UTH replacement question...

[GeckoFanboy]

Hoping Elizabeth sees this...

Hey all,
I have a 20 gallon long tank for my leo, Scooby-Doo. Over the last couple weeks, I have noticed he's been spending more time over in his cool hide (right side of tank). I'm not sure why he's doing this, as for years he has always spent the majority of his time in the moist/warm hide (center/left side of tank). Here's what his tank looks like. The pic is old, but the hides are the same and in the same places.



My "large" ZooMed UTH has always been situated under the two left hides you see above. And, every single night I go into his tank, pull the lid off his moist hide and mist his paper towels inside. The moist hide is made by Zilla. I have always liked this hide because it has a top and a bottom, it's very easy to clean, and holds the moisture well til the next evening. The only issue with it is the bottom of this hide is thick, so when I set my UTH thermostat to 92°, my ceramic tile might heat up to that, but when I pull the lid off the moist hide and check the temp of the moist paper towels, it's usually around 87°. The moist Zilla hide looks like this:



Anyway, for years, Scooby never had issues with his moist hide, but for whatever reason, now he seems to vacate it often during the day and sleeps in his cool hide for some reason. So, I did some checking around his tank, and it seems that the UTH isn't distributing the temp evenly anymore. Lastnight, I went under his tank to check the UTH and it's coming unstuck, and it's all warped and wavy. I went to PetSmart today and bought him a new one. I have not put it on the tank yet and am wondering if there is any sage advice out there to make sure this new UTH sticks properly. Oddly enough, with this old UTH, there were spots on the ceramic tile that registered 97° under his moist hide, but that was not the same temp inside of the hide...it's only 87°, so I'm wondering why he's abandoning that hide in favor of the moist.

Anyway, it's all very baffling, but I got a new UTH and would appreciate any advice.
Thanks!

 

[acpart]

I would imagine it would be fine if you install it. I prefer to use heat cable because it can be configured how I want it and uninstalled without ruining it (Made by Zoomed, best price on Ebay). These things are pretty cheap so it's not surprising that the heat distribution isn't totally even. Some of my leopard geckos prefer to move to the cool side when the weather gets cold and brumate. It's not the same geckos every year.

Aliza

 

[GeckoFanboy]

Some of my leopard geckos prefer to move to the cool side when the weather gets cold and brumate.

Okay, so that's what I'm having trouble understanding. I would think if the weather was getting cooler (winter rolling in) that they would abandon the cool hide and spend all their time in the warm moist or warm dry hides. What gives? Do tell....

Thanks for the advice, Aliza!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

So you bought a new 11 x 17 UTH earlier today. About how long has Scooby had his current UTH? Maybe his current UTH wore out?
After you install the new UTH, Scooby-Doo's life should be back to 'normal'.
Please let us know how Scooby reacts.

 

[GeckoFanboy]

So you bought a new 11 x 17 UTH earlier today. About how long has Scooby had his current UTH? Maybe his current UTH wore out?
After you install the new UTH, Scooby-Doo's life should be back to 'normal'.
Please let us know how Scooby reacts.

Yes, I have the new UTH and will be installing it tomorrow, cause I really want to do a thorough tank cleaning as well. The old UTH was probably 2-3 years old. Believe it or not, I only do thorough tank cleanings 4 times a year. Why? His tank is always spotless. The only thing that really gets dirty is the paper towel layer I have under the ceramic tiles. I keep one layer of paper towels under the tiles to keep them from breaking the glass, and also because occasionally he walks through his water dishes (I use two in his tank and change the water every day) and the water goes between the cracks of the big tiles, and goes under them. Eventually, those paper towels get kinda dingy. But the tank never smells at all, unless Scooby emits his occasional mysterious odor, which is somewhat rare. I'm still baffled nobody else reports their gecko emitting an odor on occasion. He only does it when he's stressed by me invading his bedroom and making too much commotion rummaging through stuff in there (storage room/bedroom). It's a really HORRIBLE smell, but it clears quickly. It's weird, because I've picked him up and sniffed him when this goes down and can't seem to locate it on his body. I've always wondered if he can fart or burp, LOL. Whatever it is, it goes into the air and sticks to nothing in his tank.

