Tank is 85 already without overhead light, what to do?

[ngoegan]

I got an 18 x 36 tank, a zoo med UTH that cover about 1/3 of one end of the tank stuck to the bottom. The tank is elevated on rubber stoppers and I placed porcelain tiles in the tank as recommended. Now the thermometer placed four inches above the surface reads 78 at night and 85 in the day without any light. It has been very hot here so if I have the overhead light on in the daytime it gets up to 90.

The care sheet here says not to let it get above 85. What should I do? I'm trying to avoid having to buy an expensive thermostat.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

I'm assuming this is for a Leopard Gecko?
What are the exact dimensions of your tank? Is 36inches the height?

A thermostat needs to be connected to your UTH, simply unavoidable in most cases to prevent over heating and burning of your gecko. A digital thermometer with a probe should be used to properly check surface temperatures.

If you're getting 85 on your warm end (With a good quality digital thermometer?) without any excess heating from above then chances are you won't need any over head heating. I'm curious as to what your temps are on the cool side?

If you don't use a heat light you will need to provide a day/night cycle photoperiod some other way. Either through ambient light from a window or a light shinning indirectly at the tank. Perhaps on a desk or something?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

GeckoManiac91 ~

Cricket4u did not like my desk lamp idea to provide ambient light.

So let's go with ambient light from a distant window to provide a photoperiod.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I got an 18 x 36 tank, a zoo med UTH that cover about 1/3 of one end of the tank stuck to the bottom. The tank is elevated on rubber stoppers and I placed porcelain tiles in the tank as recommended. Now the thermometer placed four inches above the surface reads 78 at night and 85 in the day without any light. It has been very hot here so if I have the overhead light on in the daytime it gets up to 90.

The care sheet here says not to let it get above 85. What should I do? I'm trying to avoid having to buy an expensive thermostat.

Have you one of those really nice Exo Terra tanks with the front doors : 36 x 18 x 12 inches? Really great space for your leo. What size is he/she right now?

Make sure you have an accurate digital thermometer with a probe. Check air temps by dangling the digital's probe from the top to within 4 inches of the ground. Can you tell us the air temps on both the warm and cool ends?

If 85 F is the air temp on the warm end, you are fine right now without any additional overhead heat. When it gets into fall, overhead heat is strongly suggested. Reason why is to provide your leo with a comfortable warm zone and not just a warm spot.

As GeckoManiac91 has suggested, at least one thermostat is recommended. Some people also place overhead lighting/heating on a 2nd thermostat or at least a rheostat and a timer. One popular thermostat with reptile folks is the Hydrofarm MTPRTC available from Amazon for about $31.

 

[ngoegan]

I don't know what the cool end temp is. It's still a little guy, not fully grown . The tank is 18in high by 18 wide by 36 length. I got a deal on it on craigslist for $25 including climbing tree and rock like feeders. It has a non-digital thermometer for now, it gets down to about 76 air temp 4inches above the uth side in the cool mornings right now. In the heat wave in the day it got up to 90. He gets light from the window, it's far enough that it doesn't shine directly on the tank, but he'd know it was daytime or night time. He eats A LOT. I put 10 small crickets and 4 meal worms in there and he ate them all, the next day I put 6 more meal worms and he ate them all too. I'm looking into how much to feed him next.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I don't know what the cool end temp is. It's still a little guy, not fully grown . The tank is 18in high by 18 wide by 36 length. I got a deal on it on craigslist for $25 including climbing tree and rock like feeders. It has a non-digital thermometer for now, it gets down to about 76 air temp 4inches above the uth side in the cool mornings right now. In the heat wave in the day it got up to 90. He gets light from the window, it's far enough that it doesn't shine directly on the tank, but he'd know it was daytime or night time. He eats A LOT. I put 10 small crickets and 4 meal worms in there and he ate them all, the next day I put 6 more meal worms and he ate them all too. I'm looking into how much to feed him next.

How about pictures of him?

Circle/analog thermometers can be very inaccurate :-(.

Temperatures for all leos regardless of size:
88-93 F (31-34 C) ground temp at warm end inside the warm dry hide
no greater than 85 F (29.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
no greater than 75 F (24.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

Leave the UTH on 24/7. Can turn off overhead heating at night.

Check the temps midday when the UTH has reached it's max.

Feed daily with all he can eat in about 20 minutes.

How are you supplementing with calcium with D3 and multivitamins?

Have you checked out the Leo caresheet linked right in my signature?