What is a must have!?!?

Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Elizabeth Freer said:
3 hides are required per leo: warm DRY, warm MOIST, cool DRY. Keeping one hide warm and moist 24/7 is very important! Both warm hides should sit on top of the UTH. The warmth from your UTH helps generate the required humidity. Leopard geckos use their warm moist hides for hydrating even when not shedding.
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OK /\

  • Did you make the stair step hide from wood? If so, what type? Some woods are toxic to reptiles.
  • The warm dry hide entry door looks a little small. Does your leo use it?
  • That's tile? Looks kinda slippery.
  • How are you heating Planthumb's cage?
  • Best to get a digital thermometer with a probe to measure ground and air temps. Please read my post #2 above.
  • I'd switch things around.
  • Place the stair step hide on the cool end.
  • Move the moist hide to the warm end. The humid hide needs warmth to generate the required humidity. A cold wet leo might get sick.
  • Not sure about the bright overhead light.
 
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Gixxer450

Gixxer450

New member
#1-yes i made it the wood is pine. #2-yes its tile and it has rough textured like you said to get. #3-I am using a zoomed uth. #4-I just order 2 zoomed temp with probs at the end 1 for the warm side and 1 for the cold side. #6-The stairstep is on the cool end my uth isnt big thats why the warm side is very little so im going to buy a bigger 1. #7-Ok cool thanks i didnt know that ill move it tonight. #8-I only turn it on during the day for a little more heat and it lights up the cage if it is not good then just let me know.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Gixxer450 said:
#1-yes i made it the wood is pine. #2-yes its tile and it has rough textured like you said to get. #3-I am using a zoomed uth. #4-I just order 2 zoomed temp with probs at the end 1 for the warm side and 1 for the cold side. #6-The stairstep is on the cool end my uth isnt big thats why the warm side is very little so im going to buy a bigger 1. #7-Ok cool thanks i didnt know that ill move it tonight. #8-I only turn it on during the day for a little more heat and it lights up the cage if it is not good then just let me know.
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Elizabeth Freer said:
Warning: Avoid cedar or pine products in reptile enclosures. Cedar fumes are highly toxic to reptiles; pine fumes can be toxic as well!
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/\ That's right at the beginning of the long version of my Leo Caresheet. That's all I know about pine and reptile enclosures. Google pine and toxicity to reptiles to find out more.

There are lots of details to setting up a leo. That's why my caresheet is very long. Skim through it and thoroughly read the sections you need at the time.

  1. Please remove your wooden hide until you find out more info. Your wooden hide is attractive and very nicely made. However, you say it is pine. If you make another out of a different wood, I'd suggest a small doorway...less open.
  2. Good on the rough textured tile!
  3. Good on ordering 2 ZM digital thermometers with probes!
  4. Very good moving the moist hide to the warm end!
  5. This is what I recommend for your new UTH: either a Fluker's or Ultratherm 11 x 17 inch size for your 30 x 12 x 12 inch enclosure. Pick up some heat resistant aluminum tape from a hardware store to stick it snugly to the glass underneath the tank. Be sure to elevate the tank at each corner to provide ventilation for your UTH.
  6. Strongly recommend a Hydrofarm MTPRTC thermostat from Amazon to regulate your UTH.
  7. About the bright light: I'd recommend a 60 watt ceramic heat emitter instead. These CHEs cost about $22, but they last a very long time. They produce heat, but no light. I like and use the All Living Things brand CHEs from PetSmart. Generally I suggest housing the CHE in a 10 inch diameter Fluker's dome. Thing is, you have a plastic strip right down the center of the top. Not sure whether that would get too warm. Maybe not, but I can't say for certain.
 
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Gixxer450

Gixxer450

New member
Alright cool thanks i guess pine and cedar are toxic to reptiles so i took it out and put in a coconut.I could not put my cold hide on the warm end because my uth is small and only heats up my exo terra hide so im going to buy a 30-40 gal uth.i took off the light i had on top for right now until i get the 60 watt ceramic heat emitter.And also i took out the calicum dish like your care sheet said.:) 1 more question how do i get these spots off the glass of my encloser??Heres is the cage now!!100_0247.jpg100_0248.jpg if there is anything eles i need to do just let me know!!:)
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Gixxer450 said:
Alright cool thanks i guess pine and cedar are toxic to reptiles so i took it out and put in a coconut.I could not put my cold hide on the warm end because my uth is small and only heats up my exo terra hide so im going to buy a 30-40 gal uth.i took off the light i had on top for right now until i get the 60 watt ceramic heat emitter.And also i took out the calicum dish like your care sheet said.:) 1 more question how do i get these spots off the glass of my encloser??Heres is the cage now!!View attachment 34676View attachment 34677 if there is anything eles i need to do just let me know!!:)
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I understand that your UTH is too small right now to place the moist hide there too.

