Is he content?

[ReptileRy]

hey everyone, i just got back home from picking up a probe thermometer. i put it in shadows tank and it says 80 which is not hot enough, but should i put the probe on the bottom of the repticarpet or on top? and when i put the red heat bulb in there he doesnt seem to go to the hot side at all. so what do you think?

 

[lovelovelove135]

On top. You want the temperature of the surface your gecko is touching directly. It depends what the temperature is with the red heat bulb. If it's between 88-94, I'd say leave it. He'll go back eventually. I think when the red heat bulb is on, the temp may be correct so he's comfortable and wants to explore. Hope I helped

 

[ReptileRy]

i have the probe on the bottom and i have the UTH and the red heat bulb on and its only 83 what am i doing wrong?

 

[lovelovelove135]

hmm...is your tank a 10 gallon or a 20 long? And with UTH do you have? The UTH may not be big enough/the right size despite the fact it may say it should be the right size for your tank.

 

[Pinky81]

How big is your tank and UTH? Honestly the reason I switched to papertowel was because my UTH wasn't penetrating thru the other substates well. Try to take the carpet out and replace with paper towel and see if your getting the correct temps...then you'll know if its the heater or the carpet. I usually do two layers.

 

[lovelovelove135]

Ooo I agree with Pinky81...repti carpet isn't really a great conductor...your still getting low temps even when you put it under the carpet because the heat light may not be penetrating through the repti carpet to the probe. I hope I didn't confuse you >.< Just switch to paper towel and see. Pinky81 has 2 layers, but I only have one. So just adjust accordingly

 

[ReptileRy]

ok i have a 10 gal with a 10 gal UTH and my thermometer is reading 89 ish but it keeps rising. im thinking paper towel would maybe be better with just the UTH

 

[lovelovelove135]

Yeaup, the UTH usually does the trick. Just give it time to warm up Do you have a thermostat or rheostat? I recommend getting one I have the Zilla Temperature Controller and it works great. Just have to fiddle around with it to get it in the right range the first day. I got it off Amazon because it was wayyy cheaper than in stores or anywhere else really haha about $22...maybe a little more. Definitely not over $30

 

[ReptileRy]

ok ill switch to papertowels but i had the UTH without the red heat bulb for 3 days and it only was in the high 70s. so maybe that will help.

 

[BadKelpie]

Wow, my UTH (zoo med) is too hot on just paper towel. I ended up having to put about 8 layers of paper towel and a cement tile to get it to the right temp.

 

[SDCowboy]

ok ill switch to papertowels but i had the UTH without the red heat bulb for 3 days and it only was in the high 70s. so maybe that will help.

Get a regular heat bulb for during the day.

 

[ReptileRy]

yeah i think the repti carpet isnt good

 

[SDCowboy]

yeah i think the repti carpet isnt good

The carpet is fine.

 

[ReptileRy]

i have both going right now and its staying at 89.5 so its good now

 

[lovelovelove135]

Good to hear!