Will it hurt?

[bubblez825]

Will it hurt my gecko to not have a UTH on for3 1/2 days? I have recently been having some problems with my thermostat because of her kicking the probe across the tank and the UTH overheating. I have taped the probe and digital thermometer probe to the bottom of the tank, on top of the UTH, but I don't want to take a chance something happens and she gets hurt. For example: She had kicked the probe across the tank last night and when I woke up this morning, the UTH was 102.8* and she was in her humid hide on the cool side of her tank thank god! So, any opinions about if she will be ok with just a heat lamp for 3 1/2 days?
Thankyou!
Emily

P.S. I just currently use a UTH. But I also have a working heatlamp that isn't on the tank.

 

[brad.a.c]

Put a rheostat on the UTH so you can control the heat and then it will be fine.:main_yes:

 

[bubblez825]

I have a thermostat, but she keeps kicking the probe. What I want to know is if I can leave her with a heat lamp only for 3 1/2 days. Would this be ok for a short period of time?

 

[brad.a.c]

You can leave a heat lamp on their her entire life and it will be fine. Thats what I use and as long as the temps stay ok then thats perfectly fine.

 

[Green_Snake]

I would think that is OK. Some people don't have a UTH, so I'm assuming it won't impact her that much for a short period.

 

[NickOC]

I have a thermostat, but she keeps kicking the probe. What I want to know is if I can leave her with a heat lamp only for 3 1/2 days. Would this be ok for a short period of time?

How big is the tank and heat lamp? I know a 50watt heat lamp can fry things in a 10 gallon. I think it would be better off roughing it with no heat than risking cooking your leo. I use gorilla glue to mount probes permenantly. I put my probes on the side of the enclosure, measuring the ambient heat. That way there is a hot spot in the mid 90's were my heat cable or UTH is. I will use a temp gun to spot check heated areas.

 

[brad.a.c]

Yeh, I did forget to ask what size enclosure you have him in. I have mine in a 20 gallon and I just have a 50W day bulb on there and it stays about 85-88F. Of course I'm in the south so it's pretty hot here anyway, but still, take into consideration Nick's point.

 

[brad.a.c]

It stays that temp in the warm end, not the entire cage btw. It stays about 80F in the cool end.

 

[bubblez825]

She is in a 20 gallon long and I don't want to risk anything happening. It doesn't get over the right temp for a leo, trust me. I know. I have used it before, but stopped using it when I was told to get a UTH. Thankyou for your replies .

 

[marineman26]

Yes I agree with brad. I have a heat lamp on my oldest gecko and it seems to be doing fine. I just picked up a uth for my other leo and it does well also. I would say out of the two I would go with the uth because it provides better belly heat. However I like the infrared heat lamp on so I can see my leos at night.........Shaun

 

[rhino43grr]

unless you tie her down on top of the uth i very much doubt it would hurt her to leave it on even without the thermostat. leopard geckos thermoregulate themselves, if it's too hot they'll move somewhere cooler.
usually thermostats come with suction cups to keep the probe in place - at least mine did - and if not you should be able to tape the cord to the glass to at least limit the distance she could move the probe.