Question about ambient vs. ground

[hannahbandana]

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Hello!

I have a few questions about ambient and ground temps and am hoping to find an answer here.

1. Do ambient temps need a gradient or is it ground temps that do? Or both?
2. I have a UTH set to 90 so do I need to worry about a CHE?
3. What is the ideal ambient temp difference between the cool and warm sides if ambient DOES need a gradient? (currently mine are about 6 degrees different for the most part but sometimes less)
4. If I do need a CHE and I do need an ambient gradient should I turn it off at night even though this means there will not be an ambient gradient?



Thanks in advance!

[acpart]

Here is my opinion which contains my answers to your questions:
If you heat the floor of the hot side to the proper temperature (low 90's F) and have a long enough enclosure so that there can be a heat gradient, in my opinion, whatever heat gradient you end up with is adequate (as long as the general ambient temperature is tolerable to humans, i.e. not below the mid 60's).
In my opinion, unless it's really extremely cold, use of a CHE in the usual sized enclosures (20 gallon) dries out the air and overheats it to the point where the gecko could get dehydrated.
I just don't think it's that important to micro manage the gradient and the exact temperature at every point in the enclosure. Just start with the appropriate floor temps on the hot side and let space and air pressure do their things.
I hope that was clear. If not please ask me to clarify.

Aliza

[hannahbandana]

Thanks so much!! That actually gives me so much relief because I have been going crazy trying to get this right. My gecko has actually been back and forth to the vet and one of her issues is that she is dehydrated so what you said about the CHE makes sense! I will definitely give it a try and see how things work out. Thanks again!

[acpart]

Hope things go well. Keep us posted.

Aliza

[hannahbandana]

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So far so good! She had been having issues with bowl movements as well and right after I got rid of the CHE she went to the bathroom. Could also be because of the Bene Bac