UTH Recommendations for Geckos

[Asheka]

Now, I know the brand we all love but I am not willing to pay $50 shipping on the smallest UTH from Bean Farm. I am getting a mac snow leopard gecko this Friday and need a small UTH for his tank. He'll be in a 10G until I can get my 20G from my mom's. I was browsing Petsmart's website and reading reviews but would like some first hand experience from the people I trust here.

It looks like their "no name" brand is junk but I've read mixed reviews of the ZooMed (I think) and All Living Things. Anyone used these? I won't be using sub, just repticarpet and a "digging hide" so it doesn't necessarily need to be a high wattage type.

Thanks!

[soilentgringa]

Try Reptile Basics or Amazon. They also sell Ultratherms.

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[wodesorel]

I use Fluker's and Zoomed (used from adoptions). Both need a rheostat or substrate/tile or they'll run too hot.

[Asheka]

Try Reptile Basics or Amazon. They also sell Ultratherms.

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They don't ship to Canada when I was looking before

[Asheka]

I use Fluker's and Zoomed (used from adoptions). Both need a rheostat or substrate/tile or they'll run too hot.

Thanks! All the reviews I've read were very 50/50 on not enough heat, or too much. I don't know what tank and pad size they're using though.

[soilentgringa]

They don't ship to Canada when I was looking before

Ohhhh I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.

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[wodesorel]

I've got five 11x11 Flukers and two 5x8 (?) Zoomeds. The room they're in is kept to 78-80, and without restricting the heat both types of pads run around 120. With an inch of sand/cocofiber it's a perfect 90. With thick tile it's 93.

For a few of the tanks what I did instead of using a rheostat was instead drop the pad so it wasn't directly attached to the bottom. I've got wire shelves, so I ziptied them under the wire or left them below the wooden supports (for the 55 gallons that otherwise overhang the shelves) and that inch of airspace space makes it perfect. More cost effective than having to buy a bunch of rheostats. (Because three years later and I still can't find the pile that I had...)

[Asheka]

Haha thanks for the tips!Unfortunately it's going to be sitting on my desk so I can't do the same. Is it okay to put them on the side of the tank, or better underneath for digestion aide?
With Winter approaching, the room they're in will probably be a bit cooler. May just use the dimmer switch I have for the Crabitat as it doesn't need to be dimmed with the cool weather (get a new one before Summer again).

I also can't seem to find a good resource for care info. Do you know average temp needed for geckos?

[wodesorel]

They need belly heat to digest, so they have to have a toasty spot of ground to lay on. Either a UTH underneath for a warm spot or a heat lamp (controversial) to warm up a patch of the tank.

I like RFUK as they are about the latest scientific research and not about "breeders do it this way" or "I've always done it this way". They are pretty much only on Facebook these days, their forums are barren. http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/l ... sheet.html

I also joined over at Ultimate Geckos but they seem to be more about breeding than casual ownership. http://geckoforums.net/content/120-leop ... sheet.html

Cool side 70-80, warm side 90-95. A good 10 degree gradient is a must.

Check into using tile if you haven't already. Their poop smells so bad you'll probably want to be washing whatever is in there constantly! I thought my snakes were bad, but geckos are really ammonia-y and there is liquid. I got natural slate for $1.50 a square foot, and I'm planning on replacing that with some really high end ceramic stuff I got 4 for a $1 at the local Habitat for Humanity Restore. Easy to wipe clean. (I'm waiting until mine are healthy and then moving them over to a sand/cocofiber mix. I know a lot of people feel strongly about impaction though, so not many people will consider it.)

[Asheka]

Yeah, I always read (again when I was young and trusted pet stores) that they require UVB for calcium absorption but I'm finding that's not true? I was thinking one of those ceramic bulbs as I have a couple extra light fixtures still, but haven't been able to find a pro/con of using over a mat.

Hmm I may go for the tile then possibly. I forgot there is quite the odor heh Not positive where to buy from as regular floor tiles would need to be cut I'm sure...

[wodesorel]

The RFUK peeps have a stack of studies that show that UVB is beneficial. It is really controversial right now and the US keepers (and most others really) say that UVB can be harmful, but since no one does it there doesn't seem to be any proof. The arguments I'm seeing from the US side is that "breeders don't do it", but the flip side to that is that anyone with 500 animals individually binned would loose their shirts trying to provide UVB to all of them, so how trustworthy is their recommendations if it's that much of a financial blow? It's a can of worms. I don't blame anyone for not doing it, but I personally like the arguments for using it. I'm getting bulbs for my leos as soon as I can scrape up the funds to do it - it makes sense to me because my leos are always out in the daytime and diurnal reptiles need UVB. I'm not going to bother with the Fat Tailed because he only comes out after dark. I had asked the reptile rescue where I got him and they said that they don't need it but it doesn't hurt to offer it if you can.

[CallaLily]

I have an exo terra uth that so far is working well for me (for the snake, on a thermostat). I can't remember where I got it....I think maybe the Pangea store.

Your Leos are out during the day, Wode? Lizard Ninja is always tucked away until well after dark. Hmmm. His poos and such also sound a lot neater than what you're describing. Maybe yours will be less runny/stinky once they're completely back up to health....or maybe Lizard's just weird.

I'm one that uses a heat lamp with my Leo. Controversial, as Wode said, but it is what works best for us (believe me, I've tried). But definitely most feel uth is the only way to go.

[wodesorel]

I just got done feeding them because they were both out and climbing around their cages. No matter what time of the day I go in there, they're usually sitting mostly out in the open. Belle never uses any of her three hides, she just backs up sort of under the driftwood on top of the heater. Butler is usually half out of his hot hide.

I'm sure it doesn't help the smell that they go right on top of the UTH every blinkin time. :roll: I wonder that about their health as well but they're nicely formed and it hasn't changed any in a month. Blaze the AFT was stinky and first and then got less so, so I keep crossing my fingers they'll do the same. He also goes a whole lot less than them, but they're still packing on the grams and eating me to death. (6 supers each today, and they'll be hungry again by lights out. I found out how to breed those because the $30 a month worm bill for two geckos is ridiculous!)

[CallaLily]

Lizard has a potty spot too. It is in a corner, behind a hide on the warm side. If only my other pets were as neat.

How/when will you go about slowing them down on feedings? Lizard would eat nonstop if I let him! He's a piggy. There was a point where he was getting on the chubby side.

[Asheka]

So, after reading like 30 reviews and talking to the staff (our Petsmart is good for actually knowing their stuff) I bought the All Living Things one. There's a $15 difference between it and the ZooMed one, and they're both 8W, and I have 60 days to return it if I need to. I got the Repticarpet for now, but I'll look to get some tile cut in the future.
I'm getting him Friday morning, so I'll test it out tonight and replace if needed. I don't need the dimmer for the Crabitat with it getting cooler so I'll use it if necessary.