Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[bunny]

hi
i am a novice witgh lizards so please bare with me hehehe, i have a 45-46-60 exo terra viv with an 11 x 11 heatmat redheat bulb and uv light i turn uv off at night and red light but i can not get an accurate temperature, the heatmat has a thermo on it but in the day the viv says under 80f and at night it drops to 75f but my room is warm so dont understand how it needs so much heat and also where is the best place to put the internat thermometer perhaps it is in wrong place im putting it on the warm side as that is the side you need to worry about not the coll, can anyone help as this heat thing is stressing me hehehe

[Jackie]

The best thing to do would be to post a photo of your set-up. It'll be easier to see where everything is and thus give you a better answer.

You say your room is warm anyway. Switch all the heat sources off and take a reading (the middle of the viv)of the temperature. If your room temperature is between 80oF and 75oF then an added heat source isn't necessary.
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Best wishes, Jackie

3:4 Eublepharis macularius
1:0 Gekko gecko
3:4:1 R. auriculatus
1:3 R. ciliatus
1:1 R. chahoua
1:1 R. leachianus henkeli

[Scott W]

Hi Louise,

A back ground temp of anywhere between 72 - 80 should be fine, I would then put the heat mat behind the polystrene background, near the top and leave it on 24/7, only turn off if the viv goes over 82f. You shouldn't need this on a thermostat as the temp will only warm the surface of the polystrene a little...my basking spots reach 92-94f...this is without a thermostat...the geckos will happily sit on the floor when they wish, You may decide to keep the mat on the thermostat just to stop the whole cage getting too hot (probably safer in a new set up), in which case put the probe just off the surface of the back of the cage (near the top) and set it to 82f.

This is how I run my set ups (only difference being I have the heat mat on the floor).

UV, I wouldn't use unless you have live plants in but then make sure there is plenty of hiding places for you gecko.

The red bulb, get rid of, you shouldn't need it at all
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[mattie]

bunny what type of thermometer are you using? I would suggest you use a digital one, ive found the dial and mercury types are very un reliable at anything but measuring background temps

[mrcrestedgecko]

There really is no need for heat sources for crested's unless your living in a fridge or something, iv'e never heated my viv's and keep them at fluctuating room temp, they breed/lay and eat like crazy.