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[bouncer36]

I have to say I have a leopard gecko has had 4-5 years never had on a UTH. It is doing good. I now have a uth on the tank. Just because everyone Say I need one. My gecko isn't acting any different. I was using a heating lamp for her but now I'm just using the uth to heat tank. I am using uvb light reptilesun 5.0

 

[lisa127]

Yes, the thing is though that a heat light heats up the area its above, therefore the Leo has both belly heat AND back heat which isn't natural.



But they don't have "back" heat in the wild.

Look, I know I have a poor "arguement" but I don't feel like getting into one. I've been keeping Leos for about 7 years now so I know what I'm saying. I've been lurking this forum for months and learned alot about their natural habitat...

I could be wrong of course, but either way they need belly heat, like you agreed to. I don't like lights, but thats my opinion, I just don't think its natural.

I've been keeping reptiles, and leopard geckos, for almost 20 years now (so maybe I know what I'm saying also). You certainly can provide belly heat with a heat bulb and slate or rocks underneath. Just like it's done in nature. I prefer to use the black nightglow bulbs for this way of heating though.

I don't really think undertank heat pads are all that natural either. I'm pretty sure when they climb into a hiding spot in nature, they are not finding a UTH in there.

 

[lisa127]

Then you really haven't read enough. The belly heat is essential to his long-term health and will not be provided with the heat lamp even if you put a slate underneath it. A heat lamp really isn't needed at all. A uth and appropriate thermostat should be a top priority regardless of his prior care. Try craigslist maybe or do you get a discount at the store you work at?

No one is trying to kill your high; we want you to be able to enjoy him for a very long time!

All of the above aside, he is very cute and I'm glad you are so excited to get him!

Why is belly heat not provided with slate heated up from a heat lamp?

 

[njnolan1]

Thank you guys for the help. Since I can't do the thermostat right now I think I'll try out the basking bulb. He can be as close and as far away from it as he likes.

Do you guys have any suggestions on thermostats to use with the uth? I really don't know what's a good brand. Thanks!

 

[lisa127]

If you are going to spend any money, the best thing to spend it is on an infrared temperature gun. IMO, that is the best way to measure temperatures. Also, as I said before the black night bulbs are a much better choice than white bulbs. I noticed from your picture the heat lamp is over the water dish, which is not the best place for it. Though I disagree with some others that the only way to heat is using a UTH, I do have to say that if you are going to care for a leo or any animal you need to come to terms with the fact that you will have to spend a little money.

 

[njnolan1]

If you are going to spend any money, the best thing to spend it is on an infrared temperature gun. IMO, that is the best way to measure temperatures. Also, as I said before the black night bulbs are a much better choice than white bulbs. I noticed from your picture the heat lamp is over the water dish, which is not the best place for it. Though I disagree with some others that the only way to heat is using a UTH, I do have to say that if you are going to care for a leo or any animal you need to come to terms with the fact that you will have to spend a little money.

I got everything for free! I wasn't expecting to have to spend anything. It's okay, he's been doing well his whole life this way. The bulb that was in there was a 60 watt incandescent non basking. I traded out for the 75 basking, but I got the day light basking. I'll probably put it on the side with the flat rock hide so it heats up. We'll see. It's going to take some playing around. I will look into the infrared temperature gauge next!

I may trade out for the night basking or infrared basking after I do more research. He's not an albino so he's not as sensitive to the light and doesn't seem to mind the light at all. He spends a lot of time just chilling out of the hides, sleeping where ever.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[katie]

No, they're not nocturnal. They're crepuscular, therefore = back heat. Even so, your argument still doesn't hold water because (I assume) she's not leaving the light on 24/7, so, if they were nocturnal (which they're not) and they didn't experience "back heat" (which they do), it still wouldn't matter because the light would be off at night. You really can't come up with a better replication of their natural heat source than a light during the day. The sun heats from above during the day, warms the air and the ground; a light heats from above during the day, warms the air and the ground. A UTH is actually pretty unnatural for them, so you can't really use the "natural" argument when advocating for the use of UTHs.

