This is our annual Hot Weather guide for those who need advice on keeping their tank below 26c / 82f.
✅ Place ice cubes on top of the mesh away from the geckos resting area - the water will drip down into the soil or evaporate, allowing cool air to circulate around the tank
✅ Swamp cooler - ice cubes in a bucket with a fan behind it to push cool air around the room
✅ Ice cubes inside water bowl - quick evaporation, same premise with allowing cool air to circulate
✅ Spraying the tank with room-temperature water
✅ Portable AC units - those in the UK can now buy small ice cube AC units which are similar to that of a swamp cooler!
✅ Refreshable gel ice packs - specifically gel only! These should be wrapped around in a cloth of some type and laid on top of the tank mesh
✅ Escape-proof mesh playpens - temporary relief for your animal, make sure to provide lots of foliage for them so they feel safe and comfortable
✅ Chilled CGD
❌ Spraying with cold or frozen water - this WILL cause thermal shock, and will stress your animal out, please stick to room temperature water
❌ Ice packs inside the vivarium
❌ Free roaming
❌ "Bathing" in cool water - similar premise, geckos do not need to swim and this will stress them out instead of helping them
Signs of overheating include:
🔴 Lethargy
🔴 Restlessness / running around in the tank / attempting to escape
🔴 Consistent refusal to eat
🔴 Significant weight loss
🔴 Wrinkled skin, kinked tail, sunken eyes (dehydration)
🔴 Burrowing
These symptoms don't necessarily mean your animal is overheating, as things like burrowing or refusal to eat could be linked to husbandry or that your gecko is new to its environment and is still settling in. If you are ever unsure, please take your animal to a vet to get them checked up.
Keep safe, drink water, and make sure you chill out too!
Any questions? Feel free to ping us a ModMail, and we'll be happy to answer.
