My first setup, feedback?

[alliemackie]

Hey folks! I finally got my tank all set up for my incoming addition, and I wanted to get feedback, thoughts, suggestions, whatever on it.

The specs:
It's a 10-gallon basic tank, with a UTH on the left-hand side. Repi-carpet substrate. The rocky cave is the cold hide, tupperware the humid hide, and log the warm hide. Dishes are for water and mealworms, and there will be a small calcium dish added. I'll also be adding a background of some sort at one point to make it look nicer. Lighting is one low UVB/UVA light on a day timer.

Here's the setup. I have a Kricket Keeper (LOVE those things) and a holding tank. The stand was 30 bucks.

Two closeups of the setup as of yesterday.

How long does it generally take a UTH to heat up? I've had mine turned on since last night, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of heat coming through the substrate. I'm using an Exo-Terra Desert Heat Wave UTH.

Also, should I have some sort of nightlight on the tank on a timer? Or is the regular daylight light on a day timer okay?

Thanks for any help/feedback!

 

[xRyudo]

Looks comfy for the little one! The UTH shouldnt take that long to heat up, I dont think?, what are your hot/cold temps sitting at? I would suggest getting a red/blue light for night time, that way you can still check out your leo and he doesn't get confused or stressed out with the day and night time hours since they are nocturnal... if that makes sense?! Post some pics when the little one arrives!

 

[alliemackie]

Looks comfy for the little one! The UTH shouldnt take that long to heat up, I dont think?, what are your hot/cold temps sitting at? I would suggest getting a red/blue light for night time, that way you can still check out your leo and he doesn't get confused or stressed out with the day and night time hours since they are nocturnal... if that makes sense?! Post some pics when the little one arrives!

The temps are both sitting at about 72-73 F. I can only feel the heat if I touch the substrate, and the substrate is warm, but not very warm.

Good tip on the red light! I'll be sure to pick one up.

 

[xRyudo]

Hmm.. Not sure why exactly the UTH isnt heating the tank up, esp since its just a 10 gallon tank?? Did you plug it in? lol jk.. whats your substrate? Looks like repti-carpet?

 

[jakemyster44]

I noticed that your thermometer isa on th the side of the tank. You need to be measuring the floor temp. This usually requires a thermometer with a probe. You can pick on up for less than $10.
Regarding the lighting; the natural night/day cycle from a nearby window is surely enough.
Also, with the humid hide, I would get a new container and cut a smaller hole. That is a very large entry hole you have, and it will allow the paper towel to dry out quickly. Also, it is best to avoid using clear containers when possible. I find that sometimes the clear one s will not provide the feeling of security to the geckos, and they may not use it.

Edit:

Here is a quick picture of a good humid hide that I drew up. You can also have the entry hole on the top:

These are what I use for my humid hides, and they work great:

 

[Gregg M]

That has got to be the worst set-up ever!!!!



Kidding... Simple and functional... Very neat look...

Allie, your temps on the cool side should be in the low 80's and the hot side should be at 95... You could also try using tinfoil on the top of the cage to keep heat in and raise the ambient air temps...

Jake, you rack set-up is also very well put together...
Awesome job guys...

 

[alliemackie]

Ahhh, thanks very much for the tips, jakemyster! Great info there, and good reference pics. I'll probably make up a new container similar to yours.

Regarding a thermometer with a probe, whereabouts on the tank should it be placed for optimal temperature reading? Just want to make sure I do it correctly.

Thanks again!

 

[jakemyster44]

Thanks Greg, means alot coming from you

Put the probe right on the carpet, above the heat pad. Like greg said, keep it at about 95* on the warm end, and about 80* on the cool end.

 

[alliemackie]

Thanks again for the tips. I'm still concerned though, because my UTH isn't producing heat very well. It's blugged in directly to an outlet, and it's an Exo-Terra Heat Wave Desert, size small. It fills one half of the bottom of the ten-gallon, so the size is ideal. And yet, it's only producing a mild difference in warmth when I touch the substrate on both sides.

Any thoughts? This brand came recommended by a few folks I know so I'm a bit frustrated that it's not working. Or, if you guys can suggest another brand I'd be interested.

 

[idmd]

Thanks again for the tips. I'm still concerned though, because my UTH isn't producing heat very well. It's blugged in directly to an outlet, and it's an Exo-Terra Heat Wave Desert, size small. It fills one half of the bottom of the ten-gallon, so the size is ideal. And yet, it's only producing a mild difference in warmth when I touch the substrate on both sides.

Any thoughts? This brand came recommended by a few folks I know so I'm a bit frustrated that it's not working. Or, if you guys can suggest another brand I'd be interested.

Just something to think about. Having used UTH for snakes in the past and now for my Leo I have always had a hard time actually maintaining ambient air temps with just an UTH. Even now in my 15 G I know I have the correct size UTH, I know it's warm enough based on probe temps, but without an over head lamp the floor temp could easily be 92 F and the ambient air in the tank on the warm size in the low 80's F and on the cool side in the low 70's F.

By adding a 75W red overhead light right in the middle of the tank I get probe temp of 95 F in the warm hide and 80-83 F in the cool hide.

P.S. - my house tends to be on the cool side summer/winter and a tad drafty too which certainly contributes to this issue.

 

[geckolvr88]

Does the UTH have a thermastat?! I'm pretty sure that plugging the UTH to a thermastat will fix this problem because you can actually control how hot/cold the heater gets.

If it doesn't you can buy one at any chain store seperately.