Substrate question

[Scarygirl]

I currently have my girl on reptile carpet with paper towel on the top (two on each side to cover the carpet since its a 20 gal. tank). I'm concerned that the carpet is keeping her from getting heat, since I just set up my thermostat and it says 71 F and the thermometer says 69.6 F. Question is, should I take out the reptile carpet and just have paper towels or leave the tank as is?

 

[Saskia]

what is the purpose of the carpet if it is covered with paper towel? you need higher temps than that

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

How are you heating this enclosure? Is your thermostat monitoring ambient room temperatures right now?

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 unless the ambient room temperatures are particularly cool during the night.

 

[Scarygirl]

Saskia: I had the carpet before when my mom read that they can stuck to carpet (and have witnessed it as well)and suggested we cover the carpet with paper towels. I wasn't concerned with it when she was in her old tank and we mistakenly put her heat pad INSIDE the tank. We've since gotten a new heat pad and it's under the tank now.

Elizabeth: Last time I checked, the temperature was 69 something. I have the thermometer taped next to the thermostat probe like you told me.

Should I remove the carpet? I find it's easier to keep her tank clean with the paper towel.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Saskia: I had the carpet before when my mom read that they can stuck to carpet (and have witnessed it as well)and suggested we cover the carpet with paper towels. I wasn't concerned with it when she was in her old tank and we mistakenly put her heat pad INSIDE the tank. We've since gotten a new heat pad and it's under the tank now.

Elizabeth: Last time I checked, the temperature was 69 something. I have the thermometer taped next to the thermostat probe like you told me.

Should I remove the carpet? I find it's easier to keep her tank clean with the paper towel.

Scarygirl ~

Are you placing both probes on the ground right inside the warm DRY hide right above the heat mat (Ultratherm?)?

Did you tape the new heat mat right to the glass underneath with aluminum-type heat resistant tape?

If the above is correct, something is not working.

1. What are the daytime and nighttime temps of the room where your leo enclosure is?
2. Is everything plugged in?
3. Have you set the thermostat to turn on at 88 F and off at 92 F?
4. Remove the carpet. You can place a small section of paper towel atop the tile right where your leo poops.
5. Suggest getting textured ceramic or slate tile: inexpensive, permanent, good heat conductor, attractive. Comes in 12 x 12 inch squares.

 

[Scarygirl]

I didn't know I had to do that...I have them taped to the side of the tank. I'm going to take the carpet out and just use the paper towels for now. Does the thermostat control the heat pad temp?

 

[Scarygirl]

Also, it only gave me the option to turn off at a temp, not turn on at a temp. And my heat mat had a sticky layer to tape to the glass.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I didn't know I had to do that...I have them taped to the side of the tank. I'm going to take the carpet out and just use the paper towels for now. Does the thermostat control the heat pad temp?

You want an accurate measure of the floor/substrate heat right inside the warm DRY hide right where the leo hangs out right on top of the paper towels.

A thermostat controls whatever device is plugged into it. Can be used for the under tank heat mat and/or for overhead lighting.

Also, it only gave me the option to turn off at a temp, not turn on at a temp. And my heat mat had a sticky layer to tape to the glass.

What type of thermostat did you get?

 

[Scarygirl]

Ah, okay. I have it taped to the side because I was worried about her going after it. As for the thermostat, when I read the instructions, it just told me how to program it to shut off at a certain temp. It's the one you recommended to me.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Ah, okay. I have it taped to the side because I was worried about her going after it. As for the thermostat, when I read the instructions, it just told me how to program it to shut off at a certain temp. It's the one you recommended to me.

It is very important to move both probes underneath the warm dry hide right on the substrate. That's the only way to tell whether the temps are appropriate. That does not seem to bother my leo at all.

My Hydrofarm thermostat gives clear instructions on how to program it to turn on at 88 F and then turn off at 92 F.

 

[Scarygirl]

I'm not worried about them bothering her, I'm worried about her trying to eat them, lol! I'll look through the instructions again to see if it says how.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I'm not worried about them bothering her, I'm worried about her trying to eat them, lol! I'll look through the instructions again to see if it says how.

It would be nearly impossible for your leopard gecko to swallow the probes.

Figuring out your Hydrofarm settings is top priority. She will be unable to digest any food if the temperatures you have reported are correct.

Hydrofarm may list a toll-free number if you need further assistance.

 

[Scarygirl]

Well, since I've taken the carpet out and moved the probe, the temp is now 76.4 F currently.

 

[Scarygirl]

Can I gradually increase the temp? I don't want to make it too warm for her, because I believe that her warm hide being too warm was what caused her to regurgitate before and I don't want a repeat of that.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Well, since I've taken the carpet out and moved the probe, the temp is now 76.4 F currently.

Can I gradually increase the temp? I don't want to make it too warm for her, because I believe that her warm hide being too warm was what caused her to regurgitate before and I don't want a repeat of that.

Some leos like temps closer to 88 F. However, before you go for 88 F try these.

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 unless the ambient room temperatures are particularly cool during the night.

 

[Scarygirl]

Okay. She seems to like it at the current temp, so I'll stick with it for now.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Okay. She seems to like it at the current temp, so I'll stick with it for now.

May I ask what the temperature is under the warm DRY hide? She could have regurgitated for many reasons.

How much time is she spending in her warm dry hide versus the warm moist hide?

 

[Conched]

If in fact your warm spots are at 76 than the temps need to be raised considerably. All of the advice you have been given in this thread is correct. Your concerns of temps being too high are unwarranted.

If the temps are too hot you will see the Leo staying away from the hot side, often laying out in the daytime away from the hide and also doing a lot of glass climbing.

Regurgitation can be the result of several different factors some being not so serious to being very serious.

The advice you are being given now is relatively easy to follow as compared to what you will have to do if the temps are not brought up to a proper temperature range.

Good luck.

 

[Scarygirl]

May I ask what the temperature is under the warm DRY hide? She could have regurgitated for many reasons.

How much time is she spending in her warm dry hide versus the warm moist hide?

The temp right now is 80.6 and she slept in her warm hide last night. It goes up to 83-84 and shuts off. I think she spends more time in her moist hide.

 

[Scarygirl]

If in fact your warm spots are at 76 than the temps need to be raised considerably. All of the advice you have been given in this thread is correct. Your concerns of temps being too high are unwarranted.

If the temps are too hot you will see the Leo staying away from the hot side, often laying out in the daytime away from the hide and also doing a lot of glass climbing.

Regurgitation can be the result of several different factors some being not so serious to being very serious.

The advice you are being given now is relatively easy to follow as compared to what you will have to do if the temps are not brought up to a proper temperature range.

Good luck.

The temp 80.6 now. Since I moved the probe inside the warm dry hide, it's getting an accurate reading and working as it should. The reason I'm worried about the temp being too high is because, before, I mistakenly put her UTH inside of her tank. Since it became winter, our house gets colder and she spent everyday in her warm dry hide. I'm thinking that's what caused her to regurgitate, since the guy at the exotics store I go to said that too much or too little heat can cause it.