Questions/Thoughts on heating

[kit1212]

I was curious to see what everyone's preference or what their geckos were happier with in terms of what method of heat you provided (lamp, heat tape, heat pads, etc). I use both an over head lamp as well as a heating pad, although I'm wanting to replace the pad with another larger one that works a little better.
I've heard multiple things as far as heating techniques go so I'm just curious to see what everyone's doing so I can tweak my own setup since I'm giving my baby Pyra a whole new set up within the next month :).

[NBLADE]

I was curious to see what everyone's preference or what their geckos were happier with in terms of what method of heat you provided (lamp, heat tape, heat pads, etc). I use both an over head lamp as well as a heating pad, although I'm wanting to replace the pad with another larger one that works a little better.
I've heard multiple things as far as heating techniques go so I'm just curious to see what everyone's doing so I can tweak my own setup since I'm giving my baby Pyra a whole new set up within the next month :).

With the breeding groups that i have in racks, i use a heatmat under the last 3rd of the tub. For the groups that are in vivs i prefer to use over head heating, generally heat lamps, both methods are fine aslong as they can get to the correct temperatures.

[kit1212]

Yeah as long as they're getting the temps that they need I didn't think it would matter based off what I've seen other people do. I have Pyra on a heat pad and overhead light (I'm pretty sure its a ceramic lamp; the heat pad's not working as well as it used to so I need to replace it. I was also thinking of using a dimmer accompanied with a higher wattage bulb to further control the temp (my girl's in a viv and I know I'm kind of just jumping from one idea to the next I guess I'm kind of thinking out loud haha

[Gravelanche]

i have my leopard in a glass tank and it has been really chilly lately, lacking another method on short notice i used a space heater and pointed it at the side of the tank, after a half hour the glass at one corner of her tank was radiating a nice bit of warmth, a few times at night when she was active i saw her basking beside the glass, it was a neat change from her usual rock perch for the heat lamp.

since then i made more permanent arangements to fix the heating issue (and my hydro bill)

[kit1212]

i have my leopard in a glass tank and it has been really chilly lately, lacking another method on short notice i used a space heater and pointed it at the side of the tank, after a half hour the glass at one corner of her tank was radiating a nice bit of warmth, a few times at night when she was active i saw her basking beside the glass, it was a neat change from her usual rock perch for the heat lamp.

since then i made more permanent arangements to fix the heating issue (and my hydro bill)

I used to do something similar when I had my original trio of geckos. I put the under the tank heater on the side of the viv and they seemed to really like the way the heat radiated.

[Falconeer999]

I have mine in a 20long tank. Under 1 /3 I have a heat mat with a thermostat set to 90. In the center of the tank, I have a night heat lamp (one of the black light type ones either 45W or 60W, I forget which) that stays on all the time, with a log under it.

My gecko spends most of her time in her hide on top of the heat mat. She'll spend slightly less time on top of the log under the heat lamp, kind of basking like my dragon does. When she wants to cool down, she'll go over to the opposite side from the heat mat - temps there are around 70-73 most of the time.

[EmbraceCalamity]

I have mine in a 20long tank. Under 1 /3 I have a heat mat with a thermostat set to 90. In the center of the tank, I have a night heat lamp (one of the black light type ones either 45W or 60W, I forget which) that stays on all the time, with a log under it.

My gecko spends most of her time in her hide on top of the heat mat. She'll spend slightly less time on top of the log under the heat lamp, kind of basking like my dragon does. When she wants to cool down, she'll go over to the opposite side from the heat mat - temps there are around 70-73 most of the time.I'd suggest getting rid of the colored light and investing in a CHE. Nocturnal (technical crepuscular) geckos have night color vision that is 350x better than ours; what little light you're seeing is not what your gecko is seeing, and keeping her bathed in colored light 24/7 screws with her night/day cycle. I'd be willing to bet that if you got a CHE, she'd be out a lot more.

As for the topic, I use only a heat light right now (CHE at night) just until I can get a thermostat and a new UTH. I have it set up so that there are multiple places where flat rocks are warmed to allow her to get belly heat any time of the day if she needs it.

~Maggot

[Falconeer999]

I'd suggest getting rid of the colored light and investing in a CHE. Nocturnal (technical crepuscular) geckos have night color vision that is 350x better than ours; what little light you're seeing is not what your gecko is seeing, and keeping her bathed in colored light 24/7 screws with her night/day cycle. I'd be willing to bet that if you got a CHE, she'd be out a lot more.
~Maggot

I had read that gecko's do not see in the blue spectrum (the light actually emits a blue color). I will try the CHE though.

She's actually been out a lot more than usual the past few weeks. She allowed me to hold her for the first time last weekend. Then this weekend when I put my hand in there, she crawled up my hand and onto my arm. It was a pretty amazing moment. The first 2 months I had her if I put my hand in the tank at all, even to feed her, she'd come charging from across the tank and bite my fingers. We've come a long way.

[Gravelanche]

wow thats crazy, since the day i got mine i have been able to pick her up, she might struggle a tiny bit but as soon as she is standing on her own legs again she is fine

[Falconeer999]

I've had her for almost 6 months now. I've picked her up a few times to clean her tank but she has always tried to bite me and let out this horrible sound, almost like a baby screaming. Last 2 times she didn't try to bite. Last weekend I picked her up and she didn't struggle. Put her down on my lap and she crawled all over me before spreading out and falling asleep on my arm.

I wasn't holding her too tight when picking her up. Was very, very gentle. I've had lizards off and on for the past 30 years and never had one quite like her as far as temperament.