Heat Pad Question

[jerrymb]

The last few days it's been very warm here. Temepratures in the 80's. I have my geckos heat pad on and I notice that during the day he's coming out of his hide several times a day. Is he too hot? Do I need to turn of the heat pad if it's a warm day? Or maybe keep just half the pad under the tank?

 

[SDCowboy]

It should be fine to leave it on. He is supposed to move from one side to the other and I doubt the room you have it in is hotter than the middle east where it comes from. haha It's really hot here in SoCal today also and mine has been living in the cold/humid hide today.

 

[Coby78]

If you have a thermometer and the temperatures are a little extreme, you should get a rheostat, you'll be able to change your temps yourself. I just bought one recently, it was maybe 20 dollars so it's not too bad price wise.

 

[jerrymb]

It should be fine to leave it on. He is supposed to move from one side to the other and I doubt the room you have it in is hotter than the middle east where it comes from. haha It's really hot here in SoCal today also and mine has been living in the cold/humid hide today.

Thanks. Mine hasnt ever gone into the humid hide yet.

 

[Dog Shrink]

Def. get a therometer so you know the floor temps nd a rheostat/light dimmer to adjust your uth to keep your floor temps between 88-95*F. You may reach a point in the summer where it"l behoove you to turn the uth off. Your le is thermoregulating by moving to a coler spot. Perfectly normal.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

A digital probe thermometer is under $10 at most pet shops. Place the probe directly on the surface over your heat mat for the most accurate reading. Analog thermometers are a total waste, as are the stick on strips.

 

[AMoriarty]

I'm in Boston and it's been real warm here lately (current in-house temp is 75, with the warm hide reading 93.5 F), and my gecko has been hanging out in the middle section of her tank lately. I've got a rheostat so when it gets real warm in summer I just turn down the heatlamp (which I mostly use in the winter since it gets pretty cold) and sometimes even unplug the UTH, since I don't have AC.

 

[Dog Shrink]

If you're using a properly sized under tank heater even in Boston you shouldn't need an over head heat lamp. Lamps don't benefit our leos the way pet shops would like you to believe esp. UV emitting lights. Some leos are sensitive to infrared heat lights... mine is. Just maintain the tank temps between 88-95*F, MONITOR it with a probe thermometer plz directly on the floor right over the uth (don't rely on your rheostats thermostat to be accurate. I've seen them swing as far as 5 degrees from accurate up and down). Remember it is BELLY heat that is most important to leos. Can you post a pic of your set up???