Help Needed Deciding on UTH

We just bought a 20 gallon long tank, and two leopard geckos. The kit came with one of the red heat lamps. I've been doing some reading and it seems that a UTH would be a better option for the leos. Plus, I hate the red light. It washes out the pretty colors on the lizards and it just doesn't look good in the living room. I need help determining what size UTH to buy?? I plan on putting it on thermostat. Any recommendations on thermostats?

I am also thinking about putting a low wattage daylight florescent on the tank with a 12/12 schedule for viewing. I think it would make the tank look better, but I don't want to make the leos uncomfortable. Do you think a cool white or daylight lamp would be ok for this purpose?

P.S. I am using Zilla Desert Blend Ground English Walnut Shells as a substrate.

Thank you

Welcome to GF. My UTH preference is the Zoo-med heat cable. It's a rubber coated cable that you tape onto the bottom of the enclosure in a sine-wave configuration (there are instructions with the package and an illustration). The best thing about it is that you can put it in any configuration you want and then you can take off the tape and use it somewhere else. The best tape to use with it is "Nashua tape" which you can get at Home Depot or equivalent.

One thing to think really hard about: I highly recommend that you remove the walnut pieces. I once took care of a pair of geckos for someone who had to leave town for awhile. One of the geckos had mysteriously dropped its tail. The day after I took them, I discovered a couple of pieces of walnut shell in the poop area. As best as I could figure out, the gecko must have swallowed some of the walnut pieces and had enough pain in her gut to drop her tail. I find the nicest substrate to be ceramic tile. If you get the slightly textured, beige tile, it's easy for the geckos to walk on, holds heat well and looks nice. While you're waiting to get the tile, you can use paper towels.

Aliza

I got a Zoo Med medium UTH and a Hydrofarm digital Thermostat. I will be ditching the sand for 3 12x12 slate tiles. Currently building a DIY fake rock habitat. Will post pics when it's finished.