Crested Geckos Advice on Overheating and Underheating

[Crestie Chris]

I nearly had a heart attack this morning when I woke up looked at the temps, which were about 72 and 69, went downstairs to have a piece of toast and a cup of tea came back up to say goodbye and was shocked to find the tems had gone to 81 and 90 I quickly opened the window, closed the curtains and wafted air into the viv, after about 5 mins I managed to bring the temps down to about 75 and 78..... my little guy seems fine (he was actually looking at me over his shoulder whilst I was waving a book up and down) now the temps are at 72 and 74 *phew* dodged a bullet there, I now know not to open the curtains in my room until about 12pm when the sun is out, this has never happened before :S and lets hope it doesn't happen again

[smileybones]

I'm starting to think about getting equipment ready for the winter for my cresties as our house can get very cold.

I'm still confused which is better, using a mat or light to heat the terrarium..

I do have a heat mat and stat from when I got Ludo and it was still cold, but now I've got Sarah I'm wanting to invest in new equipment.

Would anybody be kind enough to recommend the exact equipment they use? I would be very greatful!

[sparkle]

HI smileybones my house doesnt get cold enough to warrant heating equipment but I think a bulb outside the tank if it has a mesh lid .. as long as you use a dimmer stat is preferable as this raises the ambient temp better than a heat mat could. Also if the bulb is outside the tank there is less concern over problems with spraying water with a bulb in the tank.
I would have some some trials with a digital themometer or a temp gun.. before you actually use the tank if thats possible..

This means you can callibrate the tmps and take readings before the crestie goes into the tank.

when taking the readings, place the probe from the dimmer thermostat in the tank and move it around until you get the right ambient temp.. the dimmer stat will have a dial on it but often the temp ini the tank wont match what is on the dial so only use th dial as a rough guide.. always make sure the actual temp is taken digitally and dont use one of the strip themometers they are very innacuarate.

If you need to ask anything else pleased do

[smileybones]

Originally Posted by sparkle

HI smileybones my house doesnt get cold enough to warrant heating equipment but I think a bulb outside the tank if it has a mesh lid .. as long as you use a dimmer stat is preferable as this raises the ambient temp better than a heat mat could. Also if the bulb is outside the tank there is less concern over problems with spraying water with a bulb in the tank.
I would have some some trials with a digital themometer or a temp gun.. before you actually use the tank if thats possible..

This means you can callibrate the tmps and take readings before the crestie goes into the tank.

when taking the readings, place the probe from the dimmer thermostat in the tank and move it around until you get the right ambient temp.. the dimmer stat will have a dial on it but often the temp ini the tank wont match what is on the dial so only use th dial as a rough guide.. always make sure the actual temp is taken digitally and dont use one of the strip themometers they are very innacuarate.

If you need to ask anything else pleased do

Thank you very much Sparkle, that was very helpful! I'm going to start looking into it, I may well need advise on what wattage/size to get for the bulb though! Thank you again

[smileybones]

Following on from the above, I've been looking at the equipment I should buy.. this is what I've been looking at:

Habistat dimming thermostat x2
Zoo Med clamp lamp in either 14cm or 22cm x2
Infrared spot lamp 60w x2

What do you think?

I have my male crestie in a 45x45x60 exo terra and the female in a smaller one (soon to be upgraded)

If you think clamp lamps are a good idea which size do you think is best?

Do you think there is a way of purhaps buying a bigger lamp and arranging it so it heats both terrariums? Obviously I don't want to do anything detrimental to my little ones.

[x pinkorchid x]

very intresting read

[emmaw]

What is the lowest temp a crestie could happily drop to overnight? My house gets cold and I already have 2 heatmats on a stat overnight and a bulb during the day, but he has dropped to 16 deg C (61f) overnight with the mats left on?!
Thanks

[sparkle]

Originally Posted by emmaw

What is the lowest temp a crestie could happily drop to overnight? My house gets cold and I already have 2 heatmats on a stat overnight and a bulb during the day, but he has dropped to 16 deg C (61f) overnight with the mats left on?!
Thanks

Hi emma

is that 61 air temperature or 61 reading it off the mat?

[sparkle]

Originally Posted by smileybones

Following on from the above, I've been looking at the equipment I should buy.. this is what I've been looking at:

Habistat dimming thermostat x2
Zoo Med clamp lamp in either 14cm or 22cm x2
Infrared spot lamp 60w x2

What do you think?

I have my male crestie in a 45x45x60 exo terra and the female in a smaller one (soon to be upgraded)

If you think clamp lamps are a good idea which size do you think is best?

Do you think there is a way of purhaps buying a bigger lamp and arranging it so it heats both terrariums? Obviously I don't want to do anything detrimental to my little ones.

HI I think I pm'd you with some info.. if not let me know

x

[emmaw]

Originally Posted by sparkle

Hi emma

is that 61 air temperature or 61 reading it off the mat?

Hi, that's the air temp.