Hi everyone, I am new to the site. I just got my first leopard gecko two days ago and I knew that he needed a UTH and that it would need to be connected to a thermostat to regulate temperature. I got him a Retitemp 500R thermostat, which I thought I had set up properly until today. I have the thermostat probe taped to the UTH (under the tank, not in the enclosure) and I am measuring the temps with a digital thermometer with the probe in direct contact with the glass under his hot hide. The problem is that this thing seems to be completely unreliable. I am hoping I am just doing something wrong, but last night I got it set up such that it goes no higher than about 92 and it looked like it was only dropping to about 87 degrees. Today I came home from work and the darn thing was at 101. I immediately readjusted it to bring it down and after doing so (again trying to set it so that it shut off and only warmed up to about 92) it was dropping to 83 degrees. So long story short he is stressed from all the messing with probes and having to remove him from the tank to try to allow the thermostat to reach a set point (which is apparently in excess of 111, the point at which I just cranked the dial down and gave up on waiting for it to turn off on its own) and I am stressed from worrying about his safety overnight. Is there anything I can try to get this thing to work? If it is only possible to set it between 83 and 92 will that be too much fluctuation for him? Any help would be very much appreciated.
Thermostat problems, could really use some help.
- Thread starter Kiiarah
- Start date
hmarie186
New member
Your first issue is that the probe needs to be INSIDE the cage in the warm hide. It does not matter what the temps of the actual UTH is, you want it to heat and shut off according to what the living area is reaching. Remove it from the UTH and place it inside the warm dry hide. Sometimes it takes a few days to regulate. It should sink no lower than 88-89 and no hotter than 93.
Cuppencake
New member
I know nothing of the Thermostat you're using, but hmarie is right, it has to be inside of the tank. It's also reccommended to buy a digital thermometer with a probe and also place that inside the tank for a more accurate tempature! I am using the Hydrofarm Thermostat made by Beanfarm, It was about $30 on amazon and works amazingly! Very easy to use and can read it either Fahrenheit or Celsius
Amazon.com : Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat for Heat Mats : Plant Germination Heating Mats : Patio, Lawn & Garden
Amazon.com : Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat for Heat Mats : Plant Germination Heating Mats : Patio, Lawn & Garden
I also am trying out the Retitemp 500R for the first time. My concern with this thing is that I have the probe taped to the floor not in the hide. The floor temp is ranging from 85-100. but the inside of the warm hide is only reaching a max of 85. If I was to put the probe in the hide then the floor would be way too hot. I use a temp gun and get different readings all over the place on the warm side where my uth is.
I plan on getting a different one really soon.
I plan on getting a different one really soon.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Click: ReptiTemp® 500R Therm/Rem Sensor UL List
"Q: I am using a thermostat/ rheostat and the temperature is not rising.
A: Thermostats and rheostats cannot increase the temperature a heat source is capable of putting out. Setting the thermostat/rheostat to the maximum temperature/ level will be as hot as the heat source itself will get."
You could be having UTH, temp gun, or thermostat issues. I understand that your temp gun measures 85 F inside the warm dry hide, but ranges from 85-100 F on the warm end floor!
- Is your UTH plugged into your thermostat?
- What is your thermostat set at?
- What size is your UTH?
- What size is your enclosure?
- What substrate are you using?
- What brand temp gun?
The variance of the Hydrofarm MTPRTC thermostat is +/- 2-3*F. That's an acceptable range for leopard geckos. It is the only reasonably priced thermostat with a digital readout and a small metal probe. Proportional thermostats cost comsiderably more!
[In a couple of instances you have added your questions to existing threads. You will have more luck by beginning a New Thread. Better yet start one New Thread for all your set up issues. That way you will get better assistance with fewer repeats.]
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
The other issues I posted could be important too. For instance IF you use tile and the tile does not sit flush against the glass floor, that might cause "hot spots" and variable temp gun readings. A shallow layer of fine sand should fix that.
IF your UTH mat is really maxing out at 85*F underneath the warm dry hide, that's too cool for leos.
I will quote from that care sheet:
Recommended temperatures for all leos regardless of size
88-93 F (31-34 C) ground temperature underneath a leo's warm dry hide
no greater than 85 F (29.5 C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
no greater than 75 F (24.5 C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the cool end
Leave the UTH on 24/7. Turn off overhead lighting/heating at night (~12 hours on and ~12 hours off) unless ambient room temperatures are particularly cool during the night.
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Nope no tile yet... been searching for last 3 days for one that isnt totally ugly and has some texture/grip to it. small town=small issues...lol.
I know 85 is too cool. That is the warm moist hide he spends all his time in. the warm dry hide is a little bit warmer. I am use a combo of both uth/on thermostat and che/on 24-7 as well as a electric fireplace in the room so the temp does not get cold at all....
even though the moist hides are cooler than the dry hides, that is where they both spend their time... makes me wounder if any of these temp gauges work at all...
I ordered new thermostats for both tanks, a heat mat for the females tank, and new digital temp probes. I am also determined to find those tiles and I already have sand for underneath them. So I hope it all gets fixed this week...
I know 85 is too cool. That is the warm moist hide he spends all his time in. the warm dry hide is a little bit warmer. I am use a combo of both uth/on thermostat and che/on 24-7 as well as a electric fireplace in the room so the temp does not get cold at all....
even though the moist hides are cooler than the dry hides, that is where they both spend their time... makes me wounder if any of these temp gauges work at all...
I ordered new thermostats for both tanks, a heat mat for the females tank, and new digital temp probes. I am also determined to find those tiles and I already have sand for underneath them. So I hope it all gets fixed this week...