Getting a Leopard Gecko!

[Franklinj480]

well just to clarify you want the probes tip to be touching the surface that your leo will have its belly on, so in that setup you linked pictures to you would have the probe on the surface of the carpet thats over the UTH.

and Val is correct. the probes do like to lean upwards, I weigh mine down with a small piece of tile

 

[Gecko977]

Okay sounds good.Thanks.

 

[blueappal]

I'm getting a UTH for sure and I will shop around online for geckos. I also still have a chance at my local pet store but they aren't open until tomorrow or Tuesday.

Yes. A UTH is a must or your gecko will die.

Also, there is some amazing websites out there that have geckos... or just wait a few months and find a reptile convention.

 

[PaladinGirl]

Crickets stink? Well I'll definitely be going with meal worms

Yes, crickets stink terribly. They are the nastiest little bugs ever. Unfortunately, I have to feed them to my geckos because they don't like the mealworms much.

Dubia roaches are a great alternative to crickets. I use those too. They are actually MUCH less nasty than crickets. They're easy to maintain and the best thing is that they don't stink. I have to order my roaches online because the reptile store near my house charges 65 cents to $1 for each one depending on size.

In order to keep my crickets tolerable, I have to clean their cricket keeper daily and fish the dead ones out. I have to wear a mask when I do it because they upset my allergies. It's a pain. I wish I didn't have to use them. My little fat tail especially loves them. I only put about 5 at a time in.

 

[Franklinj480]

Angie I feel very bad for you! That sucks. Fortunately for me my nef turns his nose up at crickets. I bought him 10 the other day, just as a treat to chase around. He devoured the first one as it went bouncing across the cage but then he wouldn't touch the others! He hid from the rest! I was so proud : D

 

[Gecko977]

The pet store sold the two last leopard geckos. They are getting a new shipment in Friday.

 

[Gecko977]

Found one!

This morning I actually found a lamp dimmer in the drawer. It is a little old and my question is: Is it safe?

 

[Franklinj480]

I don't see why it wouldn't be, plug it into a lamp and test it for a couple hours. Check to see if the dimmer itself gets hot or if it sparks. Oh and make sure there's nothing jammed in the socket, if your junk drawer is anything like mine there just might be something hazardous stuck in there.

 

[Gecko977]

It wasn't full of papers just lamps and other things like the dimmer. I tried it on a lamp and when the lamp is dim the bulb makes a buzzing noise. This isn't anything to do with the dimmer is it?

On the back it says: USE ON FANS OR LIGHT MOTOR LOADS AND ONLY WITH THERMALLY PROTECTED SHADED POLE OR PERMANENT SPLIT CAPACITOR MOTORS.

and it says 120 Vold AC, 3 AMP Rating

 

[Franklinj480]

Try different bulb and see if it makes the same buzzing noise. It could just be the result of restricting current through the bulb. I would leave it on for an hour to see what happens, just make sure you can observe it and its not near anything flammable.

I just want to add that this is what I would do. When dealing with wires and electricity there's always a risk. Do so at your own risk, but I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be safe to use.

 

[Gecko977]

I just tried on a bulb like you use in the light houses and it didn't make any noise. I tried on a different lamp but forgot it had an energy saver bulb with all the curved tubes and they don't dim. But on the bulb its on now there is no noise.

 

[Franklinj480]

you're most likely good to go then. nice find

 

[Gecko977]

My plundering through my house finally paid off!Tomorrow I will probably get a UTH and then next.....the gecko!I might wait a bit on the thermometer because my pet store has the one like you showed me but with 2 probes. Therefore it was double the price. I'm sure I can get it on the right temp. for now. I will watch the geckos behavior such as completely staying away from the warm side etc.

 

[Franklinj480]

Maybe if your provide the brand/size/wattage of your UTH somebody can give you an estimate of how thick your layer of paper towels need to be for the correct temp. Personally I'd wait to get the gecko until you have the thermometer. Don't want put the cart before the horse.

 

[Gecko977]

Zilla small heat mat for 10-20 gallons,8 Watt,6"x8"

 

[Gecko977]

It's a zilla small heat mat,8 watt,6"x8". Does anybody have this with a 10 gallon tank and know the amount of paper towels with a reptile mat I would need to get the correct temperature?

 

[jerrymb]

I have an 8 watt 6x8 UTH. I use 1 layer of paper towel.

 

[Gecko977]

Do you use a lamp dimmer or do you have the heating pad on full power? Since I'm trying the reptile carpet I probably wouldn't need any paper towels right?

 

[jerrymb]

Do you use a lamp dimmer or do you have the heating pad on full power? Since I'm trying the reptile carpet I probably wouldn't need any paper towels right?

Full power. You don't need paper towels if you're using carpet. It's only 8 measly watts so even full power isn't really that much.

 

[Gecko977]

Okay so with the heating pad on half of the tank and a hide the temp. should be about perfect right?