Hello all.
I use a ceramic tile substrate and when I measure the temperature with the probe inside his hide and touching the ceramic it is 95f. When I remove the cave and leave the probe the temperature drops to 90.5f.
The goal is to be at 90f so my question is, which reading is "right"? I know we're going for surface heat and not air heat so that's why I'm concerned.
Thank you.
Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!
What size is your enclosure? 95*F ground temperature is too warm. The ground temperature will naturally be warmer inside the cave. When you remove the cave, heat escapes.
Go by the temperature inside your leo's warm dry cave. That's what your leo feels when lying there.
A thermostat will solve your issue. A thermostat automatically turns off your heat mat when the temperature reaches the set temperature. It prevents your heat source from overheating! Hydrofarm's Jump Start MTPRTC or Apollo's thermostats are available via Amazon. Each costs $20. Get the Jump Start if you have a choice.
Temperatures - A temperature gradient from warm to cool maintains your leo's health.
Here's a temperature guide for all leopard geckos as measured with the probe of a digital thermometer or a temp gun (and controlled by a thermostat set at 91*F/32.8*C):
- 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. At night turn off overhead lighting/heating (~12 hours on and ~12 hours off) unless ambient room temperatures drop lower than 67ish*F (19.4*C).
