Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted a couple pics of my new AFT's on here yesterday...is that a "no no"? Just curious because I didn't want to affend or intrude on the Leo group as I have learned a ton from the folks here and hope to be able to continue doing so...should I stick to the generic "Gecko" forum instead?

Many thanks,

Lee

I don't think theres a problem with posting pics of AFT's.
I wanted to respond to you but i got caught up in some work here and ended up turning off the computer.
The Amel is amazing, i'm getting one this year if not afew hehehe. I really like the pic of the juvie and your rack is neat. How do you heat it? Flexwatt?

I've posted pics of my crested gecko here with no trouble.....the following pic is of my hypo leo female and my crested gecko zeek (looking all cute)

Red

>>I posted a couple pics of my new AFT's on here yesterday...is that a "no no"? Just curious because I didn't want to affend or intrude on the Leo group as I have learned a ton from the folks here and hope to be able to continue doing so...should I stick to the generic "Gecko" forum instead?
>>
>>Many thanks,
>>
>>Lee

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Crested Gecko Zeek:1.0
LEOS: Boo: 1.0 normal , Bronx & Nala: 1.1 blizzard,
Lily: 0.1 patternless, Abby: 0.1 albino, Zoe: 0.1 reduced pattern, Dot: 0.1 hypo
Chip: 1.0 papillion (small dog)

Ok, I wasn't worried about the post being responded to or not cause folks might be busy I just didn't want to go against protocol or something.

Thanks for the compliments in the Amel male...he is a looker and I can't wait to see what the 2 gravid females through here in a few weeks too.

The Rack is heated with 3" Flexwatt that is foil taped 1/3 of the way back on the shelves so that the tubs rest on it. This gives a nice gradient to the tub's with approx. 88-90 degrees at the rear to 80-82 in the front of the tub and the Flexwatt is controlled with a thermostat. The top 4 shelves are set with the higher temps in one thermostat and the lower 3 shelves are set at 84 high end and 78 cool end on a different thermostat for my adult breeder pair of Cornsnakes.

I do not keep any Leo's currently but figured since their requirements are so similar to the AFT's that this would be a better Forum for me to read and participate in...it would be great if they made this page the Leo/AFT Forum.

Thanks,

Lee

I can't wait to get a group of AFT's. The amels look so cool. i was thinking i'd build a rack to hold new additions for the quarentine period. I still need to get my hands on some flexwatt (i found a supplier i just haven't had time to go get any yet LOL). When you do have babies please post pics....i think i'm just as excited if not moreso to see them hehehe

Red

>>Ok, I wasn't worried about the post being responded to or not cause folks might be busy I just didn't want to go against protocol or something.
>>
>>Thanks for the compliments in the Amel male...he is a looker and I can't wait to see what the 2 gravid females through here in a few weeks too.
>>
>>The Rack is heated with 3" Flexwatt that is foil taped 1/3 of the way back on the shelves so that the tubs rest on it. This gives a nice gradient to the tub's with approx. 88-90 degrees at the rear to 80-82 in the front of the tub and the Flexwatt is controlled with a thermostat. The top 4 shelves are set with the higher temps in one thermostat and the lower 3 shelves are set at 84 high end and 78 cool end on a different thermostat for my adult breeder pair of Cornsnakes.
>>
>>I do not keep any Leo's currently but figured since their requirements are so similar to the AFT's that this would be a better Forum for me to read and participate in...it would be great if they made this page the Leo/AFT Forum.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Lee
-----
Crested Gecko Zeek:1.0
LEOS: Boo: 1.0 normal , Bronx & Nala: 1.1 blizzard,
Lily: 0.1 patternless, Abby: 0.1 albino, Zoe: 0.1 reduced pattern, Dot: 0.1 hypo
Chip: 1.0 papillion (small dog)

LOL, trust me....you couldn't possibly be as excited as me

The rack is a nice way to house a large number and utilize good uniform temps...although I am already thinking of possibly setting up a nice viewing Viv...they are too good looking not to watch all day long

What really cracks me up is when I open the tubs to change out the water or add food the little juvies hiss and jump and shake their tails at me...very imposing little dudes for being only 4-6 grams a piece. LOL

Lee

HEHEHE i guess your right...i'm not AS excited but since i am not waiting for my own eggs to hatch (didn't breed this year) i might as well share in the excitment of others LOL.
Once i get things settled here and am able to take some time i'll turn one of my many shelving units into a rack. Right now we are renovating and for the rest of the day i'll be painting

