Lighting

[VictoriaWisner]

So I've been wondering about my lighting setup for my gecko...

I have provided her with an UTH and I also have a red bulb heat lamp above her cage on 24/7. Is this appropriate or is there something Im doing wrong? Should I turn off the red light and pop on a daytime bulb for the day and throw on the red heat bulb at night time? The day time bulb also provides some basking heat.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I wouldn't recommend a red light bulb for a nighttime heat source. Contrary to popular belief, they can see it, and it disrupts their day/night cycle, especially if it's on 24/7. If you need more heat at night, I'd suggest a CHE. If you need the supplemental heat during the day, I suppose you could use the red light, but a day time bulb or just a UTH with the light from a window would probably be a better option.

EDIT: Looking at the pics you posted in the other thread, ditch the analog thermometer and get a digital one with a probe on the floor of the tank. Measuring the temp up at the top where you are with an analogy is pointless. It'll give you much higher reading than down where the leo is. And do you have a humid hide?

~Maggot

 

[VictoriaWisner]

Yeah there definitely is not enough heat during the day or at night. Im not sure if the daytime bulb would even do it. The tank will fall to about 65/70 degrees without any lighting. So you think I should get a CHE and should I use that at night time and a daytime bulb for the day?

 

[VictoriaWisner]

Im actually setting up a humid hide for her soon. Im going to try and get around to that tomorrow.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Im actually setting up a humid hide for her soon. Im going to try and get around to that tomorrow.

It's not hard, and it's essential for the leo. Just take a plastic container big enough for her to fit in, cut a hole in the side or the lid (make sure it's not sharp), and put wet paper towels in it, then put it in the middle of the temperature gradient.

Yeah there definitely is not enough heat during the day or at night. Im not sure if the daytime bulb would even do it. The tank will fall to about 65/70 degrees without any lighting. So you think I should get a CHE and should I use that at night time and a daytime bulb for the day?

Well that temperature is probably wrong, given that you're measuring it with an analog up at the top of the tank. Heat rises, so it's probably colder down at the bottom of the tank, which means it's way too cold for the leo. You need to either buy a stronger UTH or a day bulb (preferably with a thermostat).

~Maggot

 

[VictoriaWisner]

I think Im just going to get a CHE that I can use 24/7 and Ill get a thermometer with a probe and see how that works. That way I can just use the window light for the day time and no red bulb at night time.

This is probably a stupid question, but as for the probe.. if the probe was on the bottom of the tank, wouldnt it be getting the heat from the UTH as opposed to the air temp? Should the air temp be recorded?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I think Im just going to get a CHE that I can use 24/7 and Ill get a thermometer with a probe and see how that works. That way I can just use the window light for the day time and no red bulb at night time.

This is probably a stupid question, but as for the probe.. if the probe was on the bottom of the tank, wouldnt it be getting the heat from the UTH as opposed to the air temp? Should the air temp be recorded?

Make sure the CHE is on one side of the tank, not in the middle. You need a proper temperature gradient. The warm side should be roughly 88 - 93 degrees, with a cool side at or a bit warmer than room temperature.

The probe measures the air temps. It comes with a suction cup so you can stick it to the side of the tank at the bottom. If you want to monitor surface temps (which would be a good idea if you're using a UTH with just paper towel as substrate), get an infrared temp gun too.

~Maggot

 

[Lindz0518]

Maggot has covered it . Looking at your pics the light is probably too bright, sometimes bright light can be stressful. If you want light, go with extremely low wattage, if you want heat, go with a CHE or a black night heat bulb, it doesn't give off light.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Maggot has covered it . Looking at your pics the light is probably too bright, sometimes bright light can be stressful. If you want light, go with extremely low wattage, if you want heat, go with a CHE or a black night heat bulb, it doesn't give off light.

I don't think there's any signs of stress or hiding with this leo though. Unless it's an albino (which I don't believe it is, but I could be wrong), I personally wouldn't be too concerned about how bright the light is as long as it's not a flood light. Temps and a humid hide are way more important here.

~Maggot

 

[Lindz0518]

No, from her pics of him not an albino and he is out and about so probably no concern with light, that was what I was getting at with the sometimes being underlined . Yes I agree, getting the correct temps and a humid hide are what need to be done.

 

[VictoriaWisner]

I got her a humid hide today as well as a bigger UTH. I also got a probe thermometer and the temp is reading a tad low.. hovering around 80 with the daytme light on. I am purchasing the CHE today as well that I plan to use 24/7 so Im hoping a combination of the CHE and the new UTH will provide her with the correct temperature.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I got her a humid hide today as well as a bigger UTH. I also got a probe thermometer and the temp is reading a tad low.. hovering around 80 with the daytme light on. I am purchasing the CHE today as well that I plan to use 24/7 so Im hoping a combination of the CHE and the new UTH will provide her with the correct temperature.

80 on the warm side? And if it's already at 80, get a low wattage CHE. Keep the box in case it's too warm or not enough. I bought one that was too much and had to buy another.

Also, if the UTH is under the tank, make sure you have an air gap, and make sure the paper towels are weighted down so she can't crawl under them and burn herself.

~Maggot

 

[lisa127]

I agree with using the CHE or a black night glo bulb instead of the red bulb. As for measuring temps, you might also want to invest in an infrared temperature gun. They are invaluable tools for anyone who keeps herps

 

[VictoriaWisner]

The combination of the new UTH and CHE is perfect. The warm side now stays around 88 degrees with the cold side around 70.

 

[Lindz0518]

Is the 88 the floor temp?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I agree with using the CHE or a black night glo bulb instead of the red bulb. As for measuring temps, you might also want to invest in an infrared temperature gun. They are invaluable tools for anyone who keeps herps

I still need to get one of those. Should have asked for one for Christmas. I guess that'll be my Christmas gift to myself.

~Maggot

 

[Lindz0518]

I still need to get one of those. Should have asked for one for Christmas. I guess that'll be my Christmas gift to myself.

~Maggot

I love my temp gun

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I love my temp gun

I was going to buy one when I went to the show on December 1, but with trying to buy all the stuff for the mournings and the geckos themselves (which I'd had planned for months) and the stuff I needed for the sick baby turtles (which wasn't planned at all), I just couldn't afford it, and money's been tight since.

~Maggot

 

[lisa127]

I still need to get one of those. Should have asked for one for Christmas. I guess that'll be my Christmas gift to myself.

~Maggot

You'll love it. I've been keeping reptiles for well over 15 years. I'd say the first maybe 5 years I did not have one. When I finally did get one, I wondered how I ever survivied without one!!...

 

[Embrace Calamity]

You'll love it. I've been keeping reptiles for well over 15 years. I'd say the first maybe 5 years I did not have one. When I finally did get one, I wondered how I ever survivied without one!!...

They're a little confusing to me though. 'Cause, like, with most reptiles, they give you a temperature the enclosure should be at, but then inevitably the surface temperature will probably be a little higher than that. So are those temperatures you're given (eg 88-93 hot side for leos) the air temps measured by digital probes or surface temps measured by a temp gun?

~Maggot