 

[GeckoFanboy]

I thoroughly cleaned Scooby's tank tonight. Pulled every item out of it and ran it under scalding hot water. Then used Zoo Med Wipe Out to clean all the glass on the bottom and sides of the tank. BTW, the old UTH pad was completely falling off. Only a small patch of it was stuck to the glass even though I tried rubbing it all back on the other day. I guess the adhesive wore out, even though it still felt sticky to touch. I installed the new UTH on the outside bottom. I really wanted to add some tape to it's 4 corners, just so it would never warp off of the glass, but the pad will not accept the tape at all...comes right off it. So, I just have to rely on the sticky surface of the pad. It's now been 3 hours since I finished it all up and put Scooby back into his tank. The pad is working great and heating the entire area of the floor that it's situated under, and it's set to 91°. Would you believe Scooby is still favoring the cool hide? I just checked on him and he's peaking his head out of it. He christened the newly cleaned tank with a big healthy poo, but I have no idea why he's preferring the cool hide still. Any ideas?

I should mention I do have the ceramic heat lamp coming on between 6pm and 6am. It sits in the front of the tank, towards the cool side, but it's warm, not hot. Many nights I find him laying on the floor sleeping under it. Some nights while waking up to use the bathroom, I'll check on him to make sure he's not too warm, and there he is sound asleep under the ceramic heat lamp, all sprawled out, looking very comfy. I'm wondering if I should just completey turn it off, and see if he goes back to the warm moist hide? His bedroom is right next to mine, and his door is always wide open, and his tank is right next to the door, so he does get heat in that room from the baseboard heater right outside the door of his room. The room is never really cold, but that depends on temp dips during the winter. It never gets cold cold, but it can get cooler than I'd like....hence the lamp. We don't turn the heat on in that room, because it's a storage room/bedroom, and there's so much stuff in there that we can't turn on the baseboard heaters because they are too close to boxes and stuff that the heat could harm. And no, we can't move any of it. It's very packed in there.

QUESTION: What should be the ambient temp on the cool side of his tank? What am I aiming for? I have a thermometer on the wall on that side of the tank. Let me know. Thanks!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Ha ha ha on his christening! I really don't know. Perhaps Scooby will adjust to the new UTH over time. Maybe he's making sure he likes the new UTH!!! Maybe Scooby's relocation is seasonal? Maybe in a few days Scooby will change his mind?
IF Scooby approves & continues to be healthy & all, I don't think you should worry.

You have Scooby's comfort covered from ALL angles.
Before my 19 yo leo passed away in July 2024, 70ish was her cool end floor temp 24/7.
I don't recall anybody ever commenting on such a mysterious fart-like smell from their leopard gecko.

I have some almost inch-wide nylon reinforced Scotch-brand tape I wonder whether that tape would reinforce Scooby's UTH's adhesive?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Are you using a digital thermometer, NOT an analog thermometer? You've mentioned a point & shoot thermometer.

 

[GeckoFanboy]

Are you using a digital thermometer, NOT an analog thermometer?

I am using both. A point-and-click for checking the floor temps, and a ZooMed thermometer (with clock hands) on the right wall, on the cool side, for ambient temps on that side, since I'm more worried about that side getting cool during winter.

Before my 19 yo leo passed away in July 2024, 70ish was her cool end floor temp 24/7.

WOW!!!! 19 years old? That's amazing. My last gecko died at 16, but he was a rescue and had MBD and was deformed when I got him.
So you gave me floor temps of the cool end of the tank, but what about ambient?

I have some almost inch-wide nylon reinforced tape that has Scotch on the cardboard this tape is rolled upon. I wonder whether that tape would reinforce the UTH's adhesive?

I don't know. I tried really super sticky packing tape. Maybe they don't want us putting tape on these pads????

So getting back to my gecko that died at 16 years old...8 years ago. His death was very unexpected. He died right smack in the middle of his shed. I saw he was having some issues, but had no idea why. Husbandry was fine. He just pooped out right in the middle of shedding sitting out in the open of the tank. It was so sad. I cried horribly. I felt so helpless. What I could not understand was why he still felt limp when I picked him up? His eyes were all sunken in and dried up (that happened really fast), and no breathing, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out why his body didn't harden up like a dead animal? Rigor mortis never set in, but I'm not sure what happens with cold blooded lizards when they die. How do we know for sure a gecko is dead? I have read that their deaths can be really long and slow. That's terrible for us owners.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I highly recommend digital thermometers. I have NO faith in analog thermometers.

