The Cold Side: What temperature should it be?

[AntMan612]

I would like to know what people consider to be the appropriate temperature on the COLD side of a leopard gecko enclosure. In my case, it depends on the season and the "Away" temperature I've programmed into my home's thermostat. In Winter, the COLD side can be as cold as 65 F, and in Summer, it can be as hot as 82 F.

Is there some recommended temperature that ensures their optimal health and comfort?

Please provide a comment, if none of the poll options apply.

Thanks!

 

[fallen_angel]

I don't really know what is perfect for optimal health and comfort, but my best guess would be that 75-80 would be a nice temp. for the cool side. Since the hot side is 90-92, I don't think 85 degrees would be enough of a gradient, but 82 and below seems good to me. I think temps in the low 60s put them into hibernation.

 

[Bling_my_leo]

I'd go with the third one down; 75 to 80 F. That sound about right.

 

[nats]

Although our leos are many generations removed from the wild, it is interesting that temps in Afghanistan can reach 110 in the day and as low as 55 at night. Also, gecko's in the wild do not live on sand. They live on and between rocks, and preferably in a shaded area. Still though, I keep the low temp side 75 to 80 (night temp can go down to 72), but the high side is thermostated to 92.

 

[AntMan612]

Although our leos are many generations removed from the wild, it is interesting that temps in Afghanistan can reach 110 in the day and as low as 55 at night.

Interesting, yes. This makes me, too, wonder why we have to control the tank and incubator temperatures so exactly, when this is so different from the environmental conditions in the wild.

 

[RepBex]

the incubator temps is to help prevent loss as in the wild quite a few will not hatch

 

[nats]

the incubator temps is to help prevent loss as in the wild quite a few will not hatch

You are right. I wasnt thinking about hatching temps though, I was just thinking about everyday living temps.

 

[HepCatMoe]

the reason you have to control the temps is becuase you will fry or freeze your gecko.

here in arizona the temps are fairly close to afghanistan they get around 110-115 in the summer and down to around 40-50 in the winter. AND we have western banded geckos, wich are pretty close relatives to leos.

anyways, if you tried to leave a banded gecko in 110 degree heat it would be dead in an hour, if not sooner. the geckos hide during the day and make sure they never go where its too hot for them. there is a big big diferance between a nice cool hide underground and sitting out in the sun at 110.

 

[AntMan612]

Interesting results so far - it looks like the "sweet spot" for the cold side is 70-80 F. It's hard to believe most people are paying their Winter heating bills in order to keep their room temperature above 70 F for 24/7. But, I guess that's just part of the cost of doing geckos! I'm not sure if they'd actually "freeze" to death if the temps get down to the low 60's on the cold side (assuming a constant 90 F on the hot side).

 

[leonut]

i keep mine at 75-80 and warm side about 90. i would think that 70 would be to low.

 

[nats]

I know our leos are many generations removed from the wild, but in Afghanistan, night temps can get down to mid 50's in the rocky mountain desert area where geckos live.

My point is, dont worry much about the cool end as long as there arent ice-sickles on it!!

 

[AntMan612]

Thanks for your votes! Looks like most people keep the cold side 70-80 F. Only 3 out of the 30 voters (10%) said they consciously keep the cold side temperature outside of the 70 - 80 F range. Another 4 out of 30 voters (13%) just let the cold side follow room temperature, whatever it is during the year. The latter is what I am wondering about.

Indoor ambient temperature can vary greatly depending on the season, HVAC system, and geographical location. However, if the cold side isn't monitored, then the temperature gradient wouldn't be controlled, and there could be times when there is no "cold side" and/or times when the cold side is lower than the target range 70-80 F. I am guilty of sometimes letting the cold side get as low as 63 F during the winter when I'm at work. Is this safe, as long as they have a 90 F area in the tank?

 

[nats]

Thanks for your votes! Looks like most people keep the cold side 70-80 F. Only 3 out of the 30 voters (10%) said they consciously keep the cold side temperature outside of the 70 - 80 F range. Another 4 out of 30 voters (13%) just let the cold side follow room temperature, whatever it is during the year. The latter is what I am wondering about.

Indoor ambient temperature can vary greatly depending on the season, HVAC system, and geographical location. However, if the cold side isn't monitored, then the temperature gradient wouldn't be controlled, and there could be times when there is no "cold side" and/or times when the cold side is lower than the target range 70-80 F. I am guilty of sometimes letting the cold side get as low as 63 F during the winter when I'm at work. Is this safe, as long as they have a 90 F area in the tank?

If you have the hot side thermostaed to 90F it doesnt matter if the cool side drops to 63F. This also happens to me in the winter, and the leos do not mind it. This is another reason why I like to keep the moist hide in the warm half.

 

[Homerx]

If you have the hot side thermostaed to 90F it doesnt matter if the cool side drops to 63F. This also happens to me in the winter, and the leos do not mind it. This is another reason why I like to keep the moist hide in the warm half.

This is my method as well, sorta natural burmation period I think of it as. Never had a Leo ask for a touque or timmies yet.

 

[Grinning Geckos]

When you start getting into caves and such, the temperatures are much more stable then they are above ground. Even though outside it varies a lot, down in th holes and caves it'll stay in the middle of the road. I wouldn't expose a gecko to anything under 65 for long periods of time (shipping is not normally a long time)...they start to lose function. Personally, I keep mine at room temp, which is always at least 70, but I wouldn't sweat it if it were to fall to that 65 range so long as the thermostat is working properly on the warm side.

IF you are using a rheostat or dimmer, keeping your cool side (ambient room temp) stable is important!! They don't self-sdjust, so as the room gets colder, so does the hot side. The opposite will happen if the room gets too hot.

 

[Haligren]

I try to keep mine at 70-75 or so but lately it's been FREEZING in our basement home so I've had to keep a nightglo lamp on for him. It raises the temp a bit but atleast it keeps his cool side from becoming TOO cool.

 

[AntMan612]

LOL - That's funny - a heat lamp for the cool side! I was wondering if anybody might do this. Even where I live, the room can dip into the low 60's without the heater.

I try to keep mine at 70-75 or so but lately it's been FREEZING in our basement home so I've had to keep a nightglo lamp on for him. It raises the temp a bit but atleast it keeps his cool side from becoming TOO cool.

 

[nats]

I try to keep mine at 70-75 or so but lately it's been FREEZING in our basement home so I've had to keep a nightglo lamp on for him. It raises the temp a bit but atleast it keeps his cool side from becoming TOO cool.

Same here, I have to keep lamps handy for those cold spells.

 

[Snowy & Petra de Gecko]

Temps

I am trying to hit the Temps.

68 to 72 on the cold side.

88 to 92 on the warm side.

I am in agreement that I do not care if the cold side is 60 or 63, just as long as the warm side is about 90.

Living in Southern California, the winter nights get cold (not as cold as where it snows) but, the temps can drop.

But, the summers or a very warm day without air-conditioning will get it very warm indeed. I had the UTH on and the air temp in the tank reached 105 at the warm end. The cool end was about 85.

So I have bought a thermostat to turn off the UTH if the tank starts to over heat.

I will probably tie my hood light to the thermostat to turn it off if the temp on the surface goes over 100.

 

[lampeye]

I know our leos are many generations removed from the wild, but in Afghanistan, night temps can get down to mid 50's in the rocky mountain desert area where geckos live.

It actually gets even colder than that. And even in the warmest parts of the year, they might only have a few hours of warm temps in which to do their thing.