Reptitherm UTH mounted on side of enclosure bad idea for gold dust day gecko???

[Kunu's Friend]

Hello all! I'm still quite new to owning my gold dust day gecko and have a heating question.

It was summer when I got Kunu, but now its much colder in our house, so his enclosure is also colder. I tried to remedy this by putting a heat mat, the Reptitherm UTH 6" x 8" size meant for 10-20 gallon tank, on the lower side of the glass. My vivarium is 12" x 18". I couldn't put it underneath because my substrate is too deep. Not an option to make it less deep because I have it planted with live plants. I can't remember if it actually boosted the temperature up high enough, because I ended up panicking and turned it off when I realized he might be over-toasting himself. I found him right on the glass on where I put the heating mat. Then I remembered reading something about "don't get a heating rock because they will not get off and will burn themselves" and I thought maybe this is the same thing. I've looked and looked but can't find anything that says whether or not its ok mounted to the side when day geckos are able to cling to the glass and sit/cling right on it. I did find on the Zoo Med site that this size heat mat operates at 95 to 100 degrees.

I got this heating mat for a nighttime heat source because I really don't like to have lights on at night, but maybe this will be what I have to go with?

Does anyone have experience with using the heat mats on the side of the glass for these guys, and is it going to indeed toast him too much? What nighttime heating do you guys use?

Thanks so much in advance! I need to keep my little guy warm!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Since heat rises, I seriously wonder how side-mounted heat mats can be effective at all!

A Ceramic Heat Emitter bulb in a dome fixture connected to a digital thermostat may be just what Kunu needs at night. CHEs emit heat but no light. Zoo Med produces nano wattage CHEs (25 or so watts). Experiment with different wattages. I don't know what wattage you'll need.

Exo Terra bulbs are poor. PetSmart's All Living Things brand is good.

 

[Kunu's Friend]

Since heat rises, I seriously wonder how side-mounted heat mats can be effective at all!

A Ceramic Heat Emitter bulb in a dome fixture connected to a digital thermostat may be just what Kunu needs at night. CHEs emit heat but no light. Zoo Med produces nano wattage CHEs (25 or so watts). Experiment with different wattages. I don't know what wattage you'll need.

Exo Terra bulbs are poor. PetSmart's All Living Things brand is good.

Thank you so much Elizabeth! That all makes good sense. I'm keeping an eye on the heating pad. I'm using it and have decided to try to not worry. I just hope he's smart enough to move if it gets to hot for him! I've been touching it with my hand and it doesn't seem too hot. I'm sure you're right about the heat just rising anyway, but the thing is pretty much stuck there now anyways. I went down to the store to get the CTE you suggested. I instead found out there is a dark black heating light (looks less bright than the red ones) that I'm going to try first. If the light is still too much at night I'll then try the CTE. Thanks again! I'm sure I'll be having more questions soon!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thank you so much Elizabeth! That all makes good sense. I'm keeping an eye on the heating pad. I'm using it and have decided to try to not worry. I just hope he's smart enough to move if it gets to hot for him! I've been touching it with my hand and it doesn't seem too hot. I'm sure you're right about the heat just rising anyway, but the thing is pretty much stuck there now anyways. I went down to the store to get the CTE you suggested. I instead found out there is a dark black heating light (looks less bright than the red ones) that I'm going to try first. If the light is still too much at night I'll then try the CTE. Thanks again! I'm sure I'll be having more questions soon!

You're welcome.

My CHE is black.

A thermostat turns off at pre-set temperatures.

 

[Kunu's Friend]

You're welcome.

My CHE is black.

A thermostat turns off at pre-set temperatures.

Oh ok! It just occurred to me I must have bought the very thing you suggested. I previously was thinking you were referring to a ceramic type heating unit. But now I see you did say "bulb." It seems to be working out great. I decided to turn off the mat heater during the day, because its mostly behind some cork bark and I don't want him missing out on the good light during the daytime.

Thanks again.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Oh ok! It just occurred to me I must have bought the very thing you suggested. I previously was thinking you were referring to a ceramic type heating unit. But now I see you did say "bulb." It seems to be working out great. I decided to turn off the mat heater during the day, because its mostly behind some cork bark and I don't want him missing out on the good light during the daytime.

Thanks again.

:yahoo: on your CHE bulb!