UTH too hot?

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Gecko_Kloeb

New member
So, I posted about a week ago about UTH's and I proceeded to buy one. I have a probe thermometer and it reads about 92 on average, but i have a feeling it may be wrong because after installing, the geckos rarely even go into the hide that its under. When I touch the floor under the hide, it's literally burning hot. Any tips on keeping the warmth, but maybe not to this extent?
 
Mardy

Mardy

New member
If the floor temperature test out to be 92 degrees then it should be fine. They need 90-95 degrees so you are right in the middle of the comfort zone. To make it more comfortable for the gecko, if you suspect it's heat that it doesn't like, then move the hide a bit. So the hide isn't sitting directly on top of the hotspot. Make it so half of the hide inside sits on the hotspot while the other sits on the outter edges of the UTH. That usually helps, it's what I do with one of mine and she's in the warm hide all the time.

Of course if you suspect overheating at all, get a thermostat. It's the only way to be sure your UTH does not get overheat.
 
M&S-328

M&S-328

New member
I think there are thermostat things a lot of people use that will keep the UTH on until it reaches the set temperature (say, 95 F for example) and then shut off to let it cool down a bit, and then kick on to bring it back up to that, etc.

I dont have one myself (I have never had a UTH that got too hot yet - both the thermometer and to the touch everything looks/feel great). But I hear they are very useful and efficient. I believe I saw one at petco one time for like $45. Im not sure if this is the common price, or what brands/type people will recommend, but good luck!
 
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Gecko_Kloeb

New member
Thanks! I figure it could also be a bit foreign to them, and maybe just give it a few days? But yes, it hovers 92-93 degrees so i hope we're good! it just feels so hot to the touch!
 
Riverside Reptiles

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
All heating devices should be placed on a thermostat. If a heating device fails, not only can it hurt/kill your pet, it can burn your house down. A thermostat is a cheap investment for piece of mind. It also will regulate your temps properly as the ambient temps in your house rise and fall.

92 or 93 degrees should NOT feel burning hot to your skin. It should feel warm only. Think about what it feels like when you're outside on a 92 degree day. That what it should feel like. If it feels "burning hot" you have an issue. Get it on a thermostat, double check your thermometer, etc. Do not risk frying your gecko.
 
Doublet74

Doublet74

New member
Okay figured Id add to this. I have my UTH on a thermostat. My hot side air temp cant be set higher than 81° because if it is the UTH gets up to 115°or higher floor temp trying to maintain air temp. So whats the answer??? Could it be that possibily my Uth is too large for my tank. I have an exo terra 24*18*18 My UTH covers a 12*12 area.
 
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Gecko_Kloeb

New member
h;b
Doublet74 said:
Okay figured Id add to this. I have my UTH on a thermostat. My hot side air temp cant be set higher than 81° because if it is the UTH gets up to 115° trying to maintain air temp. So whats the answer??? Could it be that possibily my Uth is too large for my tank. I have an exo terra 24*18*18 My UTH covers a 12*12 area.
Click to expand...

after repositioning my probe ON the heater, mine went to 120. So this is my exact problem.

What should i do? Get a thermastat for pad, and check air temps frequently?
 
Mardy

Mardy

New member
The thermostat should be regulating the floor temperature, not the air temperature. Your thermostat's probe should be laying on the floor of the tank where the hotspot is.

You don't need to worry about the air temperature unless your ambient temperature is extreme, such as lower than 70 degrees or higher than 95.
 
Doublet74

Doublet74

New member
Mardy said:
The thermostat should be regulating the floor temperature, not the air temperature. Your thermostat's probe should be laying on the floor of the tank where the hotspot is.

You don't need to worry about the air temperature unless your ambient temperature is extreme, such as lower than 70 degrees or higher than 95.
Click to expand...

My temp probe is on the floor. Doesnt really have a hot spot. Within 3-5 degrees over whole surface. Checked with pro exotics gun. Maintains constant 80-83 air temp and floor temps while heated usually max out around 95-100. On its way back up. Just thought it was weird that the UTH and thermo could not be set to hold the floor temp below 95-100 while turning on and off. Pretty funny we can send a man to the moon but we cant make a UTH that doesnt get hotter than 100. LOL :)
 
M&S-328

M&S-328

New member
Doublet74,

I am trying to understand what you are saying exactly... in your first post you said you were trying to maintain air temp, then in your second post you said the temp probe was on the ground..? So are you saying you have since moved it to the ground?

Also, why do you need to check with a temp gun if you have the probe? that should be perfectly able to tell you what the ground temperature is..

How big is your tank?
How big is the UTH? / how much underneath space does it cover?

All in all, since you have a thermostat, you should set that to about 90-95 F. That should get the ground up to that temperature. Air temperature Does Not matter. You should not be setting the UTH to get any hotter then 100 F tops. You do not want the ground to get any hotter than that.

And I must say Im quite concerned about the lack of heat gradient.. especially when you have been having it so hot. Do you know why this is?
 
Doublet74

Doublet74

New member
M&S,
Perhaps I wasnt clear. My probe has always been on the floor. However the probe either works like s@#t or is reading air temp. I also have a PE-2 which I use to check floor temps. Because I kinda figured out that the probe was reading air not floor. My substrate is tile so I taped the probe to the floor. My tank is a E.T. 24*18*18. My UTH covers 12*12. On 1 side. The cool side air temp is 70° by the probe on that side. Floor temp is between 70-73°.
 
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