Need some help/advice

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shawn101

New member
SO I have a leo in a 20 gallon tank with sticky thermometers about half way up and digital thermometers running to the substrate on either side. I am using a UTH and a infrared heat bulb 75W on the same side. No additional lighting on the others side. Temperatures read as follows.

Hot side. Air Temp.- 28C Floor Temp. - 31C
Cool Side Air temp.- 22C Floor Temp. - 25C

Is this ok for her.

I was thinking of going to a CHE and a 25W or 50W Night blue light for her to see if she would be more active at night. With the red she has been reclusive and only out a little.
 
Saskia

Saskia

New member
The floor temps are a bit low, but I must say those sticky thermomethers are not very accurate, adding a CHE on the hot side might help you achieve a better gradient, but I think the size would depend on your enclosure size, what type / size of tank do you use??
 
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shawn101

New member
20gallon tank, I have everything on dimmer switches so I can add more heat to the UTH, before was too hot at like 45C, but I took care of the quickly. I can order a 100W CHE if needed. Right now Ive switched to night time.

Temps are Substrate Warm side 31C Air temp 26
Cold side Substrate 26C Air temp 21C
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Please post pictures of your leo and the enclosure.

Is your enclosure a 20 gallon LONG tank: 30 x 12 x 12 inches?
 
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shawn101

New member
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So here is tank and pics of the warm and cool end thermometers, confirmed with digital temperature gun, temps are accurate.
 

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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
shawn101 said:
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So here is tank and pics of the warm and cool end thermometers, confirmed with digital temperature gun, temps are accurate.
Click to expand...

How does the length of your enclosure compare to these measurements?
20 gallon LONG tank/enclosure (30 x 12.5 x 12.5 inches; 76.2 x 31.75 x 31.75 cm)

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.

Controlling the temps with a thermostat is much better than using dimmers. You would set your thermostat to turn on at 88*F and off at 92*F.

Hydrofarm makes a good thermostat with a digital readout and a small metal probe via Amazon for ~#32. Proportional thermostats are more accurate and expensive.
 
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shawn101

New member
My main concern was the red infrared if it might bother her too much cause she doesnt come out a lot, but last night I saw her out for quite a bit around 1am.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
shawn101 said:
My main concern was the red infrared if it might bother her too much cause she doesnt come out a lot, but last night I saw her out for quite a bit around 1am.
Click to expand...

For research (lighting thread) about how red light affects leos, see the beginning section of my Leo Caresheet. Some leos seem more sensitive to red light than others do.

You may wish to go with a CHE on a separate thermostat for overhead heat. To provide a photoperiod I have a 15 watt incandescent bulb dimmed to half power on a timer. This 5.5 inch dome sits right next to the 10 inch dome which houses my CHE.

Some Flukers domes have inline dimmers.
 
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shawn101

New member
Even though I don't believe an infrared bulb is bother my gecko that much, i decided to try an experiment and switch a CHE for heating purposes and use my neon Coke clock in the living for "night light". It's just a white neon clock, no colours. See if her activity at night increases any. Every night when I come down she is usually out in the infrared, but as soon as she spots me she goes and hides and comes back out when I leave lol.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
shawn101 said:
Even though I don't believe an infrared bulb is bother my gecko that much, i decided to try an experiment and switch a CHE for heating purposes and use my neon Coke clock in the living for "night light". It's just a white neon clock, no colours. See if her activity at night increases any. Every night when I come down she is usually out in the infrared, but as soon as she spots me she goes and hides and comes back out when I leave lol.
Click to expand...

dbott67 has shared some night-mode videos of his leo. You can find these in the video subforum here.

Keep us posted with your results.....
 
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shawn101

New member
She is a little over 8 inches long and I have no current way to weigh her, but given the size of her tail she is probably upwards of that 80 gram mark.
 
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