Still Having Problems With Maintaining Temps

[Haligren]

So I'm still having trouble maintaining a decent heat temp in my tank. I have to constantly adjust the rheostat everyday. I've figured out that Tiamat seems to like her temps a little on the cool side, so I'm trying to keep her warm hide at around 93 F.

The problem is is that if I leave the lamp on over the cool side, the temps in the warm hide can get as high as 102. I have to turn the rheostat on it's lowest setting to get it to go below 95 and even then it will flunctuate. The bulb is a 75 watt bulb and is differently shaped than the last bulb I had; this one is shaped more like a regular light bulb and the other was more like a tube. This one seems to get much hotter.

BUT, if I turn off the bulb, the air temperatures in the tank become lower. I picked up Tiamat today from her moist hide and she felt cold to the touch. Her colors were also slightly darker. After a thirty minute play session in which she spent the first ten pressing her belly into my hand, her colors brightened and she seemed happier.

Despite the constant temp fluctuations, she seems to be doing okay. I haven't weighed her since about a week or so ago but she definiately looks as though she's put on weight - especially in her tail - and has gone through a shed at least once. Her appetite is also normal for her. Atleast once a week she'll eat a large meal, but most of the time she only eats one or two supers per sitting.

I know I should probably just get a thermostat but I don't have that kind of money at the moment. Is there anything else I can do?

Oh, I should also mention that I have enveloped my tank in that foil/bubble wrap insulation stuff because when I first got the tank it couldn't stay warm enough. Should I maybe remove some? I have some on the bottom of the tank as well? Could that be interfering with the temperatures?

 

[Mel&Keith]

Personally, I would just get a thermostat. It may cost a little more but would probably be worth the piece of mind. We use these Johnson Controllers and love them. At $80 they really save a lot of headaches.

 

[acpart]

There are cheaper thermostats (ESU, Alife) and if you keep checking ebay you could find one at a good price. FOr now, what about replacing the 75 watt light with a 50 watt?

Aliza

 

[shawn119]

Yeah, get a thermostat.

 

[Haligren]

I was afraid of that. Lousy basement living.

Okay. I was looking around on the 'net and saw that not all thermostats cost an arm and a leg.

For now her temps aren't bad. They've been staying at 96F most of the day.

Thanks, guys.

 

[stayahead]

Do you have a UTH or just a lamp for heat?

Personally I prefer UTH than lights. I think they are much easier to maintain the warm temperature on the ground for belly heat.

 

[Haligren]

I have both. But my basement is sorta cold so when I turn off the lamps the ambient air temps in the tank go down. (I've checked them at around 60, which is about room temperature down here. I thought it was too cold for her even if she only really needs belly heat) The only warm spot in the tank would be over the UTH. When I picked up Tiamat after having the lights off for one night, she felt cold. She had been in her moist hide, not her warm hide.

I know a lot of people say you only need a UTH, but with weird indoor temperatures like mine, I feel better knowing that her air temps are just that much warmer - with the floor temp over the UTH being the warmest.

 

[acpart]

I haven't worried much about the ambient temperature. It ranges in my house from 60-68. I feel that the whole point of thermoregulation is to provide a variety of temperature areas for the gecko to choose, so if they need to be warm they can be in the warm hide. I do have a few geckos that keep choosing to be in the cooler area (I've checked temps on the warm side and they aren't too hot). I guess what I"m saying is that you may not have to worry as long as you're providing an appropriately warm option.

ALiza