confused about temp?

[Coby78]

Well while I was cleaning out the tank, I thought to tape the temp. gauge right onto the the paper towel since I had it so it was resting as far as I can get it with the little sucker on the side of the tank (and I had figured that my gecko wasn't just lightly resting on the ground), the temperature shot to 101!! I nearly had a heart attack lol. But Leila always sleeps on the hottest parts of the tank; when the paper towels dry in the Tupperware moist hide and in the her hide on the hot side.

I thought maybe the tape was getting heated up, so I tried replacing the tape with something that can still press the gouge down but not possibly be giving an inaccurate reading, and it still didn't change.

And again, I never see Leila on the cold side. I would think if it was to hot for her she'd always be over there??

Am I not supposed to be pressing the gauge down? Or do I just have a really inaccurate thermometer? I've got that cheap yellow zoomed one from petco.

 

[acpart]

Most under tank heaters get up to that temperature, especially if all there is between it and the glass is paper towel. Some people do keep geckos in the high 90's but 101 is a little excessive. Geckos don't always notice when they are getting too hot (even though they're supposed to thermoregulate). It may be fine, but there are 2 things that could happen: calcium crash from gettin too hot or burns on tail or abdomen. Your best bet is to get a rheostat or thermostat to reduce the heat output of the thermostat. Do a forum search for "thermostat" or "rheostat" to see more, so I don't have to explain it all over again.

Aliza

 

[Coby78]

I know what a rheostat is, I'll get one now that I know Leila is obviously not noticing the temperatures. I feel bad for not trying this sooner now lol