9darlingcalvi
New member
Okay, so if I changed my substrate from 60% clay- 40%sand to 60%sand-40% clay would that help with heating? I am getting leopard geckos one way or another
Leopard gecko vs African fat tail gecko
- Thread starter 9darlingcalvi
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Zux
New member
That will help for sure yes, I have used that mix myself but you will still need to ensure the layer over the heat mat isn't very thick, I kept it about 1 cm and then all the other areas were built up at varying degrees of elevation.
9darlingcalvi
New member
I will do that, and still a heat mat? Also I can dim the T8 light too
Zux
New member
If you prefer to have a heat mat rather than a lamp on a dimmer stat, then yes keep it thin.
9darlingcalvi
New member
What heat lamp would work?
Zux
New member
A halogen lamp housed in a ceramic deep dome fixture will work well, you will need a more advanced thermostat capable of dimming the light in order to control the heat output to go this route however, which will be a bit more expensive.
If you do want to go this way I can suggest specific brands and models.
By placing a piece of natural slate beneath the lamp you provide light and heat in a very natural way, but there is no cutting corners with this option and it must be set up correctly and safely for you and the Gecko.
9darlingcalvi
New member
I want to go the lamp way, what brand and wattage do you recommend. I'm preserving supplies from lllreptile if that helps.
Zux
New member
The brand of Halogen wont matter too much, if I was in the US I would purchase from Arcadia UV Lighting | Solarmeters | Light Fixtures | Jungle Dawn LED | being as Tom is the US distributor for the premier reptile lighting specialist brand, Arcadia, which I use exclusively.
What will matter however is the wattage, you will first need to determine the distance from the bulb to the slate and then make a guess at wattage, buy cheap halogens at home depot or somewhere similar at first and test out a few to see what works.
Most critical of all will be your thermostat, I use https://www.amazon.co.uk/Habistat-Dimming-Thermostat-600W-White/dp/B002SQM4OO and I am not sure what brands having dimming models in the US, perhaps another member here can help with that.
What will matter however is the wattage, you will first need to determine the distance from the bulb to the slate and then make a guess at wattage, buy cheap halogens at home depot or somewhere similar at first and test out a few to see what works.
Most critical of all will be your thermostat, I use https://www.amazon.co.uk/Habistat-Dimming-Thermostat-600W-White/dp/B002SQM4OO and I am not sure what brands having dimming models in the US, perhaps another member here can help with that.
9darlingcalvi
New member
75 watt or 100 watt halogen? The distance would be about 19-20" from ground to light
9darlingcalvi
New member
Okay, so then the slate will be the dry hide and the repti shelter is the humid. I still want a second level just with cool hides and I'll have more warm hides/burrows.
Zux
New member
There should be an area of slate flat on the ground to absorb the heat and provide heat from below hours after the light goes off at night, just as would happen in the wild.
You can also use more slate to create areas of varied elevation and hides allowing further opportunities for the Gecko to thermoregulate, some warmer, some cooler etc.
Finally, depending on the ambient temperatures in your house you may need to purchase a second dome and a ceramic heat emitter for the winter months, this will also need to be thermostatically controlled but the cheaper jump-start model will work fine for that.
You can also use more slate to create areas of varied elevation and hides allowing further opportunities for the Gecko to thermoregulate, some warmer, some cooler etc.
Finally, depending on the ambient temperatures in your house you may need to purchase a second dome and a ceramic heat emitter for the winter months, this will also need to be thermostatically controlled but the cheaper jump-start model will work fine for that.
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9darlingcalvi
New member
Okay, what wattage for the ceramic emitter? My room gets heated in the winter too.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Click: Habistat Pulse Proportional Stat 600W White | eBay
If we bought it off E-Bay a Habistat Pulse Proportional Thermostat 600W White will cost about $85 USDs ?
I have not found the Habistat-Dimming-Thermostat-Reptile-Dimmer-Stat for sale in the USA.
I've been reading your posts about slate underneath a halogen bulb for warmth. What I'm missing is any mention of a private, secure, warm dry hide. How warm do you keep your moist hide?
9darlingcalvi maybe now already has a small 6 inch x 8 inch Zoo Med Heat Mat for her 24 x 15 x 21 inch enclosure.
If we bought it off E-Bay a Habistat Pulse Proportional Thermostat 600W White will cost about $85 USDs ?
I have not found the Habistat-Dimming-Thermostat-Reptile-Dimmer-Stat for sale in the USA.
I've been reading your posts about slate underneath a halogen bulb for warmth. What I'm missing is any mention of a private, secure, warm dry hide. How warm do you keep your moist hide?
9darlingcalvi maybe now already has a small 6 inch x 8 inch Zoo Med Heat Mat for her 24 x 15 x 21 inch enclosure.
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Zux
New member
I suppose that it would cost you that much if you bought it, yes, that unit being pulse proportional will not work for a light emitting bulb due to the nature of its operation which would result in constant flashing and thus a deeply uncomfortable experience for both owner and reptile, not to mention bulbs not lasting more than a day. I am not familiar enough with US products to know which manufacturers produce dimming thermostat units, but surely they must exist as they are the only suitable means of controlling any kind of heat lamps.
Habistat is merely the brand I am familiar with and use myself here in UK, I do not believe they are widely available in the US.
You haven't seen me mention a private, secure, warm dry hide, or any other sort of hide for that matter because the OP hasn't asked anything about hide's, I was answering questions surrounding heat provision.
I'm afraid I dont know whether or not she has bought a heat mat yet, I am simply answering her questions about how to go about the things she asks about, perhaps she could confirm this for you?
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Yes.
I'm attempting to cover the bases so it's "all out there" and she and a leo will be happy in the end.
She has mentioned ordering a small Zoo Med heat mat.
:scratchhead: I don't know whether that's the heat mat she intends to use.
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Zux
New member
Yes.
I'm attempting to cover the bases so it's "all out there" and she and a leo will be happy in the end.
She has mentioned ordering a small Zoo Med heat mat.
:scratchhead: I don't know whether that's the heat mat she intends to use.
I understand totally, I did actually mention (now Ive read back) that she can incorporate yet more slate in her design and use them to create hides.
I think what has happened is she has decided to go for a deeper substrate, dropped the heat mat idea and moved toward a lamp / slate set-up.
Without a dimming stat, however that wont work as well as I'd recommend honestly. The beauty of the dimming stat is that with a bulb of appropriate wattage for the task at hand (basking temp needed) it will merely dim the bulbs brightness if the temps exceed that as a means of control, obviously an on/off stat will mean the bulb is constantly coming on and off shortening its life and disrupting photo-periods (although the latter should be alleviated if visible light is coming from the fluorescent fixture anyway)