Hatchling housing question...

[crestedgeckogirly]

Ok, so I didn't know whether I should post this in hatchlings or housing...LOL

Here's the deal...I really don't want to deal w/heat tape, etc. The room all my other animals are in stays around 74 degrees give or take. My adults have basking lamps to keep their temps in the high 80's, low 90's.

SOOOO, that being said...I have a room that doesn't have an ac vent, so it stays significantly warmer (82+)...would it be better to keep hatchlings here if I don't want to deal w/heat tape? Or are they ok in low to mid 70's?

I'm planning to house them in shoe box sterilite tubs. And, if I keep them in the 'hot' room, I'd be continuously monitoring temps.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

-Andrea

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Leos, just like any other reptile, MUST be able to thermo-regulate, and require a 90 degree spot (belly heat preferred) and normal room temperature area. This is critical for their metabolism, digestion, and immune system. Keeping them like you would your cresteds will not provide the proper environmental needs for leopard gecko, especially babies. Heat tape across the backs of the shelves on a controller is the best way to achieve this if you will be housing them in shoe boxes.

 

[crestedgeckogirly]

Leos, just like any other reptile, MUST be able to thermo-regulate, and require a 90 degree spot (belly heat preferred) and normal room temperature area. This is critical for their metabolism, digestion, and immune system. Keeping them like you would your cresteds will not provide the proper environmental needs for leopard gecko, especially babies. Heat tape across the backs of the shelves on a controller is the best way to achieve this if you will be housing them in shoe boxes.

Thanks for the reply Marcia. Is there an easy way to do this on a small scale? I'll probably only have about 10 shoeboxes this year (and that won't be until the end of the season). Next month when the first clutch is due to hatch, I'll only have one shoebox.

Should I give up on the shoebox idea? What would you do if you were in my position (i.e. small amt of hatchlings)? What would be the best way of housing these hatchlings? I'm open for suggestions.

Thanks again...that's why I'm asking more than a month in advance.

-Andrea

 

[gko reptiles]

We keep ALL of our leos in racks. Heat tape is actually the EASIEST way to go. You could get a seperate UTH for each box, but that gets annoying. Honestly speaking, I would go with the heat tape. We all use it because it's so easy!! Good luck with your hatchlings!

 

[crestedgeckogirly]

Where do you guys get the heat tape at? Does it need to be on a plastic or metal shelving unit? The bookcase I use for my hatchlings, etc. is wooden...

Maybe just a 10 gallon w/a basking lamp? That would get tricky when I start getting multiple clutches though...

I guess if someone could explain the heat tape and how to safely use it w/out burning my house down...I'd REALLY appreciate it...LOL.

Thanks everyone! Sorry to be such a newbie!

-Andrea

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Andrea, you can get heat tape and connectors at The Bean Farm, and as long as you have it on a rheostat or temperature controller, it is safe to use. Here is a good resource for how to hook it up: http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/flexwire.shtml

 

[acpart]

I am actually probably going to go with heat tape next year, but here's what I'm doing right now: hatchlings are in glasscages.com front opening tanks, with the largest tanks (30"x12"x10" or 1/2 height 29 gallons) divided into 3 sections with plexiglass and some are in those large reptile ranch things. I use Zoomed reptile heat cable and I run it horizontally along the back of the tank so each section has a warm back and cool front. For the plastic "tanks", the heat cable is taped to a piece of plexiglass underneath. I will also use mini UTH's with thermostats for a couple of smaller plastic tanks that will hold overflow babies. This works well in the summer but I'm not too happy with the amount of heat I"m getting from the heat cable in the winter so I'll probably change over.

Aliza

 

[gko reptiles]

Where do you guys get the heat tape at? Does it need to be on a plastic or metal shelving unit? The bookcase I use for my hatchlings, etc. is wooden...

Maybe just a 10 gallon w/a basking lamp? That would get tricky when I start getting multiple clutches though...

I guess if someone could explain the heat tape and how to safely use it w/out burning my house down...I'd REALLY appreciate it...LOL.

Thanks everyone! Sorry to be such a newbie!

-Andrea

We have heat tape on wooden and plastic racks, both are working out great! I have, however, burned a (*cough cough* few) holes in the carpet with over head lighting... As far as burning down your house goes, I'd be more worried about the lights than the heat tape! Like someone posted earlier, as long as you have a rhea-stat or something of that nature (dimmer, etc) you should be golden! Also, there were 2 reasons that we switched to rack systems: 1) Tanks take up WAY too much room! 2) Tanks become a pain in the b*tt to hold open, feed/water/clean, close, put the lighting back on, etc. I couldn't even imagine what that would be like with the 122 geckos we have now! (Also, heat tape will save you a TON in electric each month!)

 

[Sarah H]

I personaly would buy a small hatchling rack with everything already installed. I have heard they are not that hard to make but I never felt like messing with the heat tape and such. You can get a 10 slot hatchliingrack for under 200 shipped. I think I saw some around 150 in classifieds on kingsnake awile back. If you don't keep the babies at proper temp they will not do well.