Under-Tank Heaters

[kiwigecko]

Ok getting a leo soon , hopefully in October but everywhere I go everyone says you must have a UTH, and that heat-lamps do nothing. Now that I'm getting a metal shelf as opposed to having a wooden one, I might actually pick up a UTH to try out.

(In my mind I just lumped them into the same category as heat rocks, because they really only heat up the surface.)


What are the benefits of having an under tank heater? What other equipment do I need to buy in order to run one safely? And how many of you have one? :main_huh:

 

[Ehatcher]

id say a majority of the people on this forum use an under tank heater of some sort, whether it be heat tape, heat cable, or a UTH that was bought at a pet supply store.

 

[Crasher_Insane]

Leos need belly heat to digest their food. I have used a heat lamp in conjunction with an UTH but only because it was winter and I live in the basement so I had to in order to keep the temps up. But I monitored it carefully and shut it off at night. And with a metal shelf you should get a rheostat so you can regulate the UTH so it doesn't create a super hot spot.

 

[larry26]

I use one for my leo. You would also need a digital thermometer and some sort of thermostat or rheostat to keep the temps under control. All of those things could be bought at www.reptilesupply.com for reasonable prices. A benefit would be that in not only is needed for a leo to digest food properly but they are alot lower watts than heat lamps so you will save some electricty. I remember when i switched from heat lamps to uth my elcetic bill went down a little.

 

[GeckoJeff]

We use a red bulb over some rocks and his warm hide. Heats them up nicely for him to lay on. He eats and poops fine and is in great health.

We did try a heat mat set up for a while. That heated up the substrate over the mat, but left the rest of the viv too cold. He spent most of the time then huddled in his warm hide.

 

[Chewbecca]

Leos need belly heat to digest their food. I have used a heat lamp in conjunction with an UTH but only because it was winter and I live in the basement so I had to in order to keep the temps up. But I monitored it carefully and shut it off at night. And with a metal shelf you should get a rheostat so you can regulate the UTH so it doesn't create a super hot spot.

Yes, they need belly heat to digest their food, and I hear this line of reasoning for a UTH all the time, but it never fails not to make sense to me.

If you are using a lamp with a ceramic heat emitter in it, and the wattage is correct for the size enclosure you have, then there is enough heat for them.

I had a 20 gallon with 3 females in it, and they had a big rock cave in it. That lamp beamed right down on the top of that cave and on their floor of their enclosure. They NEVER had issues with digestion.
Never ever.

 

[kiwigecko]

Yes, they need belly heat to digest their food, and I hear this line of reasoning for a UTH all the time, but it never fails not to make sense to me.

If you are using a lamp with a ceramic heat emitter in it, and the wattage is correct for the size enclosure you have, then there is enough heat for them.

I had a 20 gallon with 3 females in it, and they had a big rock cave in it. That lamp beamed right down on the top of that cave and on their floor of their enclosure. They NEVER had issues with digestion.
Never ever.

This is basically what I think, and also, what makes a UTH different from a heat rock? This I keep wondering...

 

[rince]

I actually use both. The UTH alone is not enough to heat the ambient air temperature in my enclosure. I have my UTH connected to a herpstat nd and the lights are on a timer.
I have an Exo Terra with two light fixtures. On of them is equipped with 4 blue nightlights for heat and the other has visible light in it. The night light and the uth keep the enclosure comfy during the night. Temps are really stable and thx to the herpstat I have a night drop of about 15F

 

[Rythm]

Yes, they need belly heat to digest their food, and I hear this line of reasoning for a UTH all the time, but it never fails not to make sense to me.

If you are using a lamp with a ceramic heat emitter in it, and the wattage is correct for the size enclosure you have, then there is enough heat for them.

I had a 20 gallon with 3 females in it, and they had a big rock cave in it. That lamp beamed right down on the top of that cave and on their floor of their enclosure. They NEVER had issues with digestion.
Never ever.

With only using the lamp, do you turn it off at night or leave it on all the time?

I normally use a UTH with no problems and in the winter I use a heat light to keep the air temps up, but I just got a new gecko and he needs to be in quarantine for a little while. I'm really hoping to not have to buy another UTH as he will only be in this tank for a little while before moving in with my other gecko.
I have a timer that I use in the winter, but can I turn the lamp off at night?

