Help with heating?

[Aunt J]

I am setting up a new tank for a single adult leo. It's the 18 x 18 x 18 exo-terra tank. It's got the same floor space as my older, rectangular terrerium, but the square shape instead of the long shape is throwing me off. Any advice about how to best set up the heating gradient, since it's a square shape instead of long? My UTH seems too big now -- I put it in one corner, and the cool spots are surrounding it in narrow stripes on two sides. I'm worried that's not leaving any room for a medium heat gradient and there isn't enough cool space ... I guess my question is, is it better to have a bigger hot spot or a bigger cool spot? I can buy a smaller UTH ...

 

[Scott&Nikki]

I would think that depends on the temps of your cool and hot spot. If you have a very high temp hot-spot, I would think it is a good idea for a decent sized cool spot. If it is not that hot to begin with, he/she may not care much about having a cool spot. Right now my hot spot is in the 86-88 range and I rarely see him on the cool spot.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

Is there a chance you could get a rectagular tank? Seems like it would solve your problem and reduce your worrying about the whole situation. If it is new, as in recently purchased, could you exchage it for a different one?

 

[Aunt J]

I have a rectangular tank I'm not using, so I could swap it out. I just like the front-opening doors of this system, and couldn't find one in a rectangular shape, so I thought I'd give it a try.

My hot spot keeps shifting between 83 and 91 degrees. I'm going to the store tomorrow to get a thermostat so I better regulate the UTH. So far he seems to like the spot right on the edge of the hot spot -- I think the hot spot is a little too hot but the cool spots are a little too cool ... not sure what to do about that.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

Well, if you meant too hot by 91 degrees, thats probably fine. I guess as long as you have a spot hot enough and a spot he can cool off you will be fine. I just know myself and it would be driving me crazy until I got it perfect.

 

[Kotsay1414]

I have a rectangular tank I'm not using, so I could swap it out. I just like the front-opening doors of this system, and couldn't find one in a rectangular shape, so I thought I'd give it a try.

My hot spot keeps shifting between 83 and 91 degrees. I'm going to the store tomorrow to get a thermostat so I better regulate the UTH. So far he seems to like the spot right on the edge of the hot spot -- I think the hot spot is a little too hot but the cool spots are a little too cool ... not sure what to do about that.

A thermostat is a must with UTH. If you don't use one, you will risk frying your gecko.

As for setting up the UTH, I would put it in one of the back corners... the key is to have a hide over the UTH so the gecko can get warm and feel comfortable about it.

 

[gothra]

What is the size of your heating mat? Can't you just have your tank sit on half of the heating mat?