Major problem with thermostat set up, really need some help.

kiiarah · 11-17-14, 02:24 PM

I just got a new leopard gecko the other day. When I picked him up I knew I needed a thermostat and UTH, so I picked up both. The thermostat is Reptitemp 500R model and has the dial adjustment for temps. Even though this is a bit inconvenient, it should be possible to find the right dial setting to get about an 88-92 temp range in the hot hide. I thought I had this right, I watched it shut off at 91 (climb a bit higher to about 92) and drop to 87.5 before kicking back on. I left for work and when I came home his hot hide was at 101. Nobody had touched the dial, the thermostat probe is taped to the UTH on the bottom of the tank, the only thing in the tank that could have been moved is the digital thermometer probe (which is resting under the paper towel bedding and is not taped down, is it safe to use tape in a gecko habitat?). Last night I manually adjusted it down until again it seemed to be getting to about 91 before shutting off and turning on around 87 but this morning I got up and it was at 83.5 and still had not turned on. I don't understand why it would be so unpredictable. At this point I am feeling like just giving up on it and ordering another Hydrofarm (which seems to work perfectly on my ball pythons enclosure) but I hate to just throw away the money spent if there is a chance of getting this right. Maybe I am doing something wrong? Does anyone have any suggestions I could try, I am at my wits end here.

**Aaron_S** · 11-17-14, 02:32 PM

You're using it wrong. You should be attaching the probe to the UTH directly. You then use a thermometer or temp gun to see what the temps are on the hot side. You adjust the dial accordingly until it's right.

kiiarah · 11-17-14, 02:36 PM

I may not have been clear in the first post, didn't sleep much last night. The thermostat probe is taped to the UTH and is under the tank. The only thing in the tank is the thermometer probe which is on the glass under the hot hide. I have adjusted the dial until it operating in the correct temperature zone, the problem is that it doesn't stay there. I will watch it kick on at 88 degrees, wake up the next day and find it at 84 degrees and still not kicked on. Or watch it shut off and 91 and come home to find it at 101. It does not continue to shut off where I leave it set to, I can find the setting that seems to shut off at the right temp but within a few hours it is not longer running in the same range.

**Aaron_S** · 11-17-14, 02:38 PM

Try changing placement of the probe. One of the two probes could also be faulty.

Also, don't use tape inside an enclosure.

kiiarah · 11-17-14, 02:46 PM

I had a feeling tape in the enclosure was a no-no, so no tape in the enclosure. I suppose the probe readings could be somewhat variable since the thermometer probe is loose, but it is being held down by the paper towel and the hide itself, so it shouldn't be moving too much. I do think he frequently lies on the thermometer probe, would this mess up the readings? I can move it so that it is in a different location where it isn't so easy for him to nap on top of it. I am watching it now and it just turned on at 87.4 and shut off at 90. Should the room temperature cause a major change? I mean if it is reading the UTH temp it seems like room temperature should be irrelevant, but I may not be understanding it properly.

**Aaron_S** · 11-17-14, 04:59 PM

Of course the napping on the probe is going to change things. You've got a lizard that's raising it's body temperatures (and reptiles will raise it above our body temps) laying on top of the probe. Thus insulating it, helping increase the temps higher most likely.

Your best bet is to buy a temp gun and use that.

kiiarah · 11-19-14, 05:04 AM

Well good news I think, I haven't seen any crazy spikes or drops since my last post. I am not sure if the thing just needed time to stabilize or if I am just getting used to how it works but I think it is going to be manageable after all. I am still watching it closely and I think I have the thermometer probe positioned so that he won't sleep on it, but I will keep an eye on him just in case. Thank you by the way for being so helpful to not just me but all the new keepers that come here for support and advice. It is tremendously appreciated. =)

KavomatovlHes · 01-11-15, 05:21 PM

Thanks Sakke I'll try that tonight and let you guys know, I really appreciate the help This forum is such a huge help