Two questions

[Reptis]

Hello!
Two questions. XD

Heat question.
So I currently use a Zoo-Med basking spot lamp for the daytime and a red nightlight for my girl Nameless'es (original, right?) heat. I have been debating wither to get her a UTH for belly heat or not. What do y'all suggest? She's on a repti-carpet or slate (depending on when I change it) and on top of a wire rack (like that matters.) Should I invest in one in the future? If so what kind? She is pretty comfortable with the current setup, at night she'll absorb heat from her main hide, a large rock-like structure so she's in no danger of becoming constipated. This is purely my wish to spoil the only pet of mine that can be truly spoiled. XD


And now other question.
Nameless is a girl, and she loved digging through some paper scraps and hamster bedding I had on my drafting table for a study. I know this is instinctive, she really enjoyed it and would like to offer her something similar and SAFE in her tank. To quickly clear something up, I AM NOT SWITCHING TO SAND. I lost one gecko to that killer stuff. So is there anything I could offer her (in her humid hide maybe?) that could let her do this? I have been thinking of moss and possibly getting her one of those large hollow rock-type things and filling it with the former, but I know this poses a constipation hazard and would like y'alls input.

~Reptis

 

[Ozy]

I have a female who also loves digging. I put Eco-earth in her humid hide. She loves digging herself a little burrow in it. A couple of times a roach or mealworm has fallen in there during feeding and she has gotten a mouthful of the eco-earth. She has always pooped it out though. *shrug* I heard sometimes they will eat the moss and get impacted. Mine doesn't eat her eco-earth though. And I would recommend using a UTH. Bright lights can stress a gecko out.

EDIT - Personally I don't use any lights on my leo's cage. I would recommend a UTH. Bright lights can stress a leo out.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

1) I wouldn't suggest the red light. Contrary to popular belief, they can see the light. I know my leo became more active when I switched from the red light to a CHE. So between a red light and a UTH, I'd suggest the UTH.
2) Out of curiosity, what kind of sand was it? And are you positive that that's what it was?
3) I use rocky soil in my enclosure, and my girl enjoys digging in it sometimes. It's a natural behaviour for them, so it's a good idea to let them do it. You can also put Eco Earth in her humid hide to give her another place to dig.

~Maggot

 

[Lindz0518]

I use an under tank heater on a dimmer switch to control temps. If I need an extra bump in temps I used a zoomed black night heat lamp, a CHE would do the same thing, there are different ways to obtain belly heat. I just prefer a UTH. I also use Ecoearth in my humid hide and my female loves to dig in it (and make a mess!) It seems to hold moisture better than the moss, in my opinion.

 

[cassicat4]

I would agree with the others on using Eco Earth - I used to use moss in my humid enclosure until my female began eating it for no apparent reason (she's never been fed around it, so it wasn't feeding-related). As some will eat it, and it does pose an impaction risk, I don't recommend it.

 

[Reptis]

(Gahh! So many replies. XD Thank you all, though)

@Ozzy
Okay! Eco earth seems pretty popular so I'll mess with it in the future. Nameless doesn't seem to stressed but her light doesn't really change the brightness in my room as I like light. XD She stays in her hides most of the day hours. What type of UTH do you use/recommend?

@Embrace Calamity
Gotcha...I have been keeping an eye on CHE's, which typed do you recommend/use along with UTH's? It was 'normal' sand, but it mught as well have been calcium sand because I spilled most of his calcium powder in there accidentally (Shoot, that's all that it really is XD). I am positive that's (impactation) what it was. Aussie was undoubtedly impacted and soaks and oil didn't help, I watched him to his last breath. (RIP buddy!) He had all the signs of impactation and I observed him eating the sand when he hunted and caught him once or twice just for whatever. He was switched to carpet just before he went. How would you (and the rest of y'all) recommend presenting the Eco-Earth to her? Her main hide is pretty large and awkwardly shaped (Couldn't find the exact model or would've posted a pic) and her secondary is a slightly small half-log and one of those fit-in corner things that I occasionally switch out [with the log]. Point blank she doesn't have a 'set' HH. XD

@Lindz0518
What type of UTH do you use/recommend?

@cassicat4
Good to know. XD when I do get Ecoearth I will be monitoring her for eating the stuff, though she doesn't seem the type. What type of humid hide do you have her in?

 

[Lindz0518]

I use a Reptitherm UTH by Zoomed, I have used others in the past but I like these best, but you do need a dimmer switch or thermostat to control the temps, you want a floor temp of 89-95 on the hot side. I don't use a bulb during the day I just keep my blinds open, if you prefer to keep a bulb on during the day just make sure it is really low watt.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I use a Zoo Med CHE that I quite like. With it, I don't need a UTH, though you could get a low wattage one and use it in conjunction with a small UTH.

As far as the Eco Earth and presenting it to her, just go ahead and toss it in the hides. She'll probably be pleasantly surprised. My girl took to it right away.

~Maggot

 

[Ozy]

I also use a ZooMed Reptitherm UTH. I have a 20 gallon long and the UTH is one for a 30-40 gallon (the dimensions on a regular 20 gallon and a 20 gallon long are different) I use a HydroFarms thermostat set at 93 degrees to control her heat mat temp. I also just leave the blinds open, so she can see the sun and knows what time of day it is, what season and all that. I use slate tiles with hermit crab sand underneath for substrate. The sand is just for eliminating air pockets and helping to conduct and distribute heat evenly.

 

[Reptis]

Ok. ^^ I may do another thread quizzing people on the different types of UTH's they use/recommend. Her hide has a place with a lower ceiling than the other part and I'll throw it there. She really enjoys the carpet, so I may throw the sand down under it to prevent the heat from becoming to painfully centered on a spot. Thanks a lot guys!