  1. UTH size: the actual dimensions of the UTH are very important. Not just the size rating. What are the measurements of the 30-40 gallon size? You want an UTH close to 11 x 17 inches. That size will NOT impact your cool end temperatures.
  2. Good on removing the calcium dish. :)
  3. What are your room temperatures (highs, lows) where the cage sits? Those room temps are key as to whether a 60 watt or a 100 watt CHE will meet your needs better.
  4. I don't know a good way to remove water spots. Nothing has worked for me on a 20 gallon tank I have. :(
  5. What you want with most hides is good space inside, BUT with a small entrance. That makes your leo feel safe. the Here's an excellent cool or warm dry hide: Amazon.com : Exo Terra Reptile Cave, Medium : Reptile Supplies : Pet Supplies
  6. Additional cage furniture, rocks, logs, silk palm tree will help your leo feel safer too.

Here's how I keep my leo:
DSC_0159.jpg


Be sure to read all the details in my former posts. :)
 
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Gixxer450

Gixxer450

New member
Sorry i took so long to respond was working on a suv.The size on the 30-40 gal uth is 8x12 room temp i think is 71 during the day and the i turn on my fan and the ac is on during the night and Ok ive been looking for extra hides and plants etc.:)
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Gixxer450 said:
Sorry i took so long to respond was working on a suv.The size on the 30-40 gal uth is 8x12 room temp i think is 71 during the day and the i turn on my fan and the ac is on during the night and Ok ive been looking for extra hides and plants etc.:)
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Gee, I've been waiting all day! ;-) Seriously, though, I took a long beach hike instead.

:cheer: that you have automotive skills!

71 F during the day is fine. How low at night? What's the next size up from the 8 x 12? Zoo Med tells me their UTHs are not reusable, because the internal wiring could get damaged when they are removed. The cool thing about Ultratherm and Fluker's is that they are reusable. PetSmart lets you return stuff within 60 days if it does not work out for your pet. So perhaps you could get both a 60 watt (All Living Things) and a 100 watt. You will need a thermostat for the UTH and probably a dimmer/rheostat for the CHE.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Gixxer450 said:
lol:biggrin: must had a nice hike then:)but ive been working on cars since i was 9 yo.I guessing the lower 60s probley 64 or 7 the next size up is 8x18 made by zoomed.Ya now thinking about it ill probley get the Ultratherm and or Fluker's off of ebay since i don't have a petsmart or petco.And this is the Digital Thermometer Zoomed Digital Thermometer with Temperature Probe | eBay
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Yes I did, even though it was quite windy and a bit chilly. :) Picnic too. A little sand in my sandwich. :razz: Found an injured gull that was dragging his right leg. Phoned our local wildlife rescue for a pick up. Sounds as if he was already on their list. Since 9 yo! That's excellent!

With those night temperature lows, you'll want to leave your UTH on 24/7. Definitely get an 11 x 17 inch UTH. That's much better coverage than the Zoo Med 8 x 18 inch. You and Planthumb won't be sorry.

Lots of gecko keepers use the digital you linked.
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
It was just a few grains of sand that the wind blew in. Hope that seagull is on the road to recovery. He could not fly. :(

Could not tell from your link what size UTH you found.

Here's a comparison of 11 x 17 inch UTHs with their wattages.

:)#106---Under tank heat mats (UTHs): Dimensions versus Wattage
If you have a choice with any UTH, I'd NOT get one that has adhesive. That's because reusing it could be a fire hazard. The internal wires might get damaged when it is removed from it's initial position.

Snugly stick the UTH underneath the enclosure with heat resistant aluminum tape from most any hardware store.

Do NOT use any UTH underneath the tank IF using a wooden enclosure.

All Living Things 11 x 17.......24 watts
Ultratherm UTHs 11 x 17......22 watts
Flukers 11 x 17....................24 watts
Hagen Exo Terra 11 x 17......25 watts


Elevate your tank off the enclosure at the tank's corners 1/4-1/2 inch. That provides required ventilation for your UTH! Otherwise heat will build up and could potentially cause a fire!

The pads used on chair legs to prevent scratching the floor are one solution.
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Gixxer450 said:
Sorry once again was riding and trying how to do a olley on a skateboard.:) And cool alright ill try to post ii again Ultratherm Vivarium Reptile Spider Aquarium Heating Mat Pad 14W Brand New | eBay and if it dose'nt work then type or copy and paste it-go to ebay and its under. UltraTherm Vivarium Reptile/Spider Aquarium heating mat pad 14w BRAND NEW
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I see your link above and right here. That UTH is rated for 14 watts.

The 11 x 17 inch UTH should be rated at 22 watts. 14 watts will be too small.
 
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