Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[captainmerkin]

About to order everything in for my gecko vivarium but need to clarify the lighting side of things.

I am looking at one of these for night time http://www.livefoods.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=68&products_id=373 but have no idea about the wattage to go for (36 inch viv)

I assume that this would need to be mouted on the celing to give a good heat transmission onto the floor of the viv hooked up to a thermostat, would some large rocks or cork be a good idea to absorb some heat?

I have a bunch of heat mats available and assume that one of those at the other end would make for a good gradient, but can the geckos just sit on those without getting hurt (they never seem to get too hot but just in case anyone has had bad experience).

With the red light it can also be left on at night without disruption but would I need to turn it down so the lizards are happy or simply switch it off (can reach as low as 8 C in my bedroom in winter, around 13 - 20 currently), and if so would the heat map be all they need for warmth?

think this is the last of what I need to plan so many thanks for all the help, before and after pics soon

[mattrethy]

if you have a heat mat at one end and a light bulb at the other there will be no cool end and this is a vital as a hot end!
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www.freewebs.co.uk/southeastreptiles

[captainmerkin]

okey, just thought that the heat mat would be vastly cooler than the bulb.. will forget the mat (makes things easier).

What wattage bulb would be appropriate for keeping the temp at the hot end up to a good level though?

[aidan]

if this is for a leopard gecko a heat mat is all you will need no lights they get there heat from there under side.
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2.4. beardies
1.1 fire n uce beardies
1.1.0 yemen chameleons
0.0.1 corns
0.0.2 crested geckos

[captainmerkin]

so no problem if the tank temperature drops to 8 degrees C in winter as long as it has substrate heating..

seems iffy to me

[aidan]

the heat mat will keep them warm
_________________

2.4. beardies
1.1 fire n uce beardies
1.1.0 yemen chameleons
0.0.1 corns
0.0.2 crested geckos

[mattrethy]

the heat mat will keep the temperature. no need to worry as long as its linked up with a thermostat.
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www.freewebs.co.uk/southeastreptiles

[captainmerkin]

and the thermostat would be taking the temperature of the substrate yes? not with the probe in the air?

or would I connect the probe to the actual heat matt to ensure it doesnt get too hot?

Sorry for all the questions, but since I will not be using substrate I am trying to work out how exactly this will work!

[Exalted Gecko]

Right well the first thing to say is, any heating should always be on a thermostat, no exceptions! Temps fluctuate in seasons so the heat mat must be on a thermostat and calibrated before the gecko is added to the viv.

Heat mats can get hotter than the 90F the gecko needs, if the one you use doesn't, its not working properly.

Even at 50watts the red bulb is too much heat at night.

Think about it like this, is there night time heating in the wild? Everything gets cold at night in a desert, very cold!

I dont use night heating and never had a problem, these animals like to come out at early evening (when the sun goes down) and get some extra heat but are happy with a colder night, its natural for them.
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Kind Regards,

Chris

[aidan]

UL need a substrate use sand serpent will tell you to use sand as he bred them for years and out them on sand strait way and never had anything go rong

and put it on top of the sand
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2.4. beardies
1.1 fire n uce beardies
1.1.0 yemen chameleons
0.0.1 corns
0.0.2 crested geckos