Two tanks, but only one heat lamp. Suggestions?

[Ekko]

(Geez, I hope I'm posting this in the right place. My apologies - I'm a newbie here )


Recently I decided to separate my two leopard geckos (both are about 4-6 months old, I think) because one was noticeably skinnier than the other. Luckily, I had a spare 10-gallon tank and some extra supplies. Unfortunately, I only have one heat lamp for the two of them and its not enough to heat both tanks. At the moment I can't really afford to go out and buy another dome and bulb, atleast not until I determine how long they'll have to be separated/whether or not I'll be able to house them together again. Do you more experienced leo momma's and daddy's have any suggestions on how to keep both them warm?

The light itself is a nocturnal heat bulb (I think the product name is "Zoo Med Nocturnal Infrared Heat Lamp") which I keep on 24/7 (I had a question about whether that was okay...to keep a nocturnal bulb on 24/7? The info for the bulb on the website says its fine, but I realize that just because they say that doesn't necessarily mean it's true :worried

Thankyou

 

[LeopardGeckoMom]

I would get UTH's for both of them whenever you can

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dinosaur!]

I would get UTH's for both of them whenever you can

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2

i agree with this ^

Heat lamps really dont help your leopard geckos out in any way, and should not be used unless the ambient (air) temperature drops below 60 degrees farenheit. A UTH (under tank heater) is what a leopard gecko really needs. Leopard geckos need a heat spot on the floor that is around 85-94 degrees. They HAVE to have belly heat or they cannot digest their food properly, and may not eat because they know they cant digest it (this may be why your guy became thin). So i really hope that you can switch to heat mats soon, and that your geckos health improves Welcome to the forum btw!

and can i ask exactly how you are housing them? hides, how many, where? what is the substrate?

 

[Dinosaur!]

oh but to keep them warm for the moment you could just give them each a turn with the lamp every few hours, or put a human heating pad under both tanks on low or medium.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

They can survive at room temperature (70-80 degrees) but it is not idea and they certainly cannot digest food at those temperature. If you can't keep the floor of their tank at 90 degrees 24 hours a day I would recommend not feeding them until you get proper equipment. being warmed up and cooled off every few hours (in my opinion) would do more harm than good. If you can't get the equipment within a week I would rehome them with someone who can.

 

[Ekko]

i agree with this ^

Heat lamps really dont help your leopard geckos out in any way, and should not be used unless the ambient (air) temperature drops below 60 degrees farenheit. A UTH (under tank heater) is what a leopard gecko really needs. Leopard geckos need a heat spot on the floor that is around 85-94 degrees. They HAVE to have belly heat or they cannot digest their food properly, and may not eat because they know they cant digest it (this may be why your guy became thin). So i really hope that you can switch to heat mats soon, and that your geckos health improves Welcome to the forum btw!

and can i ask exactly how you are housing them? hides, how many, where? what is the substrate?

Hi, thank-you for replying!

I'm definitely going to search for an under-tank heater!!!! I do have a human heating pad, but I already have so many things plugged in (for my other reptiles) that it may not be wise for me to add another...I do have a question, though - I've read that some people cover the mesh lids of their tanks with foil to help retain heat...would that actually work? Right now, their substrate is sand (which is horrible, horrible, horrible...but it's so cold where I live that I worry that switching to paper towels would make their tanks even colder...what's your opinion?). They each have one dry hide and one humid hide, which are placed closely but not right next to eachother. I also have a warm humidifier running infront of the table that the tanks are on. (The tanks are both 10-gallon tanks with mesh lids)

 

[Dinosaur!]

i have never heard of the foil idea, so i have no input on that... but a good, heat retaining, and heat conducting substrate (100% impaction free!) is slate tile. you just fill in the cracks between the tiles with sand or rolled up paper towels, and then wipe the tile clean when needed It is much safer, stinks less, (and if you do it right) it looks better then sand. plus your gecko wont be sinking everywhere when he walks

im glad you took the advice on the UTH! if you have a big box petstore that ends in "smart" or "co" near you, they usually sell the heat pads in the reptile isle

 

[Ekko]

Thank-you so much for your help, I really appreciate it

I'm going to go price-check the heaters at those stores tomorrow, and I'm also looking on eBay and craigslist. Hopefully I can get one (or two, depending on the size of the pads) within the next week. As of right now, I've wrapped the lids of their tanks in tinfoil (leaving an un-covered part so that the heat from the lamp can shine in). It's only a temporary solution, but I think it will definitely help for the moment. Though once I do get heating pads, I am going to change their substrate to paper towels - I'll check out slate tiles too, though. Even if I don't cover the entire floor of the tanks with it I can atleast make a nice, warm little spot that they can chill on (sort of like the Lion King, it can be their version of Pride Rock :laugh.

Again, thanks so much! I feel alot less overwhelmed now (I was drowning in articles and ads and forums and websites...).

 

[Dinosaur!]

i glad i could help you out! we are all open to any other questions you have! i know the research can be overwhelming at times, but it gets better when you are in the hobby longer, and you have people who will help you out

I like the lion king thing! thats something ive never heard the tile compared to!

 

[Ekko]

i glad i could help you out! we are all open to any other questions you have! i know the research can be overwhelming at times, but it gets better when you are in the hobby longer, and you have people who will help you out

I like the lion king thing! thats something ive never heard the tile compared to!

I hate to bother you again :embarassed: ...but what brand UTH do you recommend/have?

 

[LeopardGeckoMom]

I have Zoo Med

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dinosaur!]

i used to use the zoo-med, so i will reccomend that

i have rack system with heat tape now, but heat tape is a bit impractical for a tank

and dont worry about bothering me, i love helping out geckos and their owners, and a ton of other people here do too!