It makes sence to house them this way for the time i need to quarentine...but i share your point in wanting to allow for better viewing. I can't wait for the day when i go to change water/food and have a baby (or babies) hiss at me hehe

Red

>>LOL, trust me....you couldn't possibly be as excited as me
>>
>>The rack is a nice way to house a large number and utilize good uniform temps...although I am already thinking of possibly setting up a nice viewing Viv...they are too good looking not to watch all day long
>>
>>What really cracks me up is when I open the tubs to change out the water or add food the little juvies hiss and jump and shake their tails at me...very imposing little dudes for being only 4-6 grams a piece. LOL
>>
>>Lee
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Crested Gecko Zeek:1.0
LEOS: Boo: 1.0 normal , Bronx & Nala: 1.1 blizzard,
Lily: 0.1 patternless, Abby: 0.1 albino, Zoe: 0.1 reduced pattern, Dot: 0.1 hypo
Chip: 1.0 papillion (small dog)

I just replied to your picture posts but had no idea you posted this message till now. Basically I just complimented your pictures and asked a question about your thermostats. I have a few of the thermostats you have pictured and was wondering how well they work with flexwatt? I've read somewhere that those types (on/off) of thermostats aren't recommended with flexwatt heat tape, and that proportinal or pulse type thermostats should be used. How do they work for you? Do the temps fluctuate a lot? Thanks

P.S. As I stated in my other reply to your pictures, you really make me want to start a amel AFT colony! Great pics.
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Sal
Geckos "R" Us


www.geckosrus.com

All4sky,

Well, I originally purchased and used that BAH-1000 thermostat with my corn snake rack which was all heated with 7 stripes of 3" flexwatt tape running vertically...the tape never got enough to get my high end for the Corns so I bought all new 11" Flexwatt and rewired the whole corn Rack...then I ran across an add at the Bean Farm mentioning that the thermostat I was using was not reccomended for the flexwatt....GREAT, so I bought me a Ranco proportional type...its a decent one but I find the variances of temps a bit too drastic for my tastes...basically my high end vacilates between 82-87 and my cool end 77-82...while this won't kill my Corns I didn't feel it was good enough for my AFT's. My old BAH-1000 kept my temps within 2 degrees at all times...but it clicked on and off hundereds of times a day...

I hooked up my Gecko rack on Saturday the top 4 shelves hooked to the BAH-100 had been keeping it a steady 88-89 on the hot end...the bottom 3 shelves where plugged into my Ranco and kept those consistant with my corn rack temps of 84-ish. However, funny you should ask, over lunch I ran home to check on the Gecko rack and unfortunately the high end temps were only reading 85....so I don;t know what to tell you....I didn't change a single thing since Sat and now the Flexwatt decided to drop temps....

I am not sure where to go from here...I guess play with the Thermostat tonight or swap the BAH-1000 out with my Ranco and get the Gecko rack nack up to the higher temps I need....I guess at some point in this Herp hobby it makes more sense to simply add a dedicated furnace to just the herp room and control the temps that way?!?!

Lee

Thanks for the quick reply!

I guess I'll test out those extra thermostats I have laying around and see how they work with my setup. You have pretty much the same exact setup as I do (see pic below). I noticed you are using sterilite containers. I use the same type of containers becaues those were the only ones readily available here at my local walmart. With your setup, do you notice that you have to keep the flexwatt tape at a considerably higher temp to get the surface temp inside (above the substrate) at about 88-90 degrees? For example, I have to keep my tape at about 100 degrees to keep the hotspot inside the container at about 88-90 degrees. I'm wondering if its the type of containers. Thanks
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Sal
Geckos "R" Us


www.geckosrus.com

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Sal
Geckos "R" Us


www.geckosrus.com

Nice rack...yours appears more professional and finished. I guess I need to find some adhesive edgebanding to make it a bit prettier

Yeah, have found the same thing about the high temps on the thermostat vs actual temps in the tubs...but I just figured it was a poorly calibrated thermostat...never thought it was the thickness of the tubs as they are the only ones I've ever used. Intersting theory....now I have to search for some thinner plastic tubs to test it out. LOL....

Lee

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one with the high temp problem lol. I think its because the sterilites have those foot type dimples on the bottom and that creats a pretty considerable gap in between the container and the heat tape. I hope I find a solution because I don't like running the tape at high temps like that. I'll let you know if I find anything.
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Sal
Geckos "R" Us


www.geckosrus.com

I personally like seeing other critters every so often (cresties, beardies, AFT, ....). Besides, if it were a problem, I'm pretty sure you would have heard about it by now -- people here are not shy!
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0.0.2 leos
1.0.0 spouse