Belly Heat verses back heat

[Jacy]

I have been looking online and spoke to several people that build the racks.
Is there a huge difference between back heat and belly heat as long as the back of the tub is the correct temp and the front of the tub is cooler?

 

[david13]

I think the leos need belly heat to help digest their food, so inless back heat heats the floor (idk) i woiuld go with belly heat

 

[fallen_angel]

We have to use back heat because of how our bins are set up, and it does provide belly heat on the heated side, but I would still think that direct belly heat would be the best way to go

 

[david13]

you should send me some pics of you rack Jess

i like seeing pics of racks

 

[fallen_angel]

for anyone interested.. We originally were looking online for some bin/rack systems that were already pre-made, but didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on just 6 or 8 drawers.. So we just bought one of these (and more as needed) from Target. We use two-feet of 11" heat tape on the back of each one. Here's a pic of the one with our current hatchlings in it..

We're moving in the beginning of next year, and so once we're relocated, we plan to build a bigger shelving system and provide belly heat.. Until then, these have really been working great for us

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Belly heat! With back heat, you are really only raising the air temperature... and in a rack, a lot of that heat gets wasted heating up the air between the tubs. This makes the room temperature go up, and increases your energy costs.

With belly heat, the gecko are in more natural environmental conditions. In the wild, they rely on the heat absorbed in the rocks and soil from the day's sun to keep their GI systems functioning properly. With belly heat, more of the heat is utilized on the bottom surface of the tubs, and less for heating up the surrounding air.

 

[Jacy]

I should have just called you for the explanation. I even got a lecture from Jacy on this post. She told me she was going to change her password

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

LOL!!! You two are going to have to get your own separate user names now

 

[david13]

lol..