~Maggot

Alright, I never knew that. SO I was wrong. But I was right when I mentioned a heat pad is needed. Its just easier in the long wrong. But it looks like the OP can't afford it so lights will be used, like you want

 

[lisa127]

I got everything for free! I wasn't expecting to have to spend anything. It's okay, he's been doing well his whole life this way. The bulb that was in there was a 60 watt incandescent non basking. I traded out for the 75 basking, but I got the day light basking. I'll probably put it on the side with the flat rock hide so it heats up. We'll see. It's going to take some playing around. I will look into the infrared temperature gauge next!

I may trade out for the night basking or infrared basking after I do more research. He's not an albino so he's not as sensitive to the light and doesn't seem to mind the light at all. He spends a lot of time just chilling out of the hides, sleeping where ever.

Thanks again for all the help!

a 75 watt day bulb is awfully bright for a leo. If you look at a hardware store you can buy black incandescent lights for maybe $3. Cheaper and less stressful for the leo. Also, no animal is ever "free", even if given to you for free.

 

[lisa127]

Alright, I never knew that. SO I was wrong. But I was right when I mentioned a heat pad is needed. Its just easier in the long wrong. But it looks like the OP can't afford it so lights will be used, like you want

A heat pad is not needed. It is one way of heating a leo enclosure. It is one way of providing belly heat. There is more than one way to do things and get the correct results. A heating pad is your choice of heating, and that is fine. It is not the only way.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Thank you guys for the help. Since I can't do the thermostat right now I think I'll try out the basking bulb. He can be as close and as far away from it as he likes.

Do you guys have any suggestions on thermostats to use with the uth? I really don't know what's a good brand. Thanks!

I've always heard good things about Hydrofarm. I use them and haven't had any trouble.
Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden

But, like I said, in the meantime, move a flat hide under the light and put some flat rocks around the area. Just to be sure he's got plenty of places to lay.

Alright, I never knew that. SO I was wrong. But I was right when I mentioned a heat pad is needed. Its just easier in the long wrong. But it looks like the OP can't afford it so lights will be used, like you want

No, you weren't. There's a difference between "easier" and "needed." A UTH is nothing more than a fail-safe but is definitely not necessary. And I don't "want" lights being used. I really don't care what heating method the OP uses. But everyone jumped on the OP for not using a heat pad, so it was worth pointing out that there's nothing wrong with that as long as it's done properly.

~Maggot

 

[njnolan1]

Thanks for defending me .

The 75W basking light definitely increase the temperature on the one side. He's retreated to his hide for the first time since I got him. The only problem is the flat decor in there is also his moist box and I read that you don't want to heat up the moist box. We'll see how this goes. He was really enjoying the little log thing too so I don't want to get rid of that and there's just not enough room for everything. I moved the dish to the middle so the light is over the log.

thanks again!

 

[njnolan1]

a 75 watt day bulb is awfully bright for a leo. If you look at a hardware store you can buy black incandescent lights for maybe $3. Cheaper and less stressful for the leo. Also, no animal is ever "free", even if given to you for free.

The sun is bright too which is why they hide :main_thumbsup:. He's hiding right now. (not being rude if it came out that way ) I may still return this one and get an infrared. The incandescent is a good idea but I want to make sure the bulb is a basking light so the light and heat focuses on one side of the tank and the decor.

Does anyone know if there are any other colors for basking lights?

 

[katie]

Alright, I am offically wrong lol. Um, can I ask a question then?? Why is it when I used a heat lamp (60 watt) set at a constant 92 degres with a basking slate piece underneath, my gecko went down hill? It stopped eating and got awfully thin until I read about heat pads. Its fine now. EVERYTHING was right about the setup.. don't say it wasn't, it was...

