Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My AC is messing up so it's pretty hot in my room (75-85) during the day, all the time, so i'm not sure whether i should turn my heat lamp on, because it might get too hot for my leos. because if i leave it on and then it gets up to 85 (which it has on some days, if not hotter) then couldn't the tank get up to possibly 100? i'm using a ceramic heating lamp which produces quite a bit of heat. at the same time, i'm worried that if it stays say 78 throughout the day, it's not warm enough for the leos. what should i do?
-----
1.2.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Miniature long-haired dachsund

I'd worry more about 100 than 78. If the gecko can't escape 85F to cooler temps than I'd worry. Do you have your ceramic heater on an adjustable element so you can turn down the power/heat? A few days at 78' should have any effect of your gecko

No i can't really adjust it. the temp in my room has been staying around 75-78 today and yesterday, and i've been home studying for exams to monitor it so i've had the heat lamp on and off throughout the day. but they're stayign on the hot side so i thin kthey like it. I think we're getting the AC fixed pretty soon, it's a complicated problem so the company has to keep sending people out and everything.
-----
1.2.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Miniature long-haired dachsund

you can purchase a cheap aquarium thermometer for $1 at a petstore or even at something like home depot or lowes. try moving your heat lamp further and further away until you get the temp you want.

well i have a thermometor and everything and know the temps i was just wondering what was safe and if it was worth risking it being too hot.
-----
1.2.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Miniature long-haired dachsund

i understand what you were saying. too hot for a short period of time isn't a big problem. they don't all die in the wild in the event of a temperature spike. 100 degrees for two weeks straight will probably be a differet question. just watch what they do. you said that they are sitting under the heat as it is. it must not be too stressful if they are not trying to avoid it. like i said, if you are worried about it and it looks like the added heat is stressing them out, then take the heat off of them or move it back. a short extended period of time won't hurt them as long as you are not adding to the problem (heater on if room temp is 95 degrees, etc.).

yeah, i'm generally taking the heat lamp off if the room temp exceeds 80, but i'm just watching it in general. we should have the AC fixed soon so it shouldn't be a problem soon
-----
1.2.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Miniature long-haired dachsund