A few questions

[Knuckledragger]

What's up guys. I just got a few questions I'd like answered if anyone has the knowledge. The room I keep my geckos in has no windows, there-fore it is pitch black unless there are artificial lights on. I'm currently keeping a UTH on my tank, so is this sufficient? Or do I need to simulate day and night time with heat bulbs? My geckos are sometimes inactive when they should be, and inactive when they shouldn't be, I think this may have something to do with it.

 

[acpart]

Good question. They do need to have some ambient light so they can establish a day/night cycle. I'd recommend using a light on a timer in the room, no necessarily on top of the gecko's cage.

Aliza

 

[Knuckledragger]

Oooh, great idea, that seems like the perfect solution. I'll be purchasing a timer, asap. Also, Ive constructed two hides out of tupperware containers, lined with paper towels, one on each end of the tank, but lately they've been sleeping out in the open. At the moment the younger of the two is in the hide on the warm side, and the older one is laying directly beside it. Is this unwanted behavior, or does this mean they're getting comfortable enough with their new home to sleep in the open?

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Yeah my gecko room has limited light and days get really short in the winter here so I picked up a cheap floor lamp from Walmart for like 20 and stuck a full spectrum flourescent bulb in it (probably unnecessary to have full spectrum but they're like $10 on amazon) and put it on a 12 hour timer

 

[Knuckledragger]

Ahh, great. This has been concerning, it's good to know that someone has had the same circumstance to deal with. What affect does the full spectrum bulb have?

 

[DrCarrotTail]

It's just more natural than other types of bulbs. There are some animals that require full spectrum to synthesize vitamins like D3 but leos aren't really one of them. Since they don't really need it I don't know if it has any beneficial effect but I bought a pack of four as bulbs off Amazon for photography and decided to use one in there just in case it provided some benefit.