Digital Thermometers

[adventurer06]

I'm a new owner of 2 baby gecko's and I have a question about my digital thermometer readings. I have a 20 long with a 10-20 gal uth stuck to the bottom left side of my tank, and I have reptile carpet for my substrate. I have a hide right over the uth, and if I remove the rock the hottest temp is 95 , however if I stick the thermometer in the same spot under the rock its reading 99. I do seem to have a gradient in which the temps range from 87 to the 95 (or the 99 degrees) on the hot side, in the 80's middle of the tank, and around 75 on the cool end. Also my digital thermometer never stays the same, it will jump or fall a degree when its left on even though it stays in the same spot. I do have 3 dry hides and one shed box, 2 dry ones on the warm end with one directly over the uth and the other on the warm end but not on the uth (reads 90 degrees), shed box in the middle, and another dry hide on the cool end. I do not have a light on the tank, I'm using natural light however they are not in the direct sunlight.They seem to prefer the hottest hide during the day. Both were very skinny (malnourished pet shop buys, although I didn't know it then) and they are both eating well ( their tails have gone from being twig skinny to plumping up since I've had them) and they are alert and look ok to me, however there were no real directions with the digital thermometer I just got- it is a corallife esu brand. I'm not sure if I have a problem with my hot side temp or not. If I do would adding a second piece of reptile carpet over the uth help? Or since they are doing good and stay in there alot should I just leave things alone? Also, although I haven't noticed a shed yet, neither one seem to use the shed box at all. I'm using a cool whip bowl with a hole cut in the side and put moss in that and I mist it everyday, but I'm planning on buying a regular store bought shed box this weekend, is it normal for them not to go in there regularly? Sorry this was so long, thanks in advance for the replies!

 

[adventurer06]

Please does anyone know if this is ok?

 

[VTHokie]

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Do you mean the UTH is heating the rock to 95 degrees, but underneath it is closer to 100? Can the leos get underneath the rock? If not, then 95 is fine. If there is some way they could get stuck under the rock, then 100 would probably be too warm. As long as they can come and go as they please, there shouldn't be any real worries, but 100 degrees is a touch on the hot side of things.

 

[adventurer06]

Thanks for the reply VT. What I mean is when I pull out their rock (which is right over the uth) it only reads 95 for the highest temp. But when I put the rock back in it reads 99, I'm guessing because of the trapped warm air under the rock. They can get in and out fine. Its just a reptile rock with a hole in it they can go under. So far it seems to be their favorite spot. I'm just wondering if I should put an extra piece of reptile carpet underneath the rock to cool the temp?

 

[VTHokie]

Oh, I understand now . The substrate temp is what really matters, not the ambient air temperature, so if they seem to enjoy it in there, it is a big enough area that their entire bodies can be on the hot-spot, and they have a variety of options for other hides at different temps, I'd say no problems.