 

[GeckoFanboy]

I highly recommend digital thermometers. I have NO faith in analog thermometers.

Understood. The velcro stick thermometer, with hands, is just for "ambient" temps on the cool side. I use it to make sure my ceramic heater bulb isn't making the cool side air too warm during winter. Can't use a point-and-click thermometer for the air, LOL.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Understood. The velcro stick thermometer, with hands, is just for "ambient" temps on the cool side. I use it to make sure my ceramic heater bulb isn't making the cool side air too warm during winter. Can't use a point-and-click thermometer for the air, LOL.

Please show me an image of your velcro-stick on thermometer.
I can't find it. :'(

Here's a relatively recent product I bought in 2024 when my leo Cha was sick.
Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer Humidity Gauge, Item# TH-31
This gauge has independent remote sensors/probes, one probe for heat & the second probe for humidity.
It costs about $14.

 

[GeckoFanboy]

This is what I have on the cool side wall...I bought it 8 years ago, when setting up the tank for Scooby.

 

[GeckoFanboy]

Here's a relatively recent product I bought in 2024 when my leo Cha was sick.
Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer Humidity Gauge
This gauge has independent remote sensors/probes, one probe for heat & the second probe for humidity.

I just looked this up on Amazon.
Sensors? Probes? I'm confused.
Money is not a problem.
Let me know why this is better.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Here's the exact name:
Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer Humidity Gauge, Item# TH-31

I don't see this item on Amazon at all.
Can you order it directly from Zoo Med Laboratories, INC.?
Phone: 805-542-9988
Email: zoomed@zoomed.com

 

[GeckoFanboy]

Thank you. I'll look for it online somewhere.
I was at PetSmart today and all they had was the one I currently own.

Did you see the question I asked at the bottom of the PM I had sent?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thank you. I'll look for it online somewhere.
I was at PetSmart today and all they had was the one I currently own.

Did you see the question I asked at the bottom of the PM I had sent?

Is there some reason why you don't wish to order Item# TH-31 directly from Zoo Med?
I'm sure that's what I did.

I looked for your question at the bottom of your PM. I did not see that question anywhere.
Please repeat that question here.

I think digital technology beats analog technology.

Is this your question, GeckoFanboy ???
QUESTION: What should be the ambient temp on the cool side of his tank? What am I aiming for? I have a thermometer on the wall on that side of the tank. Let me know. Thanks!

 

[GeckoFanboy]

Is there some reason why you don't wish to order Item# TH-31 directly from Zoo Med?

I have an Amazon gift card I was hoping to use, LOL.

Is this your question, GeckoFanboy ???
QUESTION: What should be the ambient temp on the cool side of his tank? What am I aiming for? I have a thermometer on the wall on that side of the tank. Let me know. Thanks!

Yes. And...

the other question was at the bottom of post #9 above (I thought it was in my PM to you....my bad).
Let me know...

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I have an Amazon gift card I was hoping to use, LOL.

Yes. And...

the other question was at the bottom of post #9 above (I thought it was in my PM to you....my bad).On
Let me know...

The messages on my laptop don't seem to be numbered.
Kindly repeat your other question, too.

 

[GeckoFanboy]

QUESTION 1: What should be the "ambient" temp on the cool side of his tank? What am I aiming for? I have a thermometer on the wall on that side of the tank. Let me know. Thanks!

QUESTION 2: So getting back to my gecko that died at 16 years old...8 years ago. His death was very unexpected. He died right smack in the middle of his shed. I saw he was having some issues, but had no idea why. Husbandry was fine. He just pooped out right in the middle of shedding sitting out in the open of the tank. It was so sad. I cried horribly. I felt so helpless. What I could not understand was why he still felt limp when I picked him up? His eyes were all sunken in and dried up (that happened really fast), and no breathing, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out why his body didn't harden up like a dead animal? Rigor mortis never set in, but I'm not sure what happens with cold blooded lizards when they die. How do we know for sure a gecko is dead? I have read that their deaths can be really long and slow. That's terrible for us owners.