Tank Temps

[suziq324]

Hi everyone!

I just got my first geckos and I am SOOO in love!! Thanks Nancy!

I seem to be having some trouble getting the temps consistant. I have one of my geckos at work in a 5.5 gallon tank with a UTH for a 5-10 gallon tank, but it doesn't seem to be getting much warmer than 80. I have it taped on the tank instead of removing the backing and sticking it on the tank itself. Could that be my problem??

My 3 girls at home wer way too warm in their much larger tank, but I bought a rheostat and that seemed to fix that problem.

I could really use some advice or suggestions!!

Thanks!
Suzie

 

[lil_katiedan]

I always took the backing off and stuck it to the tank. Although I'm sure you could stick it to a thin piece of paper and then tape it on, that way it will be easy to remove if need be.

 

[ReptileMan27]

Yea, I would stick it to the bottom of the tank, thats what its meant for and probly would work a little better.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

Hi everyone!

I just got my first geckos and I am SOOO in love!! Thanks Nancy!

I seem to be having some trouble getting the temps consistant. I have one of my geckos at work in a 5.5 gallon tank with a UTH for a 5-10 gallon tank, but it doesn't seem to be getting much warmer than 80. I have it taped on the tank instead of removing the backing and sticking it on the tank itself. Could that be my problem??

My 3 girls at home wer way too warm in their much larger tank, but I bought a rheostat and that seemed to fix that problem.

I could really use some advice or suggestions!!

Thanks!
Suzie

Well first off, a 5 gallon tank is too small for a leo. With everything you need for it, there is no way you can fit it all, plus you will not have a good enough heat gradient between the hot and cold spots. With that being said, UTH for the most part are only designed to raise the tank temp about 10 degrees F warmer than the room temp. They arn't designed to be any certain temperature. Taping the UTH instead of sticking it would most likely only make a few degrees different.

 

[suziq324]

Well first off, a 5 gallon tank is too small for a leo. With everything you need for it, there is no way you can fit it all, plus you will not have a good enough heat gradient between the hot and cold spots. With that being said, UTH for the most part are only designed to raise the tank temp about 10 degrees F warmer than the room temp. They arn't designed to be any certain temperature. Taping the UTH instead of sticking it would most likely only make a few degrees different.

I understand that the tank is too small for her permanently, but she is not full grown yet and it is a temporary home. She has room to move around and she has been moving quite a bit. The temp has been hovering at 80-82.

If it is too cold in the room, what should I use to supplement the UTH??

Thanks for the help!! I'm just want to make sure that she stays healthy.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

You can use a heat lamp to help. Keep in mind that heat lamps may stress the leo out a little bit, but if it is temporary, you should be ok.

I understand that the tank is too small for her permanently, but she is not full grown yet and it is a temporary home. She has room to move around and she has been moving quite a bit.

It may seem like an ok size because she is small, but the reason I said it was because I don't see how she has what she needs to be completely healthy. There should be a water dish, calcium dish, mealworm dish if she eats them, hot spot hide, cold spot hide, and a humid hide to aid in shedding. If you found a way to fit all of that in a 5 gal I am very impressed lol. I'm sure you want what is best for her and you should really make sure you have everything I just mentioned.

 

[geckofreak570]

get a red light

 

[BluGnat]

get a red light

A low-wattage red light so she doesn't cook. They can be very hot (the 75W ones). Or, perhaps you can suspend it a bit above the top of the tank. Just make sure to keep an eye on the temp right above the heating pad.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

Wow, am I that much of an idiot? I have a blue bulb and didn't even think about that. You can use red, blue, or black bulbs.

 

[ZombieDharma]

That's one of my concerns too.... my rooms the coldest in the house so I'm concerned about the heat.

What wattage would you recommend for a red, blue, or black bulb to suppliment the heating?

 

[Scott&Nikki]

as long as you are also using a UTH, a 50 or 75 watt bulb should be just fine.

 

[BluGnat]

as long as you are also using a UTH, a 50 or 75 watt bulb should be just fine.

I think it also depends on the size of UTH that's being used - I have 50-60 gal UTHs on my 20L tanks - if I used a 75w bulb, I'd have lizard jerkey. Always (to the general you) check temps to make sure it's in the right range - never assume.

 

[ZombieDharma]

I think it also depends on the size of UTH that's being used - I have 50-60 gal UTHs on my 20L tanks - if I used a 75w bulb, I'd have lizard jerkey. Always (to the general you) check temps to make sure it's in the right range - never assume.

I'm using a 10 gal tank with a Zoo Med Repti UTH.

Should I start experimenting with lower wattages? say 50w? or 60w?

 

[BluGnat]

I'm using a 10 gal tank with a Zoo Med Repti UTH.

Should I start experimenting with lower wattages? say 50w? or 60w?

Yes, definitely lower wattage - 50 would be a good starting point. Assuming you're using the UTH that says it's for "10 gal" as well as opposed to a bigger one. Maybe I'm wrong and you'll wind up with a 75 watt anyway - maybe I've always had my house warmer than most or something. I was using ONLY a 75 W red light on mine while I was waiting for my UTH to arrive in the mail (eBay). With the tile, it made the temp perfect - and that's with no UTH.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

I think it also depends on the size of UTH that's being used - I have 50-60 gal UTHs on my 20L tanks - if I used a 75w bulb, I'd have lizard jerkey. Always (to the general you) check temps to make sure it's in the right range - never assume.

Why are you using a 50-60gal UTH in the first place?

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

Get a piece of Tile to put in the tank, it will help absorb heat, for that small a tank a 4"6" or even a 4X4" would work well.

 

[BluGnat]

Why are you using a 50-60gal UTH in the first place?

Because I didn't want to use supplemental lighting, and it covers more surface area of the tank while still leaving a decent-sized cool area.

 

[ZombieDharma]

Because I didn't want to use supplemental lighting, and it covers more surface area of the tank while still leaving a decent-sized cool area.

Did you mean 20 Liters? or 20 Gal? 20 liters I could see.... maybe we misread.

 

[BluGnat]

Did you mean 20 Liters? or 20 Gal? 20 liters I could see.... maybe we misread.

20L = 20 gallon Long tank. Liters are much smaller than gallons - not sure that would leave any room for a cool end, lol!

 

[Stitch]

From my understanding the UTH should only cover about 1/3 of the tank. Which is why ZooMed labels them for certain size tanks. This may be working for you BluGnat but it is not reccomended. I don't use any over head heating and have never had an issue heating with the appropriate sized UTH. Also the UTH will heat more then 10 degrees warmer then room temp. My reptile room right now averages 70 and the hot ends of each cage floor are at 89-91. I control all of my cages with a rheostat and temps are checked with a PE-1 temp gun.