shopped for new housing today...

[pixiepurls]

I was in a large chain petstore today, I want to create some sort of second level that is not high enough to cause a height risk (I've watched her fall off her coconut she hides in!) I am wondering how many inches high is safe? They didn't have anything I liked. I've been buying stuff and then seeing how it fits in the cage and then returning it if its not worked, to figure out whats best for our tank.

I did try out that ramp thing that suctions to the side of the wall it looks rocky with green on it, it was way to heavy and risky and didn't adhere to my glass. I returned it today as it made me nervous.

Also FYI i have one of those repti pad things from amazon and was reading the paperwork that came with it. It actually said not to place a lamp or hea source directly above it, which I had been doing (though I have a thermometer ontop of the glass the pad is under so the under pad would turn off when it got above 90 and regulate) but I have now moved the bulb over. It also said if she never goes to the "cool side" of the tank then its probably too cold and needs another heat source. So I took my old mini pad and put it on the side of the tank on the warm side to add to the AIR heat on that side (as I removed the bulb), and then I moved the heat night vision bulb to the cold side so I can heat the air up there when its on. I don't put it on all the time but around mid-day for a few hours, I figure she's digesting then anyway.

Where is the cheapest source to get one of those timer things so I can set the bulb to be automatic?

A lot of heat I think gets lost out of the top of the tank. I am thinking of maybe attachingg some black material to the top on one half to help retain some heat. Our housee is kept at 71-72 and according to the cheap wall thermometer in the tank thats exactly what it is despite those pads, when the lamp is off. I don't want to keep my house at 75 for a lizard.

 

[acpart]

Second level: I make mine out of PVC pipe (Home Depot) with 12" square tiles set on top (2 tiles with a mini UTH sandwiched between). The height varies with the length of the PVC. I have made mine with 6" PVC. I don't use a ramp because it takes up too much space. Instead, I put the laybox/humid hide (gladware container) near the structure and they climb up that way. I've actually seen them get up there from the floor without using the lay box at all.

Heat: 71-72 is a fine ambient temp for geckos. My vet feels that keeping the heat too high dehydrates them and leads to eye problems. I don't feel any additional heating/lighting is required besides the under tank heater. Some geckos prefer the hot side and may stay there. I don't think it means that the cool side is too cool. If you do want to use a bulb and put it on a timer, just get a cheap timer from Home Depot or equivalent.

Aliza