Leopard Gecko

[Genie]

ok, ive been reading other topics and know something like kitchen roll is much better than say wood chips/shavings. But my sisters gecko just died, and when picked up it was wayyy hot. how do you avoid them over heating? Ive only got space for an under tank heater and hes been fine with that and wood shavings til now. Now im very worried that something will happen to mine, such as over heating. the heat mat only covers a small side of the tank, so i wouldve thought he'd just move if he was too hot? Im very confused right now

 

[Betta5]

For some reason, reptiles are a bit dumb when it comes to knowing whats to hot. Many snakes will wrap around a heat lamp and get burned. Any how, the heat mat MUST be on a thermostat, without one the heat mat can reach and exceed 100F (im not sure what measurement lol but it gets damn hot) and will over heat your leopard gecko. Also kitchen roll is very good. I read on another forum about leopard geckos toes getting caught in reptile carpet and they can get ill from wood shavings i think.

A simple thermostat that costs about 20 pounds will keep the heatmat at a nice temp and keep your reptiles happy. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Jaiden]

Reptiles can get seriously harmed or killed by direct heat. They don't have nerve endings in their skin like humans do, their heat sensors are internal. So if you have, say a heat lamp above their terrarium, it will keep the area warm without chance of scalding.

Substrate heaters could possibly be dangerous if they're able to remove the substrate and come in contact with it directly. Same with heat rocks, if you've seen those. I'd recommend sand as substrate. Kitchen roll would work, just make sure it can't touch the heat pad directly

 

[Esfa]

yup, as long as your gecko cant get into direct contact with their heat source, they will be fine,

 

[Betta5]

Reptiles can get seriously harmed or killed by direct heat. They don't have nerve endings in their skin like humans do, their heat sensors are internal. So if you have, say a heat lamp above their terrarium, it will keep the area warm without chance of scalding.

Substrate heaters could possibly be dangerous if they're able to remove the substrate and come in contact with it directly. Same with heat rocks, if you've seen those. I'd recommend sand as substrate. Kitchen roll would work, just make sure it can't touch the heat pad directly

yup, as long as your gecko cant get into direct contact with their heat source, they will be fine,

this is unture, a heatmat on the outside can still overheat the tank without the gecko touching it. Get a thremostat, if its on a thermostat even if the gecko did get to it no harm should be done. Sand it a bad substrate, they arnt on it in the wild and arnt build for it. They are made to live on flat rocks so slate/kitchen roll are good substrates

 

[Esfa]

this is unture, a heatmat on the outside can still overheat the tank without the gecko touching it. Get a thremostat, if its on a thermostat even if the gecko did get to it no harm should be done. Sand it a bad substrate, they arnt on it in the wild and arnt build for it. They are made to live on flat rocks so slate/kitchen roll are good substrates

My yup was agreeing with the thermostat comment. What i meant was if you have a thermostat and your gecko cant touth the heat source, it will be fine.

 

[cheesy feet]

I can't see how it cooked itself alive tbh, you should only have a heatmat covering 1/3 of the enclosure, and hides at seperate ends, so that the leo can thermoregulate, control its temp.Maybe the heatmat was covering the whole of the vivarium without a thermostat? Maybe it was scared to go to the other side because there were no hides, and there was not a thermostat?Or maybe it was seriously stupid...highly unlikely.Or it might of even been something else?

In my enclosures I have heatmats covering just over 1/3 of the tank, which are placed underneath the glass, with cheapo kitchen roll covering the inside glass.I then have habistat mat stats controlling the temp.

Its true most reptiles don't have nerves like us, my old corn snake managed to squeeze through a gap in a heater guard one night, obviously feeling it needed to be warmer.In the morning I found it crouched in striking position cooked alive.

 

[Betta5]

I can't see how it cooked itself alive tbh, you should only have a heatmat covering 1/3 of the enclosure, and hides at seperate ends, so that the leo can thermoregulate, control its temp.Maybe the heatmat was covering the whole of the vivarium without a thermostat? Maybe it was scared to go to the other side because there were no hides, and there was not a thermostat?Or maybe it was seriously stupid...highly unlikely.Or it might of even been something else?

In my enclosures I have heatmats covering just over 1/3 of the tank, which are placed underneath the glass, with cheapo kitchen roll covering the inside glass.I then have habistat mat stats controlling the temp.

Its true most reptiles don't have nerves like us, my old corn snake managed to squeeze through a gap in a heater guard one night, obviously feeling it needed to be warmer.In the morning I found it crouched in striking position cooked alive.

Maybe the cooler side was to cold??? and poor corn snake, did you not use a heatmat? yeah maybe the heatmat covered the whole tank

this is unture, a heatmat on the outside can still overheat the tank without the gecko touching it. Get a thremostat, if its on a thermostat even if the gecko did get to it no harm should be done. Sand it a bad substrate, they arnt on it in the wild and arnt build for it. They are made to live on flat rocks so slate/kitchen roll are good substrates

My yup was agreeing with the thermostat comment. What i meant was if you have a thermostat and your gecko cant touth the heat source, it will be fine.

Sorry must have read it differently

 

[Jaiden]

this is unture, a heatmat on the outside can still overheat the tank without the gecko touching it.

I realize that. I just meant that they can't tell when their skin is being scorched until it's too late. They're less likely to be killed by heat if you have an external heat lamp and/or substrate heater set up properly.

Sand it a bad substrate, they arnt on it in the wild and arnt build for it. They are made to live on flat rocks so slate/kitchen roll are good substrates

My Leopard lived quite happily on ground walnut shell for the 2 years I had him. I had to recently sell him because I'm downsizing my zoo, but he was happy and healthy. He had stones to climb on, and the stones were near enough to the heat lamp that they retained heat through out the night for him.

I'd strongly recommend a heat lamp instead of a substrate heater if you're concerned about scorching.

 

[Genie]

i was told i didnt need a thermostat, not the first time a pet shops done me wrong.
There was always wood shavings over the glass, and the heatmat under the glass. It was when the substrate was changed to blue roll (not kitchen roll i might add- a thing i found was suggested by my dad, not me) that the gecko died. The heatmat covers less than half the tank, so Id guess at a third, and im pretty sure his hide was at the other side.
I will purchase a thermostat asap, then persevere with kitchen roll. Dont want lil thing to get ill from wood shavings.
Just wish i had more say in the other pets in the house. Obviously parents get final say so, and its hard to dissuade otherwise. dreading when the voice of reason moves out
thank you for your help