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Belly heat is more natural for leopard geckos, because in the wild they rely on the heat from the sun that is absorbed in the rocks they live in when they come out to feed in the early evening and night. Belly heat helps their digestion, immune system, and metabolism.

 

[LadyxMJ]

I actually don't use one because I use a heat lamp 24/7(in one spot, so they can go to the other hide so they can regulate).... I change the bulb in the morning so its natural sunlight...than at night I switch it to the red lightt(cuz they can't c the red light) 60 watts for both. =)

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Yes, but what are your floor temperatures on the warm side of your enclosure, Marie? Using heat lamps heats up the ambient air temperature in the tank, which is really not necessary for the gecko and wastes heat. It;s the floor (belly) temperature that is important.

 

[LadyxMJ]

Yes, but what are your floor temperatures on the warm side of your enclosure, Marie? Using heat lamps heats up the ambient air temperature in the tank, which is really not necessary for the gecko and wastes heat. It;s the floor (belly) temperature that is important.

I forgot to add that it was only for summer xD... I keep my therm. Near the ground ..its 85-90 for him....but he seems to really go to his cool side hide on summer days ...
Thanks =) Good looks Marcia :main_thumbsup:

 

[Srt14292]

This is basically what I think, and also, what makes a UTH different from a heat rock? This I keep wondering...

I have found that many people have had heat rocks malfunction and it has burnt their reptiles, that is why i do not prefer to refer them to people.
Heatmats on the other hand is all i have used and have never had a problem so i cannot say that bulbs arent good, however i would see that the uth would be the most direct route to helping them digest their food as they can lay down right on top of it.

 

[Ryun]

i have a small heat pad that heats up the geckos medium sized cave and they usually like the cool side anyways also i have an infared bulb in a clamp lamp but if i get these 2 R.E.S for $10 all together from a friend im taking the lamp off the leos because htye have been fine without it for 1 month

 

[Saphira]

I use one for my leo. You would also need a digital thermometer and some sort of thermostat or rheostat to keep the temps under control. All of those things could be bought at www.reptilesupply.com for reasonable prices. A benefit would be that in not only is needed for a leo to digest food properly but they are alot lower watts than heat lamps so you will save some electricty. I remember when i switched from heat lamps to uth my elcetic bill went down a little.

Thank you for that link!



We have UTH on all 3 cages and heat lamps if we need them.

 

[Molicka Molko]

I Dont Use UTH Or Any Heat Source..
Instead Im Using Tiles On My Leos Housing,For Them To Have A Cool Side..
Sound Weird Huh..

Im From SOuth East Asia..
No Winter,Just Sunny Day Or Rainy Day..
Temperature Very Hot Through Out The Year Even Rainy Day..
Average Day 32-38 Degree Calcius - Night 25-29 Degree Calcius..

I Did BOught A UTH..
Try Using It..
My Leos Nvr Gone In The Hide With A UTH Below..
Try Puting More Spacer In Between The Tank & UTH..
Still No Go..
They Go As Far Away From It..To The Side With No UTH..
But They Eat Well..
Through Out The Year..
& Poop Everyday..
Without Goin In The Hot Side..
So I Knew Its Too Hot..

So I Think This Question Depands Where U R From..

Thanx..

 

[artgecko]

What brands/sizes have you found work best for different sized tanks?

I bought a Exo-Terra Desert Medium and put it on a 20 gal long but the temp is too high, so had to install a dimmer to keep temp below 95. I have tiles as substrate in this tank.

I found a Exo-Terra Desert Small works ok on a 10 gal tank (but I wish I could raise the temp a few degrees.)

I also tried a ZooMed Repti-Therm UTH small (1-5 gal tank size) on a 10 gal tank with tile and it works pretty good.

 

[Latlaw]

I currently have Zoomed sized for 10-20 gal for my two 20 gal longs. I think they don't cover enough area so I'm going to remove and replace with the next size up since 20 long is more like a 30 gal anyway.

 

[Saphira]

What brands/sizes have you found work best for different sized tanks?

I bought a Exo-Terra Desert Medium and put it on a 20 gal long but the temp is too high, so had to install a dimmer to keep temp below 95. I have tiles as substrate in this tank.

I found a Exo-Terra Desert Small works ok on a 10 gal tank (but I wish I could raise the temp a few degrees.)

I also tried a ZooMed Repti-Therm UTH small (1-5 gal tank size) on a 10 gal tank with tile and it works pretty good.

Which dimmer did you buy????