Reptile & Amphibian Forums

okay so now that i got YOUR attention.... im changing the 60 watt bulb to a 75 watt and im looking to see if that will make a difference... im covering half of the top of the tank with one of my year books to see if the temp goes up... ahhhhhhh this is insane... and so annoying..
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1 leopard gecko- corona
1 japanese chin pup- layla
1 kitty- libby
1 fishie- hoodlum

Where are you measureing the temp? In the air or on the ground of the hot side?

You should use a digi thermometer with a probe and place the probe on the ground on the warm side right above the UTH.

If you are measureing the air and are using a UTH and A light I would bet your temps are too high not low.

Using a reostat or a thermostat will also help you acheve proper temps.
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Sarah H

www.fototime.com/inv/500FFD9910FF842
[email]ghia12345@aol.com[email]

I just read your other post, I would bet your temp are way too high, not low. Those sticky thermometers are crap. The belly heat is what counts not really the air temp.

The temp that needs to be around 90 degrees is the surface of the warm side. Usually UTHs themselves run way over 90 degrees if you don't have a thermostat or reostat to bring them down a little.

to measure the surface temp above the heater, get a digi thermometer with a probe fron walmart or somewhere like that.
Even better are those little temp guns you can get for like 25 dollars.
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Sarah H

www.fototime.com/inv/500FFD9910FF842
[email]ghia12345@aol.com[email]

i made the same mistake of measuring air temp when i first got a gecko. i am surprised i didn't fry the poor thing! also, you can always make a guess by watching where they spend all their time- if they spend it all in the cold side, or in their humid hide, the tank is too warm. if they spend it all huddled on the warm side, tank is too cold. if some on each, all is well. assuming your gecko isn't too scared to come out when people are around, that can effect their thermoregulating. if you're really in doubt, get a repti-hammock, it gives them another level to chose from in terms of temperature.
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marla
currently: 0.0.9 catfish, 0.1 ferrets, 0.0.2 strawberry hermit crabs, 2.8.3 leopard geckoes, 0.0.13 oriental fire-bellied toads, and 0.2.0 sugar gliders

eh... why not just use a UTH? get the right size, problem should be solved. covering the top will just raise humidity (which is good anyway).
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marla
currently: 0.0.9 catfish, 0.1 ferrets, 0.0.2 strawberry hermit crabs, 2.8.3 leopard geckoes, 0.0.13 oriental fire-bellied toads, and 0.2.0 sugar gliders