Crested Gecko Heating?

[AlphaGeckos]

I don't have my crested gecko yet, but i have been trying to get the temperature right before i get it, i have an Exo Terra 18 x 18 x 24 Terrarium with a 60 watt red bulb, i live in Canada, so, it's cold. the 60 watt red bulb only gets it to 70 in the tank, which is weird because it's 72 in my room right now. i was wondering if a 75 watt heat bulb on top would do any good, but there is also the possibility that it will make the Screen top really hot, do crested geckos spend any time on the 'Ceiling'? i've heard that if they have enough things to climb on, they won't go on the top, so if i have enough fake plants, it won't climb on the top, it's kind of a bit of a fire hazard too, unless i get a clamp-lamp.

Another option in an Exo Terra Rainforest Heat mat, if i put it on the side of the tank would it not just barely warm up the glass? the rainforest ones don't produce much heat so it might be good, if the glass gets too hot i can plane a piece of reptile carpet over the glass maybe, another climbing place for the gecko

anyways, thanks for any help..
AG

 

[Hannibal]

You really don't need to worry about a heat source at your current temps. In the winter time we usually cool all of them (babies-adults) down prior to breeding season in the spring. Cooling temps range between 64-70 degrees.

If you do provide a heat source, if you have enough climbing space they usually won't climb on the ceiling of their enclosure. We do have a few that still like to climb on their ceiling, but they usually know when it is to warm for them and won't climb directly under the light. Rhacs know to seek cooler areas when they get to warm/hot, unlike desert geckos who love the heat.

 

[Turtlestork]

Yeah. These geckos don't come from the most tropical of places, and the temps you mentioned should be find. If you have to wear a coat and gloves in your own house, then it's probably too cold, but otherwise you should be fine.

TS

 

[Hilde]

If you're comfortable at room temperature, so are they.
I'm in Ontario, so I have an idea of what your weather and temperatures are. Unless you don't heat the house, your crestie will be okay. Mine get whatever temperature the room is - the furnace is set to 68F / 20C. There's a range of a few degrees between the time the furnace cycles on and off. None of mine get extra heat, not in summer nor winter. Even the ones in the cooler room spend the heating season around 62-70F / 17-21C.
They get a cooling period in the wild, so a cooler winter imitates the natural cycle. Unless the room gets down below 60 - 61F / 15 - 16C and stays in that range for days on end, I wouldn't worry about extra heat.

 

[AlphaGeckos]

Okay, Thanks a lot, i think i'm just going to put a low wattage bulb on top anyway to kind of make a hot spot if he/she needs it.

 

[Turtlestork]

Well, it could actually be an issue to have the hot spot. Glass cages can heat up quick, and the place could become an oven for your geckos. It could also be an issue with humidity, and may dry out the tank quicker. Make sure you watch the humidity, as I find in the winter my furnace dries things out a lot faster.

TS

 

[AlphaGeckos]

Well, it could actually be an issue to have the hot spot. Glass cages can heat up quick, and the place could become an oven for your geckos. It could also be an issue with humidity, and may dry out the tank quicker. Make sure you watch the humidity, as I find in the winter my furnace dries things out a lot faster.

TS

Okay, My house runs on Electric heating and a fireplace if it's too cold, how would i know if the gecko is too cold or not?

 

[Turtlestork]

Like Hilde said, if your comfortable, the gecko is. These geckos don't prefer it hot, don't really like to bask. I keep mine in my basement and provide some heat for breeding, but I find that they don't like to congregate around these sources. The forests of New Caledonia are not hot and steamy like the amazon, they are a lot different.

TS

 

[AlphaGeckos]

Ok, thanks a lot guys for all the help.