Type of UTH

[Ipsl]

I'm getting a bigger UTH this weekend and I was shopping around online, just to figure out which are the best, and I notice there are several types. One that provides moist/humid heat and one that heats the surface of the tank floor. Now my first guess is to go with the "dry heat" versions, however I've noticed that my leo most of the time is in his hide. I did some digging :main_robin: to figure out what's the best type of heat.

I'll paraphrase: Leos live in dry heat and too much humidity causes respiratory problems. So why is it ok for my guy to stay in his moist hide all as much as he does? (maybe 70% max of the day) :main_huh:

Now back to the real point... Any brands people prefer or recommend? Also I read about putting tin foil under the UTH for a couple more degrees of heat. Any other little things that a newb should know? (I know about a rhetrostat and all that no worries) :afro:

 

[moosassah]

Jerome do a "UTH" search on this forum to pull up all the posts on this. I know the beginning of gecko-guardianship is overwhelming. The answers are all here for you. If you're still confused or you narrow down your choices ask again.

I wouldn't put any type of heating pad inside the tank for fear of burning my leos. Under only.

Oops! Type "heater" into the search, UTH brought up nothing.

 

[Double LY]

Now back to the real point... Any brands people prefer or recommend? Also I read about putting tin foil under the UTH for a couple more degrees of heat. Any other little things that a newb should know? (I know about a rhetrostat and all that no worries) :afro:

I have used the Zoo Med Repti-Therm UTH on all of our tanks without any problems. I tried the Exo Terra brand, but it didn't get hot enough and seemed really flimsy compared to the Zoo Med (of course, I could have just purchased a faulty one).

 

[Ipsl]

Jerome do a "UTH" search on this forum to pull up all the posts on this. I know the beginning of gecko-guardianship is overwhelming. The answers are all here for you. If you're still confused or you narrow down your choices ask again.

I wouldn't put any type of heating pad inside the tank for fear of burning my leos. Under only.

Oops! Type "heater" into the search, UTH brought up nothing.

Yeah, I hate it when people get animals and don't have the slightest idea what there doing! So since I basically saved this dude, with no experience in herps at all, I can be a bit full bore. :main_evilgrin:

But I searched all those and alot of reference to the zoo med UTH. So looks like we have a winner.

 

[Stitch]

I'd go with ZooMed UTH with a rheostat and you'll pretty much set.

How many hides do you have on the warm end? You don't need to keep the humid hide moist all of the time.

I use one hide on the warm end. It also doubles as my humid hide. I mist the hide once a week. When I notice the gecko is getting ready to shed I will mist 1-2 times a day until he is done his shed. I know they live in dry areas, but you'd have to imagine that any under ground cave is going to have a higher humidity level then the surface would.

 

[Ipsl]

well thats the thing too. Im going to get the corner hide and it wierd cause he likes the gladwar tupperwear to hide in all day even with the lights on.

 

[moosassah]

So since I basically saved this dude, with no experience in herps at all, I can be a bit full bore. :main_evilgrin:

Totally understood.

On hides: I keep 1 hide on the hot end. I use one of the magnetic rocks with coconut fiber (Eco Earth) stuffed in the top chamber as his humid hide. I soak the coconut fiber really well when i notice he's about to shed (they turn a pale shade of themselves). He's also got a hide on the 2nd level, but the only heat up there comes from the red light. He likes to hang out on level 2 at night.

Good luck on what's surely going to become your newest addiction.

 

[acpart]

I also use the Zoomed. I've gotten other brands of UTH with reptile supply lots and some of them look like a piece of flexwatt wired up to a plug. I know others use flexwatt with no problems, but some of the melting and other things I've read from people on this forum make me want to stay away from it even in a UTH.

Aliza