Raising The Heat

[Scoots85]

Heya,

My room is somewhat colder than I had expected it to be for the gecko and it seems like a heat-pad isn't quite enough to keep a temp of mid-80's (fehrenheit) on the warm side fo the tank. What's the best way to raise the temperature for my leo in the warm area by about 5-10 degrees? It's in the high 70's right now. All of it has to due with the rainy/cloudy weather we've been having over the last few days, so I wouldn't mind getting a soft, "backup" heat-lamp for him just for these kinda occasions. Any ideas what watt the lamp would need to be? I don't want to make it too hot for him.

 

[bubblez825]

Get a heat lamp from a petstore or online, then go for a bulb that is like an infrared bulb or something. Geckos dont like the light.

 

[Scoots85]

Any ideas on how many wattz the bulb should be?

 

[lepgeckosrock]

First of all how and where are you measuring the temps? They should be taken at the floor ontop of your substreight (paper towl,tile,repti carpet) using either a digital therm with a prob or as I prefer to use a infrared therm that you can get at radio shack for about 20.00. If you have the right size uth for the tank your temps without having a reastat or mat stat will actually probly be to high. I have 4 tanks set up and all of them are a little different substreights and I have to have the power down (with a reastat) or the floor temps go over 100 but the air temps stay around 80

 

[Scoots85]

Sorry but I totally couldn't read some of that, lol..
I have a thermometer that sticks to the inside glass-wall of the tank. It's not along the floor though so maybe you're right: The temp along the floor is most likely warmer than higher up. I'll try it with a digital therm.

 

[Scoots85]

Hm, you're right. I stuck a thermometer down along the floor of the tank and it's definitely a lot warmer than mid 70's. It's more like low-to-mid 80's. Thanks!

 

[Scoots85]

Okay, so I ended up getting a bigger and stronger heat pad. It covers about half the floor fo the tank so that's good (my older one only covered about a quarter)

I've run into a problem though..
The first UTH pad I used did not come with any spacers, so there was no air-flow under the floor of the tank (ie. Between the bottom of the tank and the actual ground it's standing on), but keep in mind the glass bottom of the tank never contacts with whatever is underneath it as it has that bottom plastic black frame to support it up a couple inches. This new UTH pad does come with spacers and it even clearly states that I should not be using the pad without them. The problem is that it's not keeping the tank warm enough for the little Leo. Temp wise it's sitting at about 80d egrees. I tried using it with the spacers off and it jumped up to about 85-90 degrees, which is great, but I'm not sure if the floor was too hot for him. He seemed to be a lot more lively when I did not use the spacers. He'd be sleeping outside in the open, up against the glass, crawling around everywhere. I don't know if this is because the floor was too hot for him or if because he was at a good temperature and felt more comfortable exploring.

Any suggestions? I'm thinking of taking the spacers off but at the same time I don't want to burn him. The ground wasn't overly hot to my touch. I mean, it wasn't like sizzling me or anything. It was "highly warm", if that helps. But I do know his body temperature is different than a human beings. Right now, with the spacers on, I barely feel a difference when I place my hand on the warm side and the cold side.

 

[pkrtech]

The floor should read 88-92 for hot side and around 75 on cool side.

 

[nats]

Yep! you need the temp at FLOOR LEVEL, where your leo's belly is! :main_yes:

One other thing.... errr, two other things! :

Dimmers for controlling UTH's SUCK!!! they are totally unreliable.
What a dimmer does, is simply REDUCE the voltage. When the line voltage or the room temp (like at night) fluctuates, the actual UTH temp will too!
What are going to do, keep turning it up and down all day and night??

Get your self a nice thermostat. A proportional thermostat, not one that goes, CLICK.....CLICK.......CLICK every few minutes!! :main_rolleyes:

Yes, I know they are expensive, but for your own peace of mind, sell some junk on eBay if you have too. Pawn your Mom's jewlery (a joke that was!!), anything to get the money!!