Advice about new UTH

Captain Stitch-Mozart

Captain Stitch-Mozart

New member
So I recently got an undertank heater (about a month ago) for my leo. He used to have just a heat lamp which kept his tank around 85 degrees. I know that a heat lamp is not a proper way to heat a leo's enclosure and that 85 isn't really warm enough either. I didn't know that before though. Anyway, his tank is now kept at 95 with the UTH. But I notice he now is almost always on his hammock, I very rarely see him on the floor unless he is hunting.
I am wondering if maybe it is too hot for him because he was used to it being cooler and heat coming from a different place. Is it too hot for him or too drastic of a change?
Although I think another possibility is that he just really likes his hammock (which is also new).

Does anyone have any thoughts?
 
Riverside Reptiles

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
You need to make sure that you're providing a proper temperature gradient. The heat mat should only cover a portion of the bottom of the tank. You should have a warm side and a cooler side so that he can heat or cool himself as needed.
 
Captain Stitch-Mozart

Captain Stitch-Mozart

New member
I do. The uth is on one side of the tank. He has 3 hides, a cool hide, a warm hide, and a humid hide. I see him in his humid hide and his cool hide, but what I am wondering is if the difference in temperature on the warm side (where the uth is) is too warm for him because he was used to it being cooler.
I also have a digital thermometer that lays on the floor and reads between 95- 97 degrees on the warm side. When I use it to check the cool side it reads 80- 85.
 
Riverside Reptiles

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
Well, assuming that you have his UTH on a thermostat or rheostat (as you should), I would try lowering the temp a few degrees and see if that seems to make a difference to him.
 
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