Beginner Husbandry Question

[archangelvk]

Hello all,

I'm new to Leo keeping and want to make the enclosure as close to perfect as possible before bringing one home. I have included a photo of my current setup to make it easier to explain. So I have my thermostat probe placed on the floor inside the wood log to the left side. There is also a piece of slate rock inside. The thermostat is set to turn off when it hits 29C (84F) and back on when it hits 27.5C (81.5F) from 9am-9pm. However Ive notcied that in its current setup, the rock inside the log will go up to 30-33C (86-91F). Although these temp ranges I believe are good, the top of the log and humid hide will soar up to the low to mid 40's (104F). So my questions are,

1) is it okay to have the TOP of the hides way above normal or will my Leo risk getting burned when the bulb is on ?
2) At night I have a CHE which keeps the enclosure around the low to mid 20C (68-77F) is this ok? Or should I let it drop lower since in the wild they experience lower temps?
3) I was going to include a dig box but Ive seen around the internet that a dig box should NOT be included when purchasing a Juve Leo and they are only meant for adults?

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[acpart]

Great questions! I will give short answers and it's likely that Elizabeth will come on and give long answers. Get rid of the lights. You don't need them as long as there's ambient light in the room and it only increases the heat and dries out the air. Same with the CHE. Unless you keep your house extremely cold at night, the gecko will be fine and if it's cold it will go into the warm hide. Once you do that, see if the temperatures stay more in the 29C range. If they do, I'd recommend bumping the thermostat up to 33C or so because that's what the floor temp should be. You can put in a humid hide using moist paper towels. I don't think a dig box with coco fiber would be terrible for a juvenile, but the moist paper towels should be fine for now.

Aliza

 

[archangelvk]

Great questions! I will give short answers and it's likely that Elizabeth will come on and give long answers. Get rid of the lights. You don't need them as long as there's ambient light in the room and it only increases the heat and dries out the air. Same with the CHE. Unless you keep your house extremely cold at night, the gecko will be fine and if it's cold it will go into the warm hide. Once you do that, see if the temperatures stay more in the 29C range. If they do, I'd recommend bumping the thermostat up to 33C or so because that's what the floor temp should be. You can put in a humid hide using moist paper towels. I don't think a dig box with coco fiber would be terrible for a juvenile, but the moist paper towels should be fine for now.

Aliza

Thank you for your help Aliza,

Ok I will remove the normal light and the CHE. I live in Canada and the enclosure is in the basement so during the winters it can dip to 18C which from Ive read is their low limit, but I really dont think it goes below that. I will only use the Halogen for now. The room still gets ambient light since there is a window right infront of it. So floor temp should be 33C and its okay if the top of the hides are in the 40's right? Leos arent dumb enough to burn themselves right? lol

The humid hide is filled with Sphagnum moss right now. Im going to wet it once I get the Leo. I will include a dig box with coco fiber as you suggested.

Thanks again.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi ~
Does the sun enter the room via that window? IF so, that could spike the enclosure's temperatures.

What are the dimensions of your leo's enclosure? We strive for a thermal gradient from warm to cool throughout the enclosure's length.
Current recommendations for a warm end exceed 33*C. Even mid-35*C is acceptable. 40's on top of hides is too hot!
Slate is an ideal stone for absorbing heat!
Turn off all heat at night as long as your cool end drops NO lower than 18.3*C. A simple analog timer will help you out.
IF your enclosure is particularly dim consider a 15 watt incandescent bulb in an 8.5 inch diameter Fluker's dome dimmed by a rheostat to half power to provide daytime ambient light.

Here's an example of a slate basking site with flat slate stones creating a warm hide beneath the slate:

 

[archangelvk]

Hi ~
Does the sun enter the room via that window? IF so, that could spike the enclosure's temperatures.

What are the dimensions of your leo's enclosure? We strive for a thermal gradient from warm to cool throughout the enclosure's length.
Current recommendations for a warm end exceed 33*C. Even mid-35*C is acceptable. 40's on top of hides is too hot!
Slate is an ideal stone for absorbing heat!
Turn off all heat at night as long as your cool end drops NO lower than 18.3*C. A simple analog timer will help you out.
IF your enclosure is particularly dim consider a 15 watt incandescent bulb in an 8.5 inch diameter Fluker's dome dimmed by a rheostat to half power to provide daytime ambient light.

Here's an example of a slate basking site with flat slate stones creating a warm hide beneath the slate:
View attachment 57728

Hello ! Thanks for your help.

THe dimensions for my tank are 48" long by 12 deep and 12 high.

Sun does enter the room but not enough to affect the temp. I dont know how to make the floor 30 without making the top of hides 40 since its closer to the heat source (halogen bulbs). At night my temps should NOT go below 18C.

I Think I need to find a slate rock. I just have river rocks right now.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

"Hello ! Thanks for your help.

THe dimensions for my tank are 48" long by 12 deep and 12 high.

Sun does enter the room but not enough to affect the temp. I dont know how to make the floor 30 without making the top of hides 40 since its closer to the heat source (halogen bulbs). At night my temps should NOT go below 18C.

I Think I need to find a slate rock. I just have river rocks right now."


Thanks! Amazon USA carries slate. Look for coasters & cheese trays. Sometime stores like Home Depot carry slate too.

As long as the sun doesn't shine directly on the enclosure, it's safe.
You're correct about high temps at certain places. My leo doesn't ever climb on top of her hides. Her Hydrofarm thermostat turns off the Ceramic Heat Emitter IF the temps exceed 33.3 C. Her thermostat's probe sits on the floor of her warm dry hide. Otherwise a timer turns off the thermostat at night.

I installed my current All Living Things brand 150 watt CHE February 2015 in a Fluker's 10 inch dome. When it burns out I'll consider other options.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

A larger dome fixture will diffuse your halogen bulb more.

Are you looking for supplement recommendations & a supplement schedule?