Heating properly

[winks56]

Hi all-
So I am very new to the gecko world and just got my first two last Sunday. They're living in an 18x18x12 viv with a 50 watt infrared bulb as heat in one corner of the tank. I'm a little concerned because the thermometer says it's only 84 on the hot side, but I never see the geckos on that side or in the warm hide, so I'm thinking they're too hot. Do you think it's warmer than the thermometer states or colder? Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Neon Aurora]

Welcome to GF. =)

Leopard geckos need belly heat to digest their food properly, so lights are not appropriate for providing proper heat. You should get a UTH regulated by a thermostat.

What type of thermometer are you using?

Since you mentioned you're new to geckos, I just want to ask you something. You said "geckos" so I assume you are housing more than one together? Are these geckos adults and are you sure they're both female?

 

[winks56]

Yes they are both adults and both female. The store sexed them and when I got home I double-checked and sexed them myself. I was going to run by the pet store this weekend to pick up a uth and a thermostat because I suspected that the bulb was not doing the job. I'm using a dial thermometer on both sides, but I have a digital that I used to use for my hermit crabs that I'm going to use instead.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Neon Aurora]

Alright, good.

The dials are no good. Does the digital one you have use a probe? You'll need to measure the floor temps and not the air temps. 84 for the air probably means the floor is much hotter than that.

 

[winks56]

Yep it's a probe. I'll definitely switch! Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk