Ambient Temperature to low?

[phoneguy]

I am using an UTH with a herpstat thermostat. It is getting cold up here in PA. and I have noticed the cool side if the tank is dropping down to 68% at times. Should I use a red bulb in conjunction with the UTH to raise the temp? I was thinking of using it with a lamp dimmer to control the heat output.

 

[acpart]

Some people feel strongly that a higher ambient temperature is better for their geckos and some people don't. I'm near Boston and don't use anything besides the UTH. The ambient temperature in the hides tends to be higher than in the rest of the tank because the heat gets trapped in there and that seems to be suffiicient for my geckos.

Aliza

 

[gothra]

I will turn on my heater when the temperature drops below 70 in my gecko room; but in the earlier years, I didn't have the heater and my geckos did fine as well (ambient temperature in the low 60s).

 

[Xylophagous]

Oh hi, another PA resident lol I was wondering the same really but little Amri seems fine with just the UTH so far so I'm not too worried.

 

[GeckoTrouble]

My general rule is that when the house drops below 60 I supplement with heat lamps to bring up the ambient temps

 

[Khrysty]

Seems lower ambient temps would be convenient for those of us that breed, no? The geckos get the general idea that the season's changed and they don't quite brumate, but they eat just a bit less...and when the weather gets warmer again they ovulate on time.

At least that's my experience. I'm in IL

 

[Designer Geckos]

By restricting the air flow in the enclosure you can keep your cool side warmer. Geckos do not need a lot of air flow. In our terrariums (Exo Terras) there is a large screen top that permits too much airflow, which will keep your enclosure a bit too cool this time of year as cool drafts blow around your home. What we did was had pieces of clear plexiglass cut to cover the majority of the screen top areas, leaving a 1/2" gap all the way around to permit some air flow. This helps keep the enclosure temps up since the UTH will actually throw off a fair amount of ambient heat.

 

[Gregg M]

Ambient air temps are just as important as basking temps... This is not an opinion... However, people will keep their animals how they like and if it works for them and their animals are healthy, thats fine by me... Not everyone does everything the same... As long as the end results are healthy reptiles in our collections, thats all that matters

Personally, I do not keep my animals in conditions that are just suffiicient... I keep them in conditions that will not only maintain them but increase health and activity...

The way I maintain my leos that are not in natural set ups is like this...
Hot side temps are in the high 90s... Somewhere around 97 is what I suggest...

Ambient air temps or cool side temps should be in the low 80s...

As far as leopard geckos needing a seasonal change in order to stimulate breeding or female ovulation goes, they do not need it...

 

[Khrysty]

As far as leopard geckos needing a seasonal change in order to stimulate breeding or female ovulation goes, they do not need it...

I didn't mean to imply that they need it, only that it couldn't hurt. While we're on the topic, though. In your opinion, Gregg, CAN slightly cooler temperatures during the cooler months hurt them?

 

[Gregg M]

While we're on the topic, though. In your opinion, Gregg, CAN slightly cooler temperatures during the cooler months hurt them?

Well cooling promotes slowwing down and in some cases stopping of feeding... Ambient air temps in the high 60s, low 70s is not a healthy environment even if they have a proper hot spot... So yes, cooling can cause health issues in animals that do not need to be cooled...

The difference in health between animals kept hot with proper ambient air temps and animals kept on the cooler side with no attention being paid to ambient air temps is quite noticable...:main_thumbsup:

 

[Khrysty]

Ambient air temps in the high 60s, low 70s is not a healthy environment even if they have a proper hot spot

And if it only drops a couple of degrees? I'd never let mine get down to the 70s. Like I said, I don't actually brumate my leos. Mine are normally kept at 95 (warm side) and 85 (cool side)...right now their warm side measures at 91 and their cool side is 80. All are still eating, especially the young ones.

(i'm not at all trying to argue with you, just trying to learn)

 

[Gregg M]

Those temps you are talking about are still in proper range and will not cause or trigger your leos to go off feed... Ambient air temps in the 60s and 70s will cause them to slow or stop feeding...

The thing is is that most people who say they brumate their leos, are not doing it properly... Proper brumation temps will be 50 to 55 degrees... There will also be no light cycle at all... They should be in complete darkness... This will slow all functions including cardio rates and metabolisms... Reptiles will lose hardly any weight during a proper brumation...

When the temps go down in the 60s to low 70s, only feeding is slowed and this is what causes weight loss and unhealthy animals... There is no balance of slowed functions at these temps...

I never thought you were arguing... Thats why I chose to answer your questions and not ignore them... LOL

 

[Khrysty]

Those temps you are talking about are still in proper range and will not cause or trigger your leos to go off feed... Ambient air temps in the 60s and 70s will cause them to slow or stop feeding...

The thing is is that most people who say they brumate their leos, are not doing it properly... Proper brumation temps will be 50 to 55 degrees... There will also be no light cycle at all... They should be in complete darkness... This will slow all functions including cardio rates and metabolisms... Reptiles will lose hardly any weight during a proper brumation...

When the temps go down in the 60s to low 70s, only feeding is slowed and this is what causes weight loss... There is no balance of slowed functions at these temps...

I never thought you were arguing... Thats why I chose to answer your questions and not ignore them... LOL

So I'm okay, and brumation isn't harmful as long as its done properly. Alright, thanks

 

[serialzombie]

So an unheated basement, for instance, might work quite well for brumation?

 

[Khrysty]

So an unheated basement, for instance, might work quite well for brumation?

I assume so, as long as the temp isn't too high. I thought you weren't going to brumate?

 

[Latlaw]

Those temps you are talking about are still in proper range and will not cause or trigger your leos to go off feed... Ambient air temps in the 60s and 70s will cause them to slow or stop feeding...

The thing is is that most people who say they brumate their leos, are not doing it properly... Proper brumation temps will be 50 to 55 degrees... There will also be no light cycle at all... They should be in complete darkness... This will slow all functions including cardio rates and metabolisms... Reptiles will lose hardly any weight during a proper brumation...

When the temps go down in the 60s to low 70s, only feeding is slowed and this is what causes weight loss and unhealthy animals... There is no balance of slowed functions at these temps...

I never thought you were arguing... Thats why I chose to answer your questions and not ignore them... LOL

So all that being said, in order to keep the ambient temps up in the winter (my house will be in the 60's) would you suggest using a lamp in addition to the UTH?

 

[phoneguy]

I was thinking of adding a red bulb or one of those heat emitters to raise the temp. Any input on which would be best? BTW I'm new to the site and really appreciate any input. Care sheets only go so far, its nice to have a lot of experts all in one place who are willing to give helpful advice. Thank You.