Thermostat Sensor Placement

[emmceefarland]

Good morning everyone

I know where to place the thermostat sensor for the UTH (under the substrate/mat on top of the UTH) but where do I place the sensor for the lamp? Maybe I haven't searched enough but I just can't find guidance on this.

Thank you

Kyle

 

[emmceefarland]

Thanks. Yes 10 gallon is tight. Working on getting a 20-long (fingers crossed c'mon Craigslist!)

So for the UTH I don't put it under the mat that is under the dry hide but instead just on the mat? Makes sense. Saw a video (the one posted with a care sheet here) where the teacher had the probe under the tile to assist. And with that then also put the light thermostat probe right on the mat and not on the tank?

Again all, sorry for the Noobish questions but want to do this right and have a happy gecko.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks. Yes 10 gallon is tight. Working on getting a 20-long (fingers crossed c'mon Craigslist!)

So for the UTH I don't put it under the mat that is under the dry hide but instead just on the mat? Makes sense. Saw a video (the one posted with a care sheet here) where the teacher had the probe under the tile to assist. And with that then also put the light thermostat probe right on the mat and not on the tank?

Again all, sorry for the Noobish questions but want to do this right and have a happy gecko.

First try using your 4 x 7 inch UTH (heat pad) all by itself. What temps do you get?

Just checking: Did you place your 4 x 7 inch heat pad underneath the tank?

Which thermostats did you get?

Place the UTH thermostat's probe right ON the carpet/tile, not UNDER the carpet/tile. Place the lamp dome thermostat's probe 4 inches above ground on the warm end to measure the air temperature.

Video guy Tony sandwiched his UTH probe between two tiles in the far left corner.

Yes, "fingers crossed c'mon Craigslist"! Some Big Box stores offer $-per-gallon sales frequently. When you score a 20 long: 30 x 12 x 12 get a Ultratherm 11 x 17 inch heat mat. Your leo will love it.

Here's a homemade humid hide. Sand the edges of the opening or melt them with a soldering iron.


Click: Leopard Gecko Care Sheet (abbreviated) -- February 2018 (show handout)

 

[emmceefarland]

For the UTH I got the Jump Start MTPRTC as Tony had. Any suggestion for the other (the one he recommended from Big Apple Herps is out of stock. (The Jump Start arrives tomorrow; hence why getting heating and temps down prior to getting gecko! I did not get into school administration for nothing!)

Once I get the temps I will post.

Again, thanks for all. Any assisstance is always appreciated.

Kyle

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

For the UTH I got the Jump Start MTPRTC as Tony had. Any suggestion for the other (the one he recommended from Big Apple Herps is out of stock. (The Jump Start arrives tomorrow; hence why getting heating and temps down prior to getting gecko! I did not get into school administration for nothing!)

Once I get the temps I will post.

Again, thanks for all. Any assisstance is always appreciated.

Kyle

You're welcome.

:yahoo: on research prior to getting your leo!

I'd get 2 Jump Start thermostats. Digital thermostats are much easier to set than the Zilla (analog) thermostat Tony shows in his video. You can see the current temperature at a glance!

 

[emmceefarland]

So developing situation (!!!)...My Biology teacher just gave me a 30-gallon old terrarium. Needs to be cleaned but try to salvage and use that or still wait for a 20?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

So developing situation (!!!)...My Biology teacher just gave me a 30-gallon old terrarium. Needs to be cleaned but try to salvage and use that or still wait for a 20?

A 30 gallon: 30 x 12 x 18 will be more difficult to heat. You might use that till you get a 20 long.

I suggest a Fluker's 10 inch diameter dome lamp to house a ceramic heat emitter. That's best to direct the heat downward.

 

[emmceefarland]

I got the 20-gallon tank! So I need the 11x17 UTH, should I get the ceramic heat lamp for supplement? What I have learned about repitles in the last 12-hours is more than I have learned in the previous 41 years!!! So according to Tony's video he had the heat lamp and mat on the left side of the tank and the cool side/food/water on the right side. I know I am generalizing this a bit but am I on the right track?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I got the 20-gallon tank! So I need the 11x17 UTH, should I get the ceramic heat lamp for supplement? What I have learned about repitles in the last 12-hours is more than I have learned in the previous 41 years!!! So according to Tony's video he had the heat lamp and mat on the left side of the tank and the cool side/food/water on the right side. I know I am generalizing this a bit but am I on the right track?

Are you trying harder or is it GU?

