Getting a new gecko next weekend! Quick heating question...

[ptgecko]

Hey everyone. Going to be getting a new leopard gecko soon. Most likely a very young one. I just have a quick question about heating in my tank.

I have a uth under the tank with a layer of repti carpet on the bottom. I've had the uth on for the past 7 days to get up to temperature. I have it on a thermostat and put in both a cheap digital and an analog thermometer to check the temp. According to thermostat and the analog therm, the temp is ~85 degrees, while the cheap digi therm reads ~80.

Should I add a low wattage light in there to make sure the temperature stays up there or what? How can I best regulate this?

Heres some pics of the uth and stuff for note: http://i.imgur.com/KrPzSk2.jpg , http://i.imgur.com/qs46lUU.jpg

Thanks for any help guys and girls!

 

[skitch92]

Hmm I never had a problem reaching ~90 degrees with my uth. Looks to be the same size as well. Hopefully somebody else can provide you some input.

 

[JasonO80]

Since you have referred to both temperature devices as cheap I wouldn't trust them. You should be able to get a reasonable infrared temp gun and read the carpet that way to be sure. Doesn't have to be a reptile one either most automotive parts stores have them and they are accurate. Other than that I have the Hydrofarm Thermostats and they read pretty well on the substrate.

 

[ptgecko]

I'm gonna run out and get one tonight or tomorrow. Say, however, it is hovering around 85 degrees, should I just add a low wattage light or what?

Thanks for your help!

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I don't think the light would be a good idea. Bright lights make leos insecure. Are you measuring the floor or air temperature? The air temperature is okay at 85 degrees but the gecko needs a warm spot on the floor that reaches about 90. If its the floor that's not getting warm enough, can you just turn the thermostat up a few degrees and get it to 90 or is it already at its max temp? If not my suggestion would be to buy a better heat mat or return the one you have since it seems to be defective.

 

[ptgecko]

I ran out and bought an IR thermostat gun. If i hold it 2 inches over the surface and have the laser right on the repti carpet, it's reading about 92 degrees (around 72 on the cold side).

If this is measuring the temp right on the surface, would it be acceptable?

 

[JasonO80]

That would be acceptable but the temp gun should read the same with a little more distance between it and the substrate. I would just keep a close eye on it to make sure it doesn't fluctuate greatly and you should be ok. My heat mats are not high end in my tanks and they have been working great. I use the Zoo Med ReptiTherm® Under Tank Heater and the Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats. Now I will say the thermostat is good enough for the tanks but I wouldn't use them for any type of heating that needs close monitoring like incubation you would need to spend a bit of money on the Herpstat's.

 

[ptgecko]

Awesome, thanks for all the help. My cold side is actually more around 68 degrees now. How can I get that up a little bit without affecting the temperature of the hot side too much?

 

[B&B Geckos]

Awesome, thanks for all the help. My cold side is actually more around 68 degrees now. How can I get that up a little bit without affecting the temperature of the hot side too much?

No need, your Leo will thermoregulate it's temperature by moving from one area to another. If 68 is too cold for it, it will simply spend less time in this area.