Hi, I'm in the process of setting up my Leopard Gecko Viv and I thought this would be a good place to get help and advice. Firstly, I have been to 5 different pet stores and all of them have told me different things! For example: one person sold me a 100w red bulb to place on one side of the tank for heat and light instead of a heat mat and then another told me this was wrong etc..
I have purchased a Exo terra Vivarium with the measurements 24"x17.5"x17.5"
Would you say this is a suitable size for 1 gecko?
I have also purchased a uvb light to sit on top of the viv (so I can see them at night when they come out at night). I have then got a heat-mat placed on one side of the viv with a hide and damp moss inside for shedding. for a substrate I have calci-sand (I do know the risks and am considering changing it). on the cold side of the vivarium I have another hide and have the water and food dishes (i will dust the food in calcium before i give them to the gecko). I then have some plants, rock ornaments and a rock background which came with the viv. My heat mat is connected to a microclimate - ministat on/off thermostat. People have told me to use a dimming thermostat instead and others not to use one at all (If I didnt use one, how would control the temperature?) I have set the thermostat to around 30 degrees but my thermometer is telling me 31!
PLEASE HELP ME! It would really help if someone just set the record straight with me and gave me step by step what to do and how to set it up, how to get the temperature right.... Thanks.
here is a picture of my viv at the moment:
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j421/seangecko/DSCF05561.jpg
Picture of the thermostat:
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j421/seangecko/DSCF05611.jpg
Picture of the humid hide with thermometer sensor by rock(heat mat is underneath sand):
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j421/seangecko/DSCF05621.jpg
Picture of thermometer reading:
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j421/seangecko/DSCF05571.jpg
I have purchased a Exo terra Vivarium with the measurements 24"x17.5"x17.5"
Would you say this is a suitable size for 1 gecko?
I have also purchased a uvb light to sit on top of the viv (so I can see them at night when they come out at night). I have then got a heat-mat placed on one side of the viv with a hide and damp moss inside for shedding. for a substrate I have calci-sand (I do know the risks and am considering changing it). on the cold side of the vivarium I have another hide and have the water and food dishes (i will dust the food in calcium before i give them to the gecko). I then have some plants, rock ornaments and a rock background which came with the viv. My heat mat is connected to a microclimate - ministat on/off thermostat. People have told me to use a dimming thermostat instead and others not to use one at all (If I didnt use one, how would control the temperature?) I have set the thermostat to around 30 degrees but my thermometer is telling me 31!
PLEASE HELP ME! It would really help if someone just set the record straight with me and gave me step by step what to do and how to set it up, how to get the temperature right.... Thanks.
here is a picture of my viv at the moment:
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j421/seangecko/DSCF05561.jpg
Picture of the thermostat:
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j421/seangecko/DSCF05611.jpg
Picture of the humid hide with thermometer sensor by rock(heat mat is underneath sand):
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j421/seangecko/DSCF05621.jpg
Picture of thermometer reading:
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j421/seangecko/DSCF05571.jpg