let me know

[invaderzimgir]

switched to vita sand for one of my geckos, so far he seems to enjoy it. was using paper towel before. sand is so much better at conducting heat and spreading it around, the hot spot ranges from 85-104, in a 10 gal tank. cool side around 72-75. i used a 10 lb bag to fill, it's about 1 inch thick across the tank. should i maybe thicken it up a bit on the hot side to take the temp down a bit? i dont have a thermostat for my heat pad yet...kind of expensive. trying to just use substrate to even out the temps.

 

[gecko4245]

switched to vita sand for one of my geckos, so far he seems to enjoy it. was using paper towel before. sand is so much better at conducting heat and spreading it around, the hot spot ranges from 85-104, in a 10 gal tank. cool side around 72-75. i used a 10 lb bag to fill, it's about 1 inch thick across the tank. should i maybe thicken it up a bit on the hot side to take the temp down a bit? i dont have a thermostat for my heat pad yet...kind of expensive. trying to just use substrate to even out the temps.

Oh, no. Please take the sand out. He cam become impacted or get eye infection.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Start saving up for a trip to the vet.............

 

[invaderzimgir]

Oh, no. Please take the sand out. He cam become impacted or get eye infection.

i've read a lot of different user reports about sand. he actually lived on sand for years before i obtained him and he was fine, maybe a little malnurished, but otherwise healthy. i've seen numerous different people and breeders house their geckos on sand with no problems. i'm not asking for advice on the substrate, it's more of a heat question. thanks for the input though, i guess.

 

[gecko4245]

i've read a lot of different user reports about sand. he actually lived on sand for years before i obtained him and he was fine, maybe a little malnurished, but otherwise healthy. i've seen numerous different people and breeders house their geckos on sand with no problems. i'm not asking for advice on the substrate, it's more of a heat question. thanks for the input though, i guess.

Do you think it's worth the risk? do you know how many geckos have died because of sand? There is another sand that is safer but that is NOT it. yesterday you said he has not been eating. You don't know if that is why. he can have sand in his stomache. You would be very sad if something happened.

 

[gecko4245]

Alot of times is not the sand alone but dehydration too which will not let the sand pass. You said it yourself he is a bit malnourished. That could be a reason. I hope you change your mind because that is a terrible way for a leo to die. I have seen many pictures of it.

 

[Wild West Reptile]

the hot spot ranges from 85-104, in a 10 gal tank.
i dont have a thermostat for my heat pad yet...kind of expensive.

The hot spot should not be ranging that much. It should be somewhere between 90-95, but not as big of a spread as your stating it is.

Kind of expensive? A thermostat? You can buy a rhetostat at petsmart for 20 bucks and they work almost as well. If you think that's kind of expensive, just wait until your gecko becomes impacted from sand and you take it to the vet. Then you'll see expensive. If you can't give your animals adequate care because of financial reasons, then you shouldn't own animals. Period. They will cost you money, way more money than you ever thought. One of a geckos basic needs is proper heating and you aren't providing it. Adding more sand is NOT the way to properly take care of the problem. I hope you take the advice of some of the members who gave it. I haven't seen a single one come out and endorse the use of sand for an inexperienced keeper on your thread yet, so that should tell you something.

 

[gecko4245]

Look at this picture how sad.

http://whitney05.hubpages.com/hub/Impaction

 

[tiedxupxinxknots]

Sand isn't the way to go, but if you must use it, then use play sand, vita sand and calcium sand are the worst to use because sometimes geckos don't getthe vitamins that they need so they will lick the sand. Which will cause impaction.

 

[satyr666]

You can pick up a dimmer switch at home depot for $10 which works fine to regulate your temps. While your at home depot you should pick up some slate tile and swap it for that sand as well, much more safe and IMO looks just as nice.

 

[IrishFox350]

Look at this picture how sad.

http://whitney05.hubpages.com/hub/Impaction

WOW! that is so sad! okay, no sand! got it!

 

[invaderzimgir]

You can pick up a dimmer switch at home depot for $10 which works fine to regulate your temps. While your at home depot you should pick up some slate tile and swap it for that sand as well, much more safe and IMO looks just as nice.

a dimmer switch for the heat pad?

 

[satyr666]

Yes the dimmer will control the heat pad you just need to monitor the temps with your probe/temp gun to get it in the right range.

 

[invaderzimgir]

You can pick up a dimmer switch at home depot for $10 which works fine to regulate your temps. While your at home depot you should pick up some slate tile and swap it for that sand as well, much more safe and IMO looks just as nice.

oops didnt see your reply there.

 

[invaderzimgir]

so i went to home depot and picked up some custom cut slate tile, it's working great, looks natural and nicely spreads out the heat. put a dimmer on the UTH and we're good to go! temps are 88-90 and on the rise. i'm gonna get em around 90-93, cool side is an even 70. might setup a light to get the cool side a little higher. thanks for the input guys, i'm glad i went with the slate.

 

[gecko4245]

so i went to home depot and picked up some custom cut slate tile, it's working great, looks natural and nicely spreads out the heat. put a dimmer on the UTH and we're good to go! temps are 88-90 and on the rise. i'm gonna get em around 90-93, cool side is an even 70. might setup a light to get the cool side a little higher. thanks for the input guys, i'm glad i went with the slate.

and I am glad you switched to slate my heart is at ease. yea 70 is too cold. maybe a 50watt moonlight bulb would be good. it gives very little heat so it should be fine.

 

[invaderzimgir]

and I am glad you switched to slate my heart is at ease. yea 70 is too cold. maybe a 50watt moonlight bulb would be good. it gives very little heat so it should be fine.

would i have to clamp it to something or could i just rest the lamp on top of the cage? not a lot of clamping space around his cage...

 

[gecko4245]

would i have to clamp it to something or could i just rest the lamp on top of the cage? not a lot of clamping space around his cage...

you can just lay the dome on top of the metal mesh lid, that's fine.

 

[satyr666]

A ceramic heat emitter works good too and won't stress the gecko with any light. You will want to pick up a dimmer for your lamp as well if you get one unless you get lucky with something that is low wattage and doesn't get too hot.

 

[gecko4245]

A ceramic heat emitter works good too and won't stress the gecko with any light. You will want to pick up a dimmer for your lamp as well if you get one unless you get lucky with something that is low wattage and doesn't get too hot.

my geckos have blue, red and uvb lights and they are not stressed.