Heat mat?

[dim&shell]

Is it okay that I have a heat mat on the side of the wall inside my geckos tank or does it need to be on the floor? One of my "friends" (who doesn't have a gecko) said I'm very wrong to have it on the wall and they HAVE to have them on the floor?? :beadyeyes:

 

[JConley]

Belly heat is what they need so.....yes!

 

[dim&shell]

Really? I have been receiving conflicted advice? By the way - they are both doing great and are putting on weight really well. I also have a light that's on in intervals throughout the day which heats up the substrate? One of them loves it

 

[gothra]

I agree that heat mat (under tank heater) is better located on the floor.

 

[dim&shell]

Really? Damn... Well as per my post http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=21694 I will change his tonight when I get in, and will change my others when I get a chance as to be honest for the time being they don't seem bothered

 

[JConley]

Ya they need belly heat so they can digest their food. Somewhere between 89-92 F or 31.3-33.3 C

As for the light i wouldnt put any lights over that tank, but if you were to i would use a inferred light (red glass) no white bulbs! low wattage in the cold months for a little extra heat.

I believe the right temps are the single most important thing. If they dont have the right temps they wont absorb calcium or vits no matter how much you gut load or dust.

 

[dim&shell]

Yeah I know they only have a red light bulb (one of them loves it) - goes on at intervals throughout the day (from 8am - 4pm) and then off throughout the night - he does love it though (plus my room gets a bit chilly sometimes)

 

[Tommy13b]

that Red bulb is a UV bulb there used for giveing reptiles d3. you dont really need a uv light because most calcumes have d3 in it.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Bottom heat! That's why it's called an Under Tank Heater (UTH). The geckos' digestion, metabolism, and immune systems do much better when they have belly warmth.

 

[Halley]

Belly heat is the best... However some geckos are kept with back heat, which is a set-up that you currently have. I also have a leopard gecko that has been getting heat from bulbs for 2 years which is fine. However I think that the tile absorbs some of the heat, so she does get some form of belly heat. However if I where you, I would stick it on the bottom of the tank.