Yes, a ceramic heat emitter for the dome lamp. I've had good luck with PetSmart's All Living Things brand, but NOT Exo Terra! If this is for school and the heat's turned off at night and on the weekends, maybe a 100 watt CHE? Don't let air temps get too warm.

Ultratherm 11 x 17 UTHs are more reliable than Fluker's.

Heat mat and lamp on warm end.

Temperatures - A temperature gradient from warm to cool maintains your leo's health. Here's a temperature guide for all leopard geckos as measured with the probe of a digital thermometer or a temp gun (and controlled by a thermostat set at 91*F/32.8*C):

• 88-92 F (31.1-33.3 C) ground temperature right underneath a leo's warm dry hide
• no greater than 82ish F (27.8ish C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
• no greater than 75 F (23.9 C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

Leave the UTH on 24/7. At night turn off overhead lighting/heating (~12 hours on and ~12 hours off) unless ambient room temperatures drop lower than 67ish*F (19.4*C).

 

[emmceefarland]

Hopefully last question. Put the thermostat sensors on top of the tile (one in the dry hide set at approximately 90) and one on the tile where? The temp suggestions up there say 82 degrees 4 inches from ground on dry end, so do I put the sensor 4-inches up on the wall? That is the confusing part (and to think I was a Biology teacher and can't get this down!)

 

[~D~]

No, you want the sensor in contact with the surface of the floor. You want the surface temp to be around 90F, and that should be hot enough to heat the air above the surface to 75F+. It needs to be measured with a temperature gun (IR, laser). I keep a regular digital thermometer about half-way up the wall on the hot side and it reads 75F-80F depending on my house temperature. Cold side temps follow house temp, so I don't worry much about that. I don't use any lamp, the Fluker 11x17 UTH I use with the Jump Start thermostat gets plenty hot enough (24x18 floor).

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hopefully last question. Put the thermostat sensors on top of the tile (one in the dry hide set at approximately 90) and one on the tile where? The temp suggestions up there say 82 degrees 4 inches from ground on dry end, so do I put the sensor 4-inches up on the wall? That is the confusing part (and to think I was a Biology teacher and can't get this down!)

So as not to confuse anyone I deleted my initial post on this thread.

The lamp sensor's thermostat could dangle in the warm end or be placed on the tank's wall.

When your Jump Start arrives, set it at 91 F. It takes a day or so for temperatures to stabilize.

First try the 11 x 17 inch heat mat by itself to see where your temperatures are!

 

[emmceefarland]

So here is the new setup (minus the little guy until get heat figured out!)
11x17 UTH on the left side. Thermostat probe under dry hide. Thermometer/hygrometer middle of the tank 4-inches from the tile.

Hopefully the UTH does the trick. Do have a 100w ceramic heater ready to go with another thermostat coming tomorrow. Fingers crossed! Little guy possibly Sunday!!!!!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Your enclosure looks good! :banana:

How about adding a 3rd hide, a humid hide, on the warm end?

 

[emmceefarland]

Going to get that last piece today.

As long as the thermostat is registering at 90 we should be good, right?

Either I have the WORST digial laster thermometer or I am doing something wrong. I think we are good though

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Going to get that last piece today.

As long as the thermostat is registering at 90 we should be good, right?

Either I have the WORST digial laster thermometer or I am doing something wrong. I think we are good though

Did you set the thermostat @ 91*F? The temps can vary +/- 3*F after the thermostat turns off the UTH and before it turns the UTH back on.

I verify the thermostat's reading with a digital thermometer's probe.

I have a pretty good laser thermometer. However, it seems to read "all over the place"! I'm not sure about this??? It seems like the further away you are from the spot you're interested in the greater the variation??? I have not used mine very much.

What's happening with yours?

 

[emmceefarland]

Same thing/ +- 3 (which I am good with). This is where the OCD kicks in. So I think we are good. Getting one more hide today for moist so tomorrow is the big day!

My 7 year old has already picked out a name...Baby Lizard (to go along with baby lion, baby tiger, baby bird, baby frog...) See the pattern!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Same thing/ +- 3 (which I am good with). This is where the OCD kicks in. So I think we are good. Getting one more hide today for moist so tomorrow is the big day!

My 7 year old has already picked out a name...Baby Lizard (to go along with baby lion, baby tiger, baby bird, baby frog...) See the pattern!

:coverlaugh: "baby" this, "baby" that! Is your 7 yo the family baby?

How are you doing for supplements?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

What about "baby gecko"?

 

[emmceefarland]

I have the calcium with D3 supplement already. Going to pick up the multi with out D3 today. Anything I am missing?