Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ive st up my viv and im rying to fine tune my temps. problem is the heat gradiant is massive. its only a 24inch lng tank. its down at 6 on one end and at like 90 at the other. ive just tried mving my heat mat across a bit sorta 3 inches (its an 11 x 11) ive moved it across to try and get the temp better will that work im not goign to put it in the middle but that could be a thought if the grad is big enoug with a hideon each side and ahumid in the middle. has anybody else got any other sugestions without spending a fortune on heat bulbs and more thermostats?

Do you have any bulbs at all? Try a red light bulb (they are usually around 45wts)and place it in the middle of the tank, it's usually enough to bring up the temps to where they are needed.
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Katie F.
Peach State Geckos
Breeding Mealworms
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"A herper's life is never dull" - ME

can you get bayonet ones? cos thats what i need

What are you using to measure the temps? Stick on strip and dial thermometers are extremely inacurate, the one i used to have in my beardies tank was 15degrees off! Buy a digital thermometer with a probe at walmart. They have a digital reading and a wire with a probe on the end that you can place anywhere to get a more acurate reading. The best method of temp measuring though is with a temp gun, you can buy them pretty cheap at proexotics.com. I would at least get the digi though, your temps may be higher than you think
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

i have those sick on dial ones but if i put them in the same place then they read the same so im confident about their temps and it fels cold at that end as well

I would still get a digital, I really hate those stick on ones, i have had them tell me all sorts of weird stuff. Both my stick on dials in my beardie cage still says its 90degrees even though the digital reads 110. Even so...I would add a small heat bulb. When you say "bayonet" ones do you mean the small (3 to 4inch) florescent ones? Is the lid on your tank a fish tank lid with one of two available screw ins for flurescent tubes? If it is the kind that allows for two small flourescent bulbs you can buy heated ones at the petstore, i believe T-Rex makes them. If it one has room for one long flourescent then i would just get a screen lid and a basking lamp.

good luck
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

i think ive got it ok. well see

Awesome! Adjusting temps is such a pain in the butt! When i moved my beardie from her 55 to her 90gallon it took my weeks to get the temps to where i wanted them!
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

i cant get it at high 80's
i got it ther and tried to fine tunea nd its gone crap since then. im relay anoyed cos it goes form 80 to 95 icnat get 88
its not fair