?'s about a UTH and how to control temp

[NINJAOFTERROR]

Okl so i got a UTH for my geckos but when i cam home from work my thermometer was reading about 100 degrees Fahrenheit a little too hot for my leos. Now how do I adjust it so it stays steady! Also whats the best way to heat the air up with out overheating the geckos. Thanks in advance for your help.

Kevin

 

[project1]

actually i got a rheostat cord type deal from the pet store(since the site wont mention names) with 2 outlets on it check that out

 

[Haligren]

I'd recommend getting a rheostat. They're about $15 at Home Depot or you can get the really expensive ones that are specifically for use with vivarium heating acoutrements. It's basically a light dimmer. With a rheostat you can adjust it yourself as needed. But they only really work well if your house or whatever room you have your tank in, doesn't have fluctuating temperatures. If your place is quite drafty I'd recommend a thermostat. They range in price from $25-$80 and up.

As for raising ambient air temps, many will tell you that they aren't important and to a degree, I think that's true, but if you live in a cold area or the ambient air temps are in the fifties or lower, then I'd recommend getting a 50w bulb and placing it over the warm end of your tank. This can either be a daytime bulb which you'd turn off at night which lower temps are more acceptable, or you can get a red or nightglo bulb that you can leave on all the time. But like I said, your gecko only really needs a warm spot for his belly so he can metabolize properly.

Hope that helps.

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

Rheostats work well if you have no temp changes in the home. If you have any gradient of temps in the home you will constantly be playing with the knob. Best bet would be a thermostat w/ a probe so that way it will turn on or off depending on the temp where the probe is located.

 

[NINJAOFTERROR]

so explain the diff between a rheostat and thermostat and i live in so cal if that helps

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

a rheostat pretty much adjust the wattage going to the UTH so you can ground temps. It's pretty much like a light dimmer. a thermostat is a self adjusting rheostat. you set the temp you want place the probe in the hot spot and the thermostat will let it get to the temp you set it but should not get too much above that temp.

a thermostat will cost you more but it's worth the money if you have multiple sources plugged into it. if you only have one UTH the you can get a digital thermometer and a rheostat and you should be fine.

 

[NINJAOFTERROR]

ok thx