Reptile & Amphibian Forums

the room i keep my gecko in is constanly around 85-88 degrees and i don't have an option to keep it in a cooler room. with a heating pad under the tank the hot side is around 90.8 and the cool side is around 86.7.

is the temp gradient too low? should i even use a thermal pad since the room is constantly 85? should i put a fan over the cool side to add wind chill?

thanks in advance for any advice.

What size tank is it? A longre tank would not only provide more room for your gecko to roam, but would help provide a larger thermogradient. If you are in something like a 10gallon, try upgrading to something like a 20gLong, or something similiar that is about 36inches long.
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

i'll have to doublecheck that i have the room for a 20gal, i'm at 10 right now. but even if i do upgrade i'll still have the cool side at 85 or slightly more, even at night.

i'll be moving within a year so hopefully i'll have a better room to keep her in, but for now i'm pretty limited.

I would try giving her more space first, its pretty hard to get a good thermogradient in a ten gallon anyway cause its so short. If the bigger tank doesn't do it then i would try installing a fan somewhere in the room to circulate air. Dont point the fan directly at the tank, and be very careful to closel monitor the temps for the first few days and adjust as necessary
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

i guess i'll check into a 20 gal. i may have to wait a while before i can get a new tank though.

thanks!

well, seems i don't have the room yet nor a table big enough to hold the 20 gal (long) tank. so for now i'll have to stick with the 10 gal. boy do they look nice! i'd love one if i were a leo!

i did buy a ir themometer and found that my hot side floor was frickin 117 F! no wonder she never hangs out there. i've turned off the heat pad for now. i think i'll either need to get a smaller pad or build or buy a rheostat. i'm pretty sure radio shack should have the part.

as for the temp gradient, it's now 86 and 83. 86 on the hot side b/c that's closest to all my computers

will this be good. this gradient is going to last til winter or until i move... that'll be after the baby comes (human baby btw ).