Ideal Temp Weigh-In

[Northstar Herp]

So I've got all my leos on one thermostat, and I'm a little conflicted as to the temp. I know which way I'm leaning toward, but I have to ask:

On page 60 of RT's book, he says that the ideal surface temp for UTH is 86-90 F, and that temps of 91F plus should be avoided. But I've never seen such a low recommendation given on this forum. I think the uppermost limit was 97.

So...

#1- What's up with that?

#2- You folks in the know, what do you recommend?

 

[OneFootedAce]

I think that that book might be bit out-dated (but it still help in the basics). I think most people on the forum would recommend temps at right around 93-96F, some would even go abit higher, but I find 94 works best for me.

 

[T-ReXx]

I agree, Tremper's book is a bit outdated. I keep my animals at 96F hot spot.

 

[LizMarie]

I keep my hot spot at 94-95*F.

 

[Angel]

mine are mid 90's i have a few diff tanks and the temps range from 92-97

 

[Latlaw]

I wonder about this too. Even the breeder care sheets (on top) usually say 88-92 or around there. But then many post temps of 95-97 on the hot side. I really would like to hear from the breeders of of many years experience on what temps work best for them. I'm very new at this and want to make sure I'm maintaining the proper temps. Right now I have my thermostats set at 92 but I wonder if I should be going higher.

 

[acpart]

I have real questions about the best floor and ambient temperature because there are a lot of different opinions. I suspect there are a lot of different correct ways to do it. I'm going to post about this in a new thread eventually, just working up the energy to figure out how I want to say it.

Aliza

 

[Latlaw]

I have real questions about the best floor and ambient temperature because there are a lot of different opinions. I suspect there are a lot of different correct ways to do it. I'm going to post about this in a new thread eventually, just working up the energy to figure out how I want to say it.

Aliza

Thanks--I am very interested myself. I look forward to your post.

 

[Northstar Herp]

Thanks Aliza, I hope I don't miss it when it goes to print...

 

[Gregg M]

I keep my racks at 98 degrees on the hot spot... However, I have a natural setup with a sandy soil substrate(waiting to have things thrown at me)... I am using lighting to heat the cage instead of UTHs or heat tape... There is a 45 watt flood light in the cage that produces a hot spot of 120 degrees... The 3 leos in the natural setup use the hotspot frequently during the day for very short periods of time...

The fact is that temps up to 120 degrees will do no harm to your leos as long as they can escape it to thermoregulate properly... I would never suggest that people raise their temps to 120 in a rack or small cage but if you have a roomy natural setup, the higher basking temps are good for them and they will utilize basking spot...

They will be active even during the day as they thermoregulate the same as they would in the wild... They will digest and metabolize their intake much more efficiently and will be healthier overall...

The geckos in the natural set up eat alot on a daily basis and are nowhere near overweight... In fact they are slimmer and in better shape than geckos housed in racks...