belly heat for leopard gecko's, how to achieve with 1.5 inch thick melamine

[ladynana]

hi, I made my viv out of an old cheap tv stand which has 1.5 inch thick melamine on the bottom...I am trying to figure out how to install heat on the bottom...it is summer right now with extremely hot weather, where I've just installed a regular bulb on one side for daytime heating of one side, and a 50 watt red bulb is set up for general tank heating...

any ideas?

it is currently housing 2 baby leo's, but am also preparing in the event that they can't be housed together later on and will have to put in a divider so I was thinking heating cable attached to ceramic tile with aluminium duct tape so it can later be removed and reinstaled for smaller floor space? and would you drill a couple small holes in the bottom (where the cable will be) to prevent overheating? I will put spacers under the ceramic tiles as well

 

[Hilde]

This is how I head my melamine leopard enclosures, maybe you could adapt it to suit yours.

 

[ladynana]

that is an awesome setup , might think of that later...but at the moment, I was in a pet store today (doesn't deal with reptiles) and this lady came in freaking out cause her son brought home a 'lizard' and wanted to drop it off at the store, after multiple attempts from the owner to tell her they weren't equipped for it, the lady dropped the box on the counter and left...curious as I am, I looked in the box to find this beautiful 8 inch uromastyx!!! well lets just say that she let me take him home (FREE!!! happy dance ) but that is where the fun starts....

betta: 5 gallon to 2 gallon
3 mollies: 10 gallon to 5 gallon
2 baby leo's: wooden enclosure to 10 gallon
1 uromastyx: box to wooden enclosure....

I've been at it for the past 4 hours, cleaning, emptying tanks, scrubbing, disinfecting, rinsing....almost done will be getting an uth for the leo's 10 gallon on Friday (had to order it as the stores were out...another free item, as I had enough store credit from bringing in fish and snails to them to cover the cost ) will shop for UVB for Uro tomorrow...and hope that I don't have to upgrade my heat lamp for more heat hehe (I was getting 90F at half power of a normal 60 watt bulb, so I don't think it will be a problem)

later when I get some money put aside I want to build a 6 foot enclosure for uro, but was thinking of building 2 x 3ft enclosures on top for leo's...if I plan it right, I can use the heat from the uro enclosure as a way to give my leo's some belly heat...I'll take the time and draw out very detailed plans before even buying the first screw LOL...so crisis solved for now...but is only temporary setup

 

[brooksylc]

If I read right, uros need lots a lots a heat. So that could give belly heat if you stack, however make sure there is still a cool side for the leo.
Congrats on the new pick up, and crazy story. They sell for a couple hundred dollars where I live. And they are definitely on my to-get-one-day list. Good luck mastering its set up as I heard that once you perfect their enclosure, they are very rewarding pets.

 

[ladynana]

he is (I think it's a he) very tame, and stayed just chillin in my hand for about an hour at the store while we were chatting (about stupid ppl ) and I've always wanted one, but same here they go for several hundred dollars and up...hot spot for them is minimum 120F so when I stack if I put something that takes in the heat well on 1/3 of leo enclosures on top, then wood for other 2/3 to disperse the heat, I might make it work...time will tell ....

PS I am trying to post pics, but need to retake them in smaller format I think as I have a professional camera and each picture is over 5MB

actually was talking about stacking and multiple reptiles in a room with the owner of a reptile store near here...he is in serious trouble as his main A/C unit just went, and he's waiting on a new one...well his base room temp is 89 degrees with just basic lighting and uv lights on and he was worried about the ones that need higher temps as if he brings up their heat the room gets too hot for others...right now they are everywhere, on the counter, under fish tanks, shelves, basement, etc. to try to get most of them at optimal heating

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

he is (I think it's a he) very tame, and stayed just chillin in my hand for about an hour at the store while we were chatting (about stupid ppl ) and I've always wanted one, but same here they go for several hundred dollars and up...hot spot for them is minimum 120F so when I stack if I put something that takes in the heat well on 1/3 of leo enclosures on top, then wood for other 2/3 to disperse the heat, I might make it work...time will tell ....

PS I am trying to post pics, but need to retake them in smaller format I think as I have a professional camera and each picture is over 5MB

actually was talking about stacking and multiple reptiles in a room with the owner of a reptile store near here...he is in serious trouble as his main A/C unit just went, and he's waiting on a new one...well his base room temp is 89 degrees with just basic lighting and uv lights on and he was worried about the ones that need higher temps as if he brings up their heat the room gets too hot for others...right now they are everywhere, on the counter, under fish tanks, shelves, basement, etc. to try to get most of them at optimal heating

Congratulations on your lucky find! Please post a separate thread for your uromastyx pics.

Know that this is OT to the original thread, but you mention you moved your leos into a 10 gallon. With this size tank it is impossible to establish the hot end and the cool end that leos need to thrive. 70s are recommended for the cool end with 88-93 F recommended for the hot end. Without proper belly and air temperatures, leos will be unable to digest their food.

 

[ladynana]

i know a 10 gallon isn't optimal, but room temps right now are about 80 even at night so can't really lower them, and my hot side is at about 92 day and nothing on but the uth at night which I'll read the temp later on to make sure it doesn't stay too hot...they are in a temp setting as I will be building a larger enclosure for all of them and no sense in buying a pile of new tanks for only a month or so (none second hand for sale atm bigger than 10 gallons) just a single 20 gallon at the local stores cost more than the entire triple enclosure I want to build for the 2 geckos (separated) and the uro (on the bottom) so I'll be working on it bit by bit and hopefully get it done soon

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

i know a 10 gallon isn't optimal, but room temps right now are about 80 even at night so can't really lower them, and my hot side is at about 92 day and nothing on but the uth at night which I'll read the temp later on to make sure it doesn't stay too hot...they are in a temp setting as I will be building a larger enclosure for all of them and no sense in buying a pile of new tanks for only a month or so (none second hand for sale atm bigger than 10 gallons) just a single 20 gallon at the local stores cost more than the entire triple enclosure I want to build for the 2 geckos (separated) and the uro (on the bottom) so I'll be working on it bit by bit and hopefully get it done soon

Hope that everyone will be able to move into their new homes by fall 2012. Search the DIY subforum for more ideas if you need some.

 

[ladynana]

I know what I want to do, the plans are all layed down, it's just finding the time to do it (and the cash)...I'm in between jobs right now and need to find something asap, have a 4 yr old son, 3 dogs, 5 cats, a couple fish tanks, gecko's and a uro to take care of all in 24 hours...plus I have family visiting this week as a cousin of mine is getting married...have a couple hours after my son is in bed to get everything done so not much atm...should calm down around here shortly so hopefully

ps: this apartment is soooo well insulated it very seldom falls under 70 degrees even if it's coooold outside (and I'm talking -40 temps hehe) most of the winter I don't even have the heat on