Another newb question

[IonBaller07]

Ok guys sorry to take up the whole forum but I got another question. Im having trouble regulating the heat in my leos tank cause my house is pretty cold. I live in VA so its about 30-40 degrees outside. My parents use a pellet stove and/or a wood stove to keep the house warm but thats a few rooms away. Well I keep my geckos in a 20 gallon tank (maybe 20 gallon long, not sure.) And I have one of the crappy strip thermometers right in the middle at ground level. I keep the heat lamp on the right of the tank right above an elevated piece of slate rock. At first I bought a 100watt bulb. I didnt have the thermometer so I didnt know what temperature it read but I did some more research and found that 100watt was too much. So I went outand bought a 50watt nightime infared bulb which was pretty dumb since I turn it off at night. But now that I have my thermometer the middle of the cage reads about 77 sometimes it can drop down as low as 73. This means the cool side could be in the high 60's. Which sounds really low. When I put the 100 in the center reads around 82 which sounds better but if I think about the gecko getting up on the slate right under the bulb he wont be able to handle it. What should I do.

 

[DLS Reptile]

If you want to build the heat back up put the red bulb back up on top of the tank . leopard Geckos do not light bright lights.. Now if you havent yet cover 3/4 of the top with plexi glass, cardboard will work to but you have to make sure you keep it away from the light bulb and the light fixture. You can tape it so it does not move. all your heat is escaping from the tank. You do not have to have it 90 degrees in the tank. 85-88 is good on the warm side. 70-74 on the cool.

P.s. leopard geckos like low to low moderate humidity. Make sure the tank has enough room to breath...

 

[IonBaller07]

Which bulb were you referring to, both the 50watt and 100watt are infrared. But I have the 50 in right now, I am going to tape a piece of cardboard up when Im done with my homework.

 

[IonBaller07]

BTW do I cover the inside or outside of lid with the cardboard ???

 

[Mel&Keith]

Have you tried using an Under Tank Heater?

 

[IonBaller07]

No thats probably the next thing Ill try but Im kinda short on money, stupid recession

 

[Haligren]

Leos really only need belly heat, thus the Under Tank Heaters, and that should go on one side of the tank. Ambient air temps are second only to the ground temps which is where your leo will be spending most of his/her time. I live in a basement in Canada; I know all about how hard it is to keep a tank warm.

I'd strongly recommend a UTH when you have the money. But don't completely disregard the ambient air temps. They should be in the 80s or so warm side, and 70s or so cool side. Ground temps are ideally 95-97F warm side, mid to low 80s cool side. I'd keep the fifty watt, personally just to keep the air temps up a bit. Remember to get a digital thermometer with probe if you haven't already. Those things are invaluable. And be sure to place the probe at ground temp on the warm side (I keep mine in their warm hides) to be sure of the temps.

If you still can't get your temps high enough I'd recommend insulating the tank with either that bubble-wrap/tinfoil insulation stuff, and enveloping your tank with it. Here's a pic of my Tiamat's setup;

I have holes cut in the stuff on top for the lights.

You can also use tinfoil to cover the top because that's where most of your heat is no doubt escaping.

Many people on here will tell you that you don't really need anything for the ambient air temps, but I find that below 60F is simply too cold for a reptile. But that's just me. Air temps in my basement home are usually around 50-60F. :\

Hope that helps. :>