidget88]

Just an update, i did get a dimmer, after a lot of tinkering im at 89 degrees thanks everyone!

 

[mushraeddur]

Just an update, i did get a dimmer, after a lot of tinkering im at 89 degrees thanks everyone!

Excellent!

I just got a herpstat (pricey). I was willing to pay for the convenience of not having to adjust it. It adjusts for me. I'm really liking it.

Glad you were able to get it worked out.

 

[CallDr]

Excellent!

I just got a herpstat (pricey). I was willing to pay for the convenience of not having to adjust it. It adjusts for me. I'm really liking it.

Glad you were able to get it worked out.

Where did you get it?

 

[bman123]

Thermostats are so expensive, the avg pet owner never buys one

 

[Tony C]

Thermostats are so expensive, the avg pet owner never buys one

You can get a basic model for under $30.

 

[bman123]

Show me a thermostat for $30 not a rheostat. Most t stats are over $80 like Johnson, and helix. Those are the good ones.
This is exactly what I'm afraid of happening to me. I don't want a uth hitting 120degrees and cooking my Leo. Rheostats suck since when the room temp changes you have to tinker with the settings.

People actually recommended me getting a uth and no rheostat or t stat in my thread. I'd rather use a lamp then a uth without a dimmer lol.
Sorry to rant and rave but good luck with the dimmer. My buddy said he has a heck of a time with his.

I wish the t stats weren't so costly. They do give you the peace of mind tho, set it and forget it.

 

[Shera]

Show me a thermostat for $30 not a rheostat. Most t stats are over $80 like Johnson, and helix. Those are the good ones.
This is exactly what I'm afraid of happening to me. I don't want a uth hitting 120degrees and cooking my Leo. Rheostats suck since when the room temp changes you have to tinker with the settings.

People actually recommended me getting a uth and no rheostat or t stat in my thread. I'd rather use a lamp then a uth without a dimmer lol.
Sorry to rant and rave but good luck with the dimmer. My buddy said he has a heck of a time with his.

I wish the t stats weren't so costly. They do give you the peace of mind tho, set it and forget it.

Right here. There are others in that range too. They are on/off type thermostats, so they vary a couple of degrees in either direction of your chosen temp, but that's fine for a UTH. I've also heard that the "click" on and off, which can be annoying if the set-up is in your bedroom and you are trying to sleep. The proportional thermostats are more precise (they are like a smart rheostat that adjusts itself), but they are alot more expensive (helix etc).

 

[Eric1969]

You're right to be concerned since sometimes geckos end up burning their tails and don't notice. There are several solutions:

--I have noticed that a smaller UTH, the zoo-med 1-5 gallon one, will heat up to about the right temp with a ceramic tile substrate in a 10 gallon tank

--go to Home Depot or Lowe's and get a "lamp dimmer". This is something you plug your lamp (or UHT) into and then you plug the dimmer into the outlet. It works just like a light dimmer: if you turn the dimmer halfway down, for instance, you get 50% less light, and with a UTH you would get 50% less heat. You just keep adjusting the dimmer till the temperatures are right. The biggest disadvantage to this is that when the air temperature changes significantly, you'll have to adjust it again. The biggest advantage is that it's only about $12

--the best solution: get a thermostat made for the UTH. A reasonably functional and cheap one is Alife or ESU (they look the same to me). I know they're sold at beanfarm.com and you can also find them on ebay, for example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330417744126&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I hope that helps.

Aliza

I had a very small UTH in my 20 gallon and it was not enough.. I just purchased a dessert size and the girl at the pet store said it should be good. I do also have a dimmer I will use if it gets too hot, and to turn it down a bit at night, with warmer weather coming....

 

[Im-Perfection-xo]

When I hear of people getting reptile advice from "the girl at the pet store" it kind of worries me. I'm not sure what your local store is like, but if it's anything like mine, the advice is probably wrong. I can get several different answers from the same girl over the span of a week. (Not to mention she tried to sell me a heat rock and sand for my tank..) So unless you know that they do know their stuff, make sure to do your own research.

If you don't mind watching the tank temperature all the time, a dimmer is fine. But if you can't be around to monitor it closely, I'd strongly suggest springing for the thermostat. I had a Zoo-Med one. Not my favourite brand, but it did the trick. And it only cost me about $20.

 

[Gregg M]

Just for the record, 102 degrees will not even come close to burning or cooking your gecko... I have geckos set up in natural'esque set ups and their basking spots are as high as 120 degrees and they use it...

You should be offering a basking spot in the high 90's anyway... High 80's on the hot side is just not warm enough...

 

[Neo.Reptiliac]

Show me a thermostat for $30 not a rheostat. Most t stats are over $80 like Johnson, and helix. Those are the good ones.
This is exactly what I'm afraid of happening to me. I don't want a uth hitting 120degrees and cooking my Leo. Rheostats suck since when the room temp changes you have to tinker with the settings.

People actually recommended me getting a uth and no rheostat or t stat in my thread. I'd rather use a lamp then a uth without a dimmer lol.
Sorry to rant and rave but good luck with the dimmer. My buddy said he has a heck of a time with his.

I wish the t stats weren't so costly. They do give you the peace of mind tho, set it and forget it.

I use this one. http://www.bigappleherp.com/BAH-1000-Thermostat

 

[RoninSTi]

With the BAH-1000, I notice it can control 3 tanks. Are there 3 temperature probes? This would solve my problems if it can independently control 3 tanks.

 

[TFerguson]

With the BAH-1000, I notice it can control 3 tanks. Are there 3 temperature probes? This would solve my problems if it can independently control 3 tanks.

yeah, not three tanks... three heating devices, eg. UTH, IR lamp, etc. Only one temperature probe.

T Ferguson