Lighting/temp question

[RyanJ]

Hey all, quick question or two. I have an under-tank heater that keeps the warm/humid side at 90, but with the red light on it makes it 100. Is this too hot? The red light by itself keeps the warm side at 80, should this be the night heat source? Would having the light on overnight mess up my geckos schedule, and is normal room lighting sufficient during the day with the ut heater?
Heh, that turned into a bucnh of questions, sorry. Just trying to give Lizzy a good home, thanks for any help.

 

[g3ckosr4me]

100 is pushing the limit on warm side.Having a RED lamp won't mess up scheduale since they can't see red.

 

[RyanJ]

Yeah, I saw 100 on the thermometer and freaked a bit, heh. Does she need light during the day, even though she spends most of it in her hide or asleep? Is 80 ok for nighttime, or is it too close to the day temperature for her to know that it's evening?

 

[lepgeckosrock]

Try raising the red light up higher from the top of the tank or go to a smaller watt bulb.As for the day light as long as the tank gets eneough light to really make a differance room light is ok (my room doesn't light tank enough so I use a low watt bulb) A general way to tell is do the geckos hide during the day or stay out and at what time do they come out at night? Not always true that they will hide in daytime I have 2 that stay out 80% of the time but the other 2 go in as soon as I turn on the white light and at night when I turn it off and the red one on they come out.If I don't turn the white one on in the morning they stay out all day because my room isn't bright enough to make a big differance in the tank.I know this is a little long but it was the best I knew how to explain it.Hope it helps. Also you said you seen 100 on the therm where is your therm located and what kind are you using? I recomend a Infered therm because it gives you the temp of whatever you point it at and the temps you need to watch is the actual floor temps as long as that is 87-90 it doesn't matter if the air temp is a little higher.

 

[RyanJ]

She usually pokes her head out of her humid hide a few times a day, comes out to feed around 6. The thermometer is on the floor of the tank so I can get the right temperature. Do most geckos come out more during the day, or is it ok that she stays hidden? once I turn everything but the red light off at night, she comes out to do her business.

 

[lepgeckosrock]

They are nocturnal so most will sleep alot and hide during the day which is why I use a light during day as the room doesn't get alot of light. As long as they can really tell it's day you will be ok with just a uth.Some will slow down and eat a little less when the amount of daylight decreeses and as it stays light longer they think its going to spring and summer for eating and mating.

 

[Fallupinreverse]

You say that the UTH alone keeps the temp at a solid 90 degrees, why do you feel that you need a lamp? 90 degrees is a solid temperature for a warm side, you really have no need for the lamp.

Don't be afraid to ask too many questions! There's plenty of people here that are willing to answer questions, all to help the geckos!

 

[lepgeckosrock]

You say that the UTH alone keeps the temp at a solid 90 degrees, why do you feel that you need a lamp? 90 degrees is a solid temperature for a warm side, you really have no need for the lamp.

I only use the lamp for enough light to make the geckos know it's daytime

 

[Fallupinreverse]

I thought you said she has a red light? Geckos cannot see red, so your gecko won't even be aware of the fact that the light is on. Plus, unless you're keeping the gecko in a basement or a closet, they will be getting enough light to know when it's whatever time of the day.

 

[lepgeckosrock]

I use the red light at night so I can see them I use a low watt white bulb for the daylight.And as for where they are at there is one window in that room that is kept covered because it faces west and my A/C is in the other window after noon if it's opened the sun beats thru and heats up the room overworking my A/C and putting a glare on the tv so the room is kept somewhat dark. I have left the white light off several times and they stay out. I turn it on and they go to the hide and sleep.