Help about UTH

[FoxDog]

Hey! I am getting a super giant leopard gecko soon (should arrive Tuesday) I've been working on getting his home set up a suitable for him when he gets here. I used to own 2 leopard geckos and I used a heat lamp for them. I heard that a UTH is a great way for geckos to get their heat.

I bought the pad that was recommended for 10-20 gallon tanks (Zoo Med) I have a 20 gallon long tank set up, but when i put it on it seemed too small. I had a spare one that I also put on the tank side by side. The heat from both doesnt even cover half the tank. The cool side is much larger than the hot side. and the heat is only on the floor (I use tile) Im used to using lamps so I feel the heat in the air. Is it okay for the heat to only be from the tile? And I have 2 hides on the hot side he can use, but again, the heat only covers a little over 1/4 of the tank. Is that enough room for him?

Also the cold side seems a little too cold. I am buying a temp reader today but As of now its room temp (my house is around 71-74 daily) Do i need to buy a low powered heat lamp as well or am I okay with this set up?

Thank you!

 

[Keeboard]

as long as a third of the bottom of the tank is the warm side, you should be good. leopard geckos are much better off without lamps, and its fine for them to only get belly heat, since they need it to digest food. if the warm side isnt warm enough, i suggest getting a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) as well. do you have a hide on the cool side as well?

 

[FoxDog]

as long as a third of the bottom of the tank is the warm side, you should be good. leopard geckos are much better off without lamps, and its fine for them to only get belly heat, since they need it to digest food. if the warm side isnt warm enough, i suggest getting a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) as well. do you have a hide on the cool side as well?

Yes I do have a hide on the cool side! I have a thermostat set to about 88 and its been shutting off and on, so I believe the warm side is betting warm enough. So it's okay for the whole tank to be room temp as long as the substrate is a good enough heat for it?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi FoxDog ~

Please find out how much your super giant leo weighs and how long he is. Is he fully grown? It would help to know this now.

Set your thermostat to 91*F.

A 20 long is the minimum size vivarium up to and including a normal-sized adult leo, female or perhaps male. For a super giant leo I recommend either an Exo Terra viv 36 x 18 x 12 inches or a 40 gallon breeder viv (36 x ~18 x ~17 inches). I realize those are pricey, but perhaps you can find a sale.

Healthy leos can live into their 20s, so that's really a good investment.

Both the warm dry hide and the warm moist hide should sit on top of the heat mat. A CHE can be used for supplemental heat.

It's best if the UTH takes up half the base of the viv, like an 11 x 17 inch UTH for a 20 gallon long. Your leo will be more active and comfortable that way. He will not feel the need to always hug the mat. Flukers and Ultratherm make that size. Another method of customizing heat is to use heat cables like this:


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.

 

[FoxDog]

Thank you so much for the info! I know the gecko is a year old and he says they stop growing at 2 years. But i will find out the exact length and weight soon! For the heat lamp, should i use a ceramic to prevent the bright light or does it matter?

 

[Keeboard]

Yea use a CHE