New Living= New Challenges

blizzard

Go Denver Broncos
Messages
104
Location
Ohio
I have recently moved from an apartment to my friend's house. It doesn't sound like much of a big deal. However I get the bedroom downstairs that is chilly and with zero windows. I have found ways to mimic light and keep them warm. So for now the geckos are fine. But it will be entirely way too cold because of the climate of the basement in the next couple months going into fall then winter. For now the set-up is working well. It wouldn't be such a big deal to move the tanks to another room. But I'm living with three other guys and space is limited to basically what you have.

I really don't want to have to give them up for adoption. And I am looking for answers how to best suite my gecko's tanks for the colder months during the night time. The lights I have keep the tanks warm enough during the day come night though I'm afraid it will be too cold.

I don't like ceramics. I don't think they spread the heat well enough. Any opinions though will be greatly appreciated!!!
 

Khrysty

New Member
Messages
2,650
Location
Oregon, IL
I have recently moved from an apartment to my friend's house. It doesn't sound like much of a big deal. However I get the bedroom downstairs that is chilly and with zero windows. I have found ways to mimic light and keep them warm. So for now the geckos are fine. But it will be entirely way too cold because of the climate of the basement in the next couple months going into fall then winter. For now the set-up is working well. It wouldn't be such a big deal to move the tanks to another room. But I'm living with three other guys and space is limited to basically what you have.

I really don't want to have to give them up for adoption. And I am looking for answers how to best suite my gecko's tanks for the colder months during the night time. The lights I have keep the tanks warm enough during the day come night though I'm afraid it will be too cold.

I don't like ceramics. I don't think they spread the heat well enough. Any opinions though will be greatly appreciated!!!

Do you have under tank heat pads? If not, I'd consider getting them. If you do, what size are they? A bigger size will put off more heat.

Also, do you have thermometers so you actually know what temps your cages are at?
 

T-ReXx

Uroplatus Fanatic
Messages
1,745
Location
Buffalo, NY
There are a couple options I'd consider. One is the simple application of additional heat sources like UTHs if you don't already have them. They do a much better job of putting off heat than lamps.

Another is using a small oil-filled space heater in the room to bring the whole room temp up. Be careful with these, I would HIGHLY recommend running one on a thermostat if you take this route.

The third is the most expensive, but probably the most effective. Radiant Heat Panels could be hung on the walls behind the tanks. These things are great because they don't get hot to the touch, and produce radiant heat, warming the animals themselves and the air around them instead of a surface. But they aren't cheap.

Good luck with your dilemma. I live in a cold climate and simply use an oil filled heater in the herp room in the winter(on a thermostat) to bring the temp up if necessary. I also don't use tanks, which are much harder to heat effectively than tubs.
 

Tony C

Wayward Frogger
Messages
3,899
Location
Columbia, SC
You may also want to move them into plastic or wooden reptile cages, the insulation will help to retain heat.
 

M_surinamensis

Shillelagh Law
Messages
1,165
It is good that you are preparing and considering the potential issues but it may not be as much of a problem as you think. Basements that have no windows don't usually go through that significant a temperature change based on seasonal shifts. Being buried, made from concrete and surrounded by dirt they are actually pretty good insulators.

Kind of like mini-caves actually- and the temperature inside most caves ends up being pretty close to the average temperature of the area above it over the previous year or so. Cold in the summer, warmer in the winter.

So be ready for it to drop and have something on hand to address it if it is a problem, but it may not get as cold as you might be thinking it will, depending on the construction.
 

acpart

Geck-cessories
Staff member
Messages
15,296
Location
Somerville, MA
How cold do you think it's going to get? I live in New England and in the winter the thermostat is set at 60 when we're not home and at night. I have under tank heaters. The geckos eat less in the winter (I feed them every 3 days). Some of them stay in their warm hides and some go to the cool side and brumate themselves. I think the most important thing is to keep a light on during the day so they get the day/night message if there are no windows there.

Aliza
 

blizzard

Go Denver Broncos
Messages
104
Location
Ohio
i have two tanks. each have uth that cover half the tank. at night now the tanks stay around 70, duh yes i got thermometers. i've been doing this for awhile so although i'm no genius i do know how to care for these animals. i'm thinking that i should just get a space heater for the room and that should be sufficient enough. i just treat these girls like queens and would hate to see them uncomfortable or stressing due to heat.
 

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