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gecko enclosure in a cold room. advice needed.

 
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scrambled legs
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 55
Location: suffolk

PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:38 pm    Post subject: gecko enclosure in a cold room. advice needed. Reply with quote

hi all..

need some good advice here please.

i've got my 18x18x24 exo terra all set up for 2 future females,

i have a 20w heatmat stuck to the right hand side of the enclosure, with a thermostat that is set to 26c. it is stuck to the top half of the glass wall.

the probe for the thermostat temp is taped on the inside of the glass the other side of the mat. it is also connected to a digital thermometer.

i live in a listed building that is always cool. my tortoise room stays at 20c upstairs but the gecko enclosure is in the living room.

ok so the hot end of the viv will stay around 26c, .. the cold end is from 13c to 15c.
gradually increasing to the temp of the warm end.

i know geckos don't like too much heat but i know i've got to increase the temps a tiny bit in the cold end.

i have several heatmats, the next size up is 28 watts and it will take up the whole right side wall. should i try that?

this weekend i'm buying the top canopy for the 5.0 uvb light,

do i need an extra form of heating?

i'm at work right now, the next opportunity i have, i'll post some pics today.

thanks

Neil.
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1.2.0. Geochelone pardalis
0.0.1. Testudo marginata
0.1.3. Kinixys homeana
crested geckos, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, cat, jackapoo, poodle, a gazillion fish.
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Jase
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Joined: 24 Feb 2007
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Location: Wolverhampton

PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Edit: Never mind.... Laughing
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scrambled legs
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 55
Location: suffolk

PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

enclosed are some pics,

firstly, the probe and thermometer probe next to the mat ,

my choice of heatmats, she smaller is 20w and larger is 28w,

one of the viv so far.

hopefully with the weather getting warmer, i shouldn't have too much of a problem getting the enclosure to raise temps.

does anyone use only bulbs and no heatmats? does it work better?






cheers

Neil.
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1.2.0. Geochelone pardalis
0.0.1. Testudo marginata
0.1.3. Kinixys homeana
crested geckos, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, cat, jackapoo, poodle, a gazillion fish.
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joffy666
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Joined: 14 Feb 2008
Posts: 173
Location: Suffolk

PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm no expert, only got my 1st ever gecko a few days ago, but in my 18x18x24 exo terra I have a single 60w infrared bulb on a thermostat to boost temps as the room can get very cold.

My temps are around 73f/23c at the moment.

From my research, lamps are better for cresties.
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Ailurus
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Joined: 14 Sep 2006
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Location: Hertfordshire, England

PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

heat lamps are alot better for crestes than a heater pad, because cresties cannot absorb heat through their underside, so a heat mat is not beneficial, it will heat the air, but not as well as a lamp, a good one would be a red lamp as these produce heat, but also geckos cannot see red lght so wold till appear dark to them at night, it also allows you to see them in the evening.

hope this helps. i am sure someone will correct me if i am wrong, but that is what i have heard/read
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scrambled legs
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 55
Location: suffolk

PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cheers fellow suffolk person,

like i said above, i'm about to buy the top canopy thing for the exo terra at the weekend, i think i'd rather have a bulb that heated but wasn't bright for them.

i'm sure i'll work out some kind of combination.....

cheers

Neil...
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1.2.0. Geochelone pardalis
0.0.1. Testudo marginata
0.1.3. Kinixys homeana
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joffy666
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I looked into those canopies but don't think they were suitable for the bulbs i wanted to use. I just got the exo terra lamp that clamps onto the edge of the mesh top fine.
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Scott W
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Joined: 15 Apr 2004
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Location: London, England.

PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Neil,

Where do the geckos spend most of their time? Are they able to get close to the side heat mat and feel safe / secure?

I would say that overall the temps you have said will be fine, they will slow right down in the winter but overall they shouldn't have any problems.
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scrambled legs
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 55
Location: suffolk

PostPosted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for all of your replies,

i've been busy at work on the enclosure the last couple of days, i've got all the temps spot on.

scott, the enclosure is vacant so far, i just want everything to be perfect for when i buy some cresties.

i bought the 45cm top canopy yesterday, i spent the afternoon re-wiring the whole thing so that the bulbs had a wallplug each independantly. when i first got it home, both bulbs were wired up to one plug Rolling Eyes i also got some aluminium plate and improved the reflectors on the underneath.
its perfect now.

now i have a 5.0 uvb bulb on one side and a 25w red bulb on the other.

the uvb is set to dawn and dusk with a 24h timer.

the red bulb is set to a thermostat and keeps the hotter top end at 26-27c.
using an infrared thermometer the lower area is 20c.

thanks for all your input, i'm glad i use a bulb for heat.

cheers

Neil. Cool
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1.2.0. Geochelone pardalis
0.0.1. Testudo marginata
0.1.3. Kinixys homeana
crested geckos, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, cat, jackapoo, poodle, a gazillion fish.
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