Just bought first Gecko but worried about set up.

[Neville]

I just picked up my first snow gecko today and I am nervous about what he really needs vs what the store sold me.
I got a 15 Gallon long tank and put in one caverock, water dish and some wood with fake plant. My concern is the heating and lighting.
I live in a humid warm apartment (summers only, winters chilly) and I was told to get a heat lamp with a 75W bulb and place it over his cave.
From what I gather I am to keep the lamp on and make sure the temp is about 90-95F. Am I ok with this set up?
Do I need to rush out and get a night bulb? :main_huh:

Thanks in advance!

 

[Brewboy74]

Most people recommend an under the tank heater. Leo's are not basking reptiles so they don't need light. Also the warmth from underneath supposedly helps with digestion.

 

[Neville]

Do they make them small enough for a 15G tank? It should cover about 20% of the tank right? Worth returning the 75W bulb for?

 

[Neville]

Here is his tank just to give you an idea... he was under the light for the first 10 min but since then hes been over here under the wood.

 

[Brewboy74]

Zoo med makes a 10 to 20 gal size. It will work fine.

 

[Brewboy74]

What is the substrate?

 

[Neville]

carpet. the hot side is sitting close to 95 and thats too hot right?

 

[Brewboy74]

Is that temp on the carpet or ambient? It depends on who you ask, try to keep mine between 90-92. You can get a dimmer to contr the temp.

 

[Neville]

A dimmer! Genius!!
I clamped the light so it was a little above the mesh lid and temp dropped to 92ish. Its a sticker thermometer at the bottom outside of the tank on the light side.
Id really rather one of those round gages I see in tanks but they didnt have any at the sote here.

 

[Brewboy74]

You want the temp of the floor an infrared temp gun works good for that. Just aim and temp. I can't tale credit for that one. Just browse the forum ther are alot of really knowledgable people on here.

 

[the reptileo]

that setup looks really nice and your gecko looks like hes comfy

 

[Neville]

I hope so

I went back tonight and got a heating pad for under the tank. A small Exo Terra. The temp went way down while setting up so hopefully hes still happy heheh.

I worry though, with that thin carpet will the pad be too hot? Its under his Cave. Should I move the cave? He has a little cave in the cold corner too but worried he might get way too hot in there with the pad under him. Too bad you cant regulate the temp on these...

 

[BrianBrown]

im also a beginner but i asoom if he thinks it's too hot then he'll stay out of it... someone wanna back me up?

 

[Adinar]

I hope so

I went back tonight and got a heating pad for under the tank. A small Exo Terra. The temp went way down while setting up so hopefully hes still happy heheh.

I worry though, with that thin carpet will the pad be too hot? Its under his Cave. Should I move the cave? He has a little cave in the cold corner too but worried he might get way too hot in there with the pad under him. Too bad you cant regulate the temp on these...

Get a digital thermometer with a prob on it, I think zoomed makes them, they're only like 8 bucks (at least they are here). Tape it down to the floor and it'll read the floor temp. If it's too hot feel free to put a piece of cardboard under the carpet to act like a buffer. And did you get a rheostat or thermostat for the heat pad? That helps too, can control the temps a little easier.

 

[Neville]

No. I have to order one, my pet store lacks. I have the heat pad on now under the carpet. Feels warm in his hut. Cold side is 82 and warm is at 88. Its night time here so its a little cooler than the day would be but its still warmer than room temp in here.
2 problems. I moved the tank around so the heat pad is at the back and the thermometer is at the front side... dont know if it would make a big diff. Tried to move it to the back side but it wont come off. Not a fan of these sticker ones.
Second is Im not sure how to read it. There seems to be a green line and a redish line, package doesnt say what line is the temp. (I want my 5 bucks back! haha) Anybody know what line is the actual temp?

 

[Neville]

Oh and I should mention, above I have a 50W moonlight lamp (like a black light) which also seems to be giving off some heat which leads me to believe that when that goes off the tank will cool... though with that pad Im sure his cave will still be pretty warm being over top of the pad.

 

[gothra]

Great setup and I really like it! With the heat, I personally prefer ~93-94F warm spots; some people have it higher too.

 

[Neville]

somebody here told me above 92 was pretty dangerous... ???
Seems most might disagree but its hard to pick a temp. 92 seems to be an avg anyways.