Under tank heater not hot enough?

[Moosifer]

My undertank heater is only getting to about 79-84 degrees F, and I was wondering how I could go about making it to 90 but not too hot?

 

[Yoshi'smom]

Is your UTH on a thermostat?
I supplement my UTH with a CHE (also on a thermostat). But I'm still able to achieve proper ground temps with my UTH. I mainly provide the CHE to heat the ambient air on the warm side of the tank since it's so large. This way my leo can truly decide exactly what temperature she wants to be on. It helps to create a temp gradient.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

My undertank heater is only getting to about 79-84 degrees F, and I was wondering how I could go about making it to 90 but not too hot?

A thermostat will regulate an UTH. It's really important to use one. Click: Amazon.com : Jump Start MTPRTC, Digital ETL-Certified Heat Mat Thermostat for Seed Germination, Reptiles and Brewing : Plant Germination Heating Mats : Patio, Lawn & Garden

There's a chance that your UTH is defective or too small for your vivarium.

How about a few details?

• Are those temps air temps or ground temps? What type thermometer?
• What are the dimensions and brand of your UTH?
• What's the size of your vivarium?
• I recommend a UTH that's half the area of the ground. For instance, a 30 x 12 x 12 inch viv needs an 11 x 17 inch UTH.

Here's a temperature guide for all leopard geckos as measured by the probe of a digital thermometer

• 88-92 F (31.1-33.3 C) ground temperature right underneath a leo's warm dry hide
• no greater than 82ish F (27.8ish C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
• no greater than 75 F (23.9 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 drop lower than 67ish*F (19.4*C) during the night.

 

[Moosifer]

Just purchased the thermostat you linked, with two day shipping. I have a 10 gallon tank and a heatmat for the 10g. Covers one side of it. He spends all of his time on it though. For the first few days the temperature was perfect but now it goes down to 78 or so which definitely isn't good enough

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Just purchased the thermostat you linked, with two day shipping. I have a 10 gallon tank and a heatmat for the 10g. Covers one side of it. He spends all of his time on it though. For the first few days the temperature was perfect but now it goes down to 78 or so which definitely isn't good enough

The Jump Start thermostat will regulate temps. However, if your UTH is putting out its maximum right now, the thermostat won't increase the temperatures.

:idea:: How about an upgrade to a 30 x 12 x 12 inch viv? One big box store has frequent $-per-gallon sales? It's never too soon to provide a leo with a bigger playground.

 

[Moosifer]

I intend on upgrading to a larger viv soon, right now my little leo Shepard is only about 15g and is pretty young so I started off with just a 10 gallon.

 

[TheresaB.C]

Some mats only go up oh so much. To get the right tempture in the cage you will probably have to add some strong heat lights, just rember not to leave the lamps on the plastic part of the terrarium, it will melt/burn.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Some mats only go up oh so much. To get the right tempture in the cage you will probably have to add some strong heat lights, just rember not to leave the lamps on the plastic part of the terrarium, it will melt/burn.

"Strong heat lights" could be unsafe for a leopard gecko. They may harm his eyes.

It's best for the majority of the heat to come from a properly sized UTH. Any overhead heat should be supplemental. A ceramic heat emitter is the best option for overhead heat.

Keep overhead air temperatures no warmer than 82 ish*F 4 inches above ground on the warm end. Control overhead heat with a separate thermostat.

Have you see this article?

26 March 2015: Gregory Mertz, DVM

• Click: Eyelid Dysecdysis in Leopard Geckos - Gecko Time - Gecko Time