Screen Tank Cover

[CallDr]

I read on one "gecko guide sheet" ( so many lol ) that he suggested to cover or block off Half of the screen to help maintain or stabilize the "air temp".

The comments were pertaining to belly heat vs air temp where the thermal air temp had as much impact as to the "core" temp of the Gecko.

Does anyone here block off a portion of the open Screen Covers?

Or any other comments?

 

[Tony C]

I did that in the past when I used glass tanks. Another alternative is to ditch the screen top altogether and cut a piece of pegboard to fit.

 

[roger]

I read on one "gecko guide sheet" ( so many lol ) that he suggested to cover or block off Half of the screen to help maintain or stabilize the "air temp".

The comments were pertaining to belly heat vs air temp where the thermal air temp had as much impact as to the "core" temp of the Gecko.

Does anyone here block off a portion of the open Screen Covers?

Or any other comments?

No i dont cover the top.As long as u have belly heat of 90-95 deg thats what counts.Your not really concerned with ambient temps with leo's.

 

[CallDr]

No i dont cover the top.As long as u have belly heat of 90-95 deg thats what counts.Your not really concerned with ambient temps with leo's.

Roger, I disagree. I think both affect the Gecko. The point was made and according to my research and experience with wildlife over the past 30 years it's what I see in the wild. Ambient temp is a factor..... no doubt that belly heat is a factor also.

I have spent decades in the deep south in swamps and other places where Reptiles live and thrive. So I have more than a basic understanding due to the fact I spend both days and nights in their home environment.

You tend to draw the line in the sand when I post. I appreciate your replies.

My profession is studying and doing research on wildlife. So I am not just a new Gecko hobbyist.

I have worked with some of the top biologist in the nation on projects. Those who have a DR to their names and decades of study.

While I am "new" to Gecko's. I'm not new to animal behavior, verbal and body language.

 

[CallDr]

I did that in the past when I used glass tanks. Another alternative is to ditch the screen top altogether and cut a piece of pegboard to fit.

Thanks....... thats a great suggestion!

 

[CallDr]

Tony...... I do have an issue with the glass that acts like a mirror. I have observed many times when a animal sees a reflection of it self. I got the glass because it was what I had to choose from at the time. It would be nice to have an anti-reflecting glass from what I have observed for the Gecko. Or as you have noted...... I assume you agree?

 

[Chestersmom]

I don't cover my top but I have heard of people using plastic wrap over the screen top to hold in heat.

 

[Tony C]

Tony...... I do have an issue with the glass that acts like a mirror. I have observed many times when a animal sees a reflection of it self. I got the glass because it was what I had to choose from at the time. It would be nice to have an anti-reflecting glass from what I have observed for the Gecko. Or as you have noted...... I assume you agree?

I have never seen a gecko respond to it's reflection, but I suppose it is possible.

 

[Khrysty]

I have never seen a gecko respond to it's reflection, but I suppose it is possible.

Some of my males did when they were younger. They'd start to sway their tail back and forth like a cat---I assume they thought they saw another male and got territorial

 

[CallDr]

Tony..... unless you know what you are looking at, it's hard to tell if a gecko is seeing it's reflection or just looking or trying to climb the cage ( glass ). When I put mine in for the Tank for the first time is when I noticed she saw it's reflection by it's behavior next to the glass.

A Turkey for example will walk back and forth.... and even look behind the mirror. I have seen some even peck at the reflection.... or take an aggressive or submissive body posture.

This "reflection" issue is pretty much resolved in a short time frame as a gecko being a "prey" first will want to figure out if the reflection is "good or bad".

But if the Gecko is a "dominate aggressive" it may attack it's own image or show a dominate posture....... both male and female.

It's not a huge problem but I would prefer "non reflective" Glass or other material.

Depending on the light source and angle..... you can see your reflection...right? Or do you "look past" the reflection into the tank? So if that is true..... we and they learn or adjust to "look through" the glass.

I hope I have explained it right....lol

 

[shadowdragon619]

i have a screen on both my leos tanks, but in the winter i cover part of the top of the tanks with a blanket to help keep air temps up. It seems to help. but now that its getting warmer out, i dont have the blankets on top of the tanks.

 

[CallDr]

i have a screen on both my leos tanks, but in the winter i cover part of the top of the tanks with a blanket to help keep air temps up. It seems to help. but now that its getting warmer out, i dont have the blankets on top of the tanks.

