Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been getting many conflicting ways on how to heat up my 25 gallon tank for my gecko do i use a heat pad or a 40 WATT red light bulb or both together. please help I'm confused!

I personally think the UTH is sufficient, don't need the red bulb but make sure you have the UTH hooked up to a rheostat or a thermometer so it doesn't get too hot.

How hot is too hot? UTH is a heatng pad right? (I'm just a beginner sorry if my questions sound dumb.)

I agree with the UTH hooked to a thermostat or reostat. Belly heat is the best. Your floor only really need keep a good temp. The air temp not neccesarily need be as warm
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Even if your on the right track you will get run over if you just sit there

The warm end of the cage should be around 84-88F degrees but no more than 90F degrees.

Do I put the heating pad under the tank or under the substrate?

put it under the tank. Are you using a store bought reptile UTH or a human heat pad. Most UTH come with a sticky side that sticks right to the glass on the bottom of the tank. Some really high dollar pads ar designed to be used inside the tank they are more like rubbber matts designed for this purpose. You don't want to put any other kind on the inside.
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Even if your on the right track you will get run over if you just sit there

I dont have a UTH yet im just getting as much info as I can before actually getting my gecko. thx

oh, I see good deal. I have found that Flukers and exo-terra have the best I have got. STAY AWAY from ZOO-MED UTH I have had 2 almost burn my house down. Shorted out and actually burnt the wood shelf under them till it charred. Would have thought it a freak thing if it did not happen to me twice and a few other people I have heard the same. Make sure to use a reostat or thermostat with either of these brands they get pretty darn hot. Good luck.
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Even if your on the right track you will get run over if you just sit there

i usually buy extro-terra uths but i had to order some joint vitamins for my dogs so i went ahead an ordered a zoo med uth... ugg.. i just did that like 20 mins ago too..sigh.. has this really happen to alot of people.. having the zoo meds burn out?!?

alissa

zoomed's thermostat's aren't all that great either. i bought two of them, and they both burned out..
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GeckoFire-Dale
Proud owner of 1.3.1, AND 4 eggs in the oven
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i just plugged in my zoo med thermostat the other day.. and checked the uth temps with my digi thermometer and was like holy cow.. what the heck is wrong.. i barely have the thermostat on and its reading around 88 degrees, its fine for now ..but i wonder how hot it would have got if i cranked it up to the hot side.. i guess i'll have to buy a new one of those too.. sigh.. long day!!

alissa

I used to use one from Zoomed and didn't have any problems. Make sure there's a gap for ventillation between the UTH and the table or whatever the cage is sitting on.