 

[lisa127]

Alright, I am offically wrong lol. Um, can I ask a question then?? Why is it when I used a heat lamp (60 watt) set at a constant 92 degres with a basking slate piece underneath, my gecko went down hill? It stopped eating and got awfully thin until I read about heat pads. Its fine now. EVERYTHING was right about the setup.. don't say it wasn't, it was...

I don't know. I have a gecko who has always been raised with a black moonglow bulb with slate tiles underneath. Temp averages 92 on the tiles. He is 11 inches long and 116 grams in weight. And active. So I have no idea. Were you using a white light? If you were, that could be why.

 

[lisa127]

The sun is bright too which is why they hide :main_thumbsup:. He's hiding right now. (not being rude if it came out that way ) I may still return this one and get an infrared. The incandescent is a good idea but I want to make sure the bulb is a basking light so the light and heat focuses on one side of the tank and the decor.

Does anyone know if there are any other colors for basking lights?

The sun is bright, you are right. But when you are only living in a space 24 inches wide the "sun" makes everything overly bright. Does that make sense? That's why I prefer the black moonglo bulbs.

 

[njnolan1]

The sun is bright, you are right. But when you are only living in a space 24 inches wide the "sun" makes everything overly bright. Does that make sense? That's why I prefer the black moonglo bulbs.

I want to use a basking light though. Do moon glows come in the basking shape? I read they can't see the infrared so I may go for one of those instead because they do come in basking shape.

He has a perfectly dark hide he can use if he wants to get away from the light but I wouldn't mind using a darker light either. Doesn't matter to me. That being said he seems happy with the light. He hasn't spent any time hiding, he sleeps all over out in the open every day. When he wakes up and sees me he "asks" for food if that makes sense.

 

[katie]

I don't know. I have a gecko who has always been raised with a black moonglow bulb with slate tiles underneath. Temp averages 92 on the tiles. He is 11 inches long and 116 grams in weight. And active. So I have no idea. Were you using a white light? If you were, that could be why.

I was using these: Zoo Med Day & Night Bulb Combo Pack

 

[Embrace Calamity]

The sun is bright, you are right. But when you are only living in a space 24 inches wide the "sun" makes everything overly bright. Does that make sense? That's why I prefer the black moonglo bulbs.

I'm skeptical about this claim because, as far as I'm aware, no one has gone to the natural habitat of the leopard gecko and taken a picture and then taken a picture with the same camera inside a leopard gecko enclosure with a light on it. I've taken pics inside my gecko's enclosure, and it doesn't appear any brighter than natural light.

Alright, I am offically wrong lol. Um, can I ask a question then?? Why is it when I used a heat lamp (60 watt) set at a constant 92 degres with a basking slate piece underneath, my gecko went down hill? It stopped eating and got awfully thin until I read about heat pads. Its fine now. EVERYTHING was right about the setup.. don't say it wasn't, it was...

Then you did something wrong because many other people do it just fine.

I read they can't see the infrared so I may go for one of those instead because they do come in basking shape.

This is a myth. They can see it perfectly well. In fact, their color vision is much better than ours. That's why I always suggest people not use red lights. Now, this is only speculation, but the only time I can ever imagine a gecko seeing red light naturally would be from a fire. I could be wrong, but I do know that people who've tried different kinds of lights note that red ones tend to decrease their activity (I noticed it as well).

~Maggot

 

[katie]

I just don't know what I did wrong, but I wouldn't use those bulbs. I'm going to stop partially stealing the OP's thread lol... good luck OP.

 

[njnolan1]

What about other colors? Like moon glow?

TBH, he seems perfectly content just chilling out in his log hide where it is slightly dimmer (it has a built in hole on the top) but directly under the light now without a problem. He's sleeping with the light literally on his face. I'm just going to go with if he seems happy (eating, active, pooping etc...) he is. Thanks again for all the help!!