Same here, (winter) except I just cut a piece of card board to cover part of the screen.

I also turned the heat up and used the gas fireplace to raise the room temp to 74 degrees and kept it stable to see what happened. Which did result in greater activity.

As I mentioned before, there is another factor as Spring kicks in other than getting warmer. The days are getting longer. Animals, birds and plants all carry an internal clock. For example..... some animals are triggered form the amount of light to their eyes. Some plants actually "count" the amount of warm days. As an example...... it will need 15 days at X temp. This could take one month or two to reach that 15. The interesting things is some animals "clock" is related to the "plants" clock.

Anyway..... it's all fascinating. I believe belly heat is a known fact but it's also a known fact that air temp relates to the "core" temp of reptiles.

All I did was take the information and applied it to my gecko to see if air temp along with belly heat had an affect. I did this several times. The results were always the same.

Let me say this. I have not done any verified biological study as would be required to submit in a report of a Biologist. All I did was a simple cause and affect to see for myself.

All my post are "food for thought"...... and everyone should assume I'm wrong.....LOL! I still consider myself a Newbee but will let you know when I have crossed that line......LOL!

 

[Tony C]

Anyway..... it's all fascinating. I believe belly heat is a known fact but it's also a known fact that air temp relates to the "core" temp of reptiles.

All I did was take the information and applied it to my gecko to see if air temp along with belly heat had an affect. I did this several times. The results were always the same.

Ambient air temps are very important. A proper hot spot does not help much if the air temperature is cold because the gecko will continually lose heat to the air even while absorbing it from the ground, resulting in little or no change to the core body temperature.

 

[janjgeckos]

Ambient air temps are very important. A proper hot spot does not help much if the air temperature is cold because the gecko will continually lose heat to the air even while absorbing it from the ground, resulting in little or no change to the core body temperature.

I agree but where a lot of people go wrong is adding a light that is too hot, it dries the humid hide very quick, causes problems with shedding and stresses the gecko. If possible I think you should raise the room temp rather than blocking off part of the lid as this will also cause your humidity to increase. Blocking off part of the lid is great for high humidity reptiles but I think you need to be carful doing it reptiles of dryer climates.

 

[roger]

No i dont cover the top.As long as u have belly heat of 90-95 deg thats what counts.Your not really concerned with ambient temps with leo's.

I agree with you Tony about the ambient temps.



CallDr My post didnt come across right.Yes I have my reptile room with and ambient temp of 75 degrees.To some degree you have to monitor ambinet temps.The point that I was trying to make was the warm end has to be warm enough to digest the leos food.for some peoples leos that warm end temp is 88 deg and for others its 95 degrees.So I stand corrected ambient temps are also important.I also agree with janjgeckos that blocking off part of the lid increases the humidity too much which can be hazardous to a leos health.

 

[Tony C]

I also agree with janjgeckos that blocking off part of the lid increases the humidity too much which can be hazardous to a leos health.

Partially covering the lid or using pegboard should be just fine, the amount of ventilation is likely similar to what they get in a rack system which we all know is a very successful method of housing. Completely blocking ventilation is bad of course, these aren't dart frogs.

 

[CallDr]

I think the trick or objective is to create a thermoregulated environment. Which would require a Air Temp, Floor Temp and stable Humidity.

Roger.... thanks for the post. I was wondering if you were just picking my posts apart.

Adding light bulbs can be tricky. Also the open screen ( like no top at all) is another variable depending on your room temp variations. I also mentioned where your Heat or cool vents are located. This, if pointing AT the Tank can cause the air flow to fluctuate as the fan kicks on or off. Thats why I suggest a simple Vent cover to redirect the air flow as not pointing or breathing directly into the tank.

A 100% stable environment may seem the best but if we follow nature or natural environment the fluctuations will better suit the animal in the long run as it will adjust and use it's natural ability to thermoregulate. ( given the natural ups and downs)

The so called "trick" is to find that happy medium that will create a good and changing environment. Perfect IMHO is great on a Spec Sheet but nature is not governed that way. Thats why I suggest we find a captive environment to replicate the natural and such will be in the long term best health for the animal.

 

[Eric1969]

I have a screen lid for my 20 gallon long tank. A UTH and a 60 watt red reptile lamp on one side and a cool side on the other. I need to get a bigger UTH though because the one I have is not warm enough for this tank and I am having issues with his digestion at the moment... I have the reptile lamp on top because he really likes to hang on his hamock under it.