A couple of questions?

[Kylerbassman]

When you say digital, you do mean infrared right?

 

[Longview]

Maybe? It doesn't say.

 

[Kylerbassman]

What is the make and model. Is it a probe thermometer with a digital screen

 

[Longview]

What is the make and model. Is it a probe thermometer with a digital screen

Sorry, i thought i posted it.

Its a Zoo Med Digital Thermometer, And yes it has a probe with a digital screen.

 

[Kylerbassman]

Honestly an infrared zoo anything is probably a 30$ item. You can get a temp gun at hardware store for cheaper. Manually checking them is best and then base it off what say your thermostat shut off reads. I'm sure you will probably see close to a 10 degree difference.

 

[Kylerbassman]

Those probe thermometers are only a good use to show the temperature is consistent not necessarily the correct temperature at hottest spot in tank

 

[Longview]

But if these mats get 105, i shouldn't have a 20 degrees difference?

 

[Kylerbassman]

Is that probe on the hottest part of tank. Even pads create hot spots on the actual floor surface. You are going to loose some heat through tank and substrate. It's hard to exactly say without advising you to get a good infrared temp gun.

 

[Longview]

I put it in the center of the pad and got around 95.

I'll have to go to my local hardware store and look for a gun.

But after putting slate in, which i plan on, I'm probably going to need a secondary heat source won't i?

EDIT: I think i will since my cool side is only at 68, and it needs to get much hotter.

 

[Kylerbassman]

I can't see your setup but I'm just saying in my experience, I have a digital probe thermometer on the side of mine and it reads 84 degrees but my hot spot reads more like 95 with my extremely accurate infrared thermometer. You want paper towels that are going to let heat up through better. Like ones with all the tiny holes. I don't use them but I have been told they can actually be compared to heat loss you would see with a thin piece of slate. I always thought there would be more of a chance for burns but lm sure there are others here to shed some lite as I know many use paper towels

 

[Embrace Calamity]

If paper towels are used, they have to be weighed down to make sure the leo doesn't go underneath and burn itself.

~Maggot

 

[Longview]

I'm going to use slate, i just put towels down just to have something in between the probe and the pad.

 

[Kylerbassman]

I honestly think if you do say a 25w bulb for daytime simulation and maybe a 25 blue nighttime bulb to help with heat/viewing you could bring up the overall temp. Just watch you don't make it to warm, move the lights further from the top if needed. Still get a good thermometer but you may need to play with wattage on your lights to get it just right. I have a box full of all sorts of lights now

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I honestly think if you do say a 25w bulb for daytime simulation and maybe a 25 blue nighttime bulb to help with heat/viewing you could bring up the overall temp. Just watch you don't make it to warm, move the lights further from the top if needed. Still get a good thermometer but you may need to play with wattage on your lights to get it just right. I have a box full of all sorts of lights now

I'd suggest a CHE, not a blue bulb. They can see colors at night very well and that may disrupt its nighttime activity.

~Maggot

 

[Kylerbassman]

Oh I never had issues, just with red, but most nights lights are off and only turn on to view them

 

[Kylerbassman]

I don't think the CHE is bad though. It's more or less what your tank needs for heat.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Oh I never had issues, just with red, but most nights lights are off and only turn on to view them

Blue is probably less likely to be disruptive as it's a more natural color than red, but between a blue light and CHE as a nighttime heat source, I'd suggest that.

~Maggot

 

[Kylerbassman]

My male albino actually is more active at times when the nighttime blue light is on, but one thing I have learned is some geckos can be very different and sensitive to certain things.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

My male albino actually is more active at times when the nighttime blue light is on, but one thing I have learned is some geckos can be very different and sensitive to certain things.

That could be due to temps, not the light. If the light is off, it's probably slightly cooler in the enclosure, unless you use something else to compensate. An albino is going to be even more sensitive to light than a 'regular' leo.

~Maggot

 

[Kylerbassman]

My lights really don't do that much in my tank. It's mostly Uth