How are my temps?

B

Bulldog

Guest
The UTH is at 93-95 degrees. The cool side surface is 82-84.

I was just wondering if this an acceptable range. I'm assuming it is. The reason I'm asking is because I'm noticing my gecko is always out of his hide. Really the only time he's in his cave is after he eats to digest his food. Other than that, he lays out in the open quite a bit, even during the day. Seems rather abnormal considering they're nocturnal and rather reclusive by nature.

Everything is normal though. Eating habits, stool, etc.
 
G

Geck-O

Guest
I think the temps should be lower on the cold side. Your gecko may be spending his time outside beacuse the cave is too hot but I think he does that becasue he is just very comfortable in his tank.
 
D

DLS Reptile

Guest
if you have a thermostat turn it down to 86-88. if you are getting an air temp that hot it is probably a lot hotter directly on the uth. Hot side 88 floor temp cool side 72-76 floor temp.
 
Gregg M

Gregg M

Registered Member
Messages
3,055
Location
The Rotten Apple NYC
Your temps are fine... There is no reason to keep a cool side lower than you have them now...
At rest, leopard geckos want to maintain a body temp no less than 85 degrees...

DLS, the temps you mention are way too cool...

The hotter your basking temp is, the less time your reptile will spend in it... This is a good thing...
Over heating will happen when your ambient air temps are too low because the reptile will spend more time basking... Learning a bit about actual reptilian physiology instead to reading outdated internet care sheets will be your best bet...

Bulldog, Nocturnal reptiles are active during the day as well... Reptiles do not sleep for 10 to 12 hours straight... Infact, reptiles do not even sleep in the conventional sense... At rest they are still in a "state of awareness"...

My hot side temps are at 97 and my cool side is at 82... Its been like this for years unchanged... My reptiles thrive and breed like crazy all year... They grow fast and eat a lot never going off feed even in the coldest months of the year in NY...
 
Last edited:
liljenn

liljenn

Member
Messages
695
Location
Greenville, SC
shawn119 said:
Lower the cool side to 76-79.
Click to expand...

:main_no:



Gregg M said:
Your temps are fine... There is no reason to keep a cool side lower than you have them now...
At rest, leopard geckos want to maintain a body temp no less than 85 degrees...

DLS, the temps you mention are way too cool...

The hotter your basking temp is, the less time your reptile will spend in it... This is a good thing...
Over heating will happen when your ambient air temps are too low because the reptile will spend more time basking... Learning a bit about actual reptilian physiology instead to reading outdated internet care sheets will be your best bet...

Bulldog, Nocturnal reptiles are active during the day as well... Reptiles do not sleep for 10 to 12 hours straight... Infact, reptiles do not even sleep in the conventional sense... At rest they are still in a "state of awareness"...

My hot side temps are at 97 and my cool side is at 82... Its been like this for years unchanged... My reptiles thrive and breed like crazy all year... They grow fast and eat a lot never going off feed even in the coldest months of the year in NY...
Click to expand...

:main_thumbsup: Agreed, same with mine. Floor over UTH=95 cool side=low 80's
 
L

lizardlove

Guest
It's interesting that the general consensus is that 97 is fine. I'm not saying I disagree, you all are probably right, but my leo won't go in her warm hide unless the temperature is lower. When it's up in the 97 range she sleeps outside her hide, but when it's lowered she'll sleep in it. Any reason why that could be?
 
Gregg M

Gregg M

Registered Member
Messages
3,055
Location
The Rotten Apple NYC
lizardlove said:
It's interesting that the general consensus is that 97 is fine. I'm not saying I disagree, you all are probably right, but my leo won't go in her warm hide unless the temperature is lower. When it's up in the 97 range she sleeps outside her hide, but when it's lowered she'll sleep in it. Any reason why that could be?
Click to expand...

Read what I write...
Your gecko and any reptile should be spending very short periods basking... They should not be basking all day in the hot side... When they have a hot basking spot of 97 degrees they stay there for a couple of minutes to heat up then leave to either hunt, drink or to rest... Like I said, at rest they want to maintain a core body temp of at the very least 85 degrees... It makes perfect sense that your leo will not be in its hot hide for a long time if the temps are at 97 degrees...

So, when your basking temps are too low and your ambient air tempa are too low, your gecko will spend too much time basking and less time thermoregulating and hydrating intself... It is more common for reptiles to overheat or burn due to not having a hot spot that is hot enough...
 
L

lizardlove

Guest
Okay, that makes sense. So it's entirely possible that her spending time in her hide when the temps are lower is her trying to get her temperature up to where she wants it to be, and it's taking a bit longer. She DOES go in there, now that I think about it, for little bits at a time. Nifty.
 
R

Retribution Reptiles

Stripe King
Messages
2,380
Location
NE Ohio
I could agree with you there Gregg, just from my own personal observations that my geckos tend to lay in the back of the tub for short periods of time. I do notice that they have moved their hides to where they wanted them to be for their comfort.

It's actually quite odd i have some that leave everything where i place it while others will be moved alittle and then others will be moved many inches. i tend to believe that the gecko is attempting to find the perfect place for rest.

I maintain my hot spots at a 94-95 degrees. My geckos appear to be doing just fine. They have weight gain, bright vibrant coloration, maintain alertness.

All are my personal observations. I am in no way a professional nor is my experience vast.
 
R

Retribution Reptiles

Stripe King
Messages
2,380
Location
NE Ohio
I do believe that there are many out dated care sheets out there as well as many people not doing enough research. I'm always reading different care sheets different peoples opinions and trying to find a happy medium. You always have to take what you read with a grain of salt and make up your own mind on your research.l
 
M

marissashubby

Guest
Gregg M said:
Shawn, It might serve you better to actually learn about leopard gecko husbandry before you start giving advice... I am going to be blunt with you here... You advice is not only wrong but bad as well...:main_thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

Thank you. :main_yes:
 
Haligren

Haligren

is behind you.
Messages
1,380
Location
Prince George, BC
Gregg M said:
Read what I write...
Your gecko and any reptile should be spending very short periods basking... They should not be basking all day in the hot side... When they have a hot basking spot of 97 degrees they stay there for a couple of minutes to heat up then leave to either hunt, drink or to rest... Like I said, at rest they want to maintain a core body temp of at the very least 85 degrees... It makes perfect sense that your leo will not be in its hot hide for a long time if the temps are at 97 degrees...

So, when your basking temps are too low and your ambient air tempa are too low, your gecko will spend too much time basking and less time thermoregulating and hydrating intself... It is more common for reptiles to overheat or burn due to not having a hot spot that is hot enough...
Click to expand...

Oh wow. Now that totally makes sense. Tiamat only spends a few minutes a day hanging out on the warm side of her tank. Typically she'll go to her warm hide after feeding. I've even caught her sleeping outside of it a few times. Mostly she is on the cool side or in her moist hide - which is in the middle of the tank for the most part.

My hot temps are at 93-94 though. But if what Gregg says is true then these must be optimum temps for my little one as she doesn't spend most of her time trying to stay warm on the warm side. She eats well, her feces look normal, and she has been steadily gaining weight since I got her.
 
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