Ceramic heat emitter or regular heat bulb?

[karencowboymojo]

Hi my name is Karen, and I'm a new gecko owner!

We are on our 2ND week into owning two Leo's I haven't read so much since I was In school 25 Yrs ago!

A Leo and multi-lizard owner at Petsmart recommend I use a 100 watt heat bulb for 12 hrs at 100 degrees on one side during the day, and the red heat light for 12 hours during the night.

My question is...is there a better alternative to the heat bulb during the day, as I have heard that Leo's are light sensitive. Would a ceramic heat emitter be better?

Thank you, and I look forward to your responses!

 

[marauderhex]

First off I'd get an under the tank heater (UTH). This will provide belly heat, which is what leos need for proper digestion. If you find that that doesn't entirely meet your needs, then supplement the heat with a CHE.

 

[karencowboymojo]

First off I'd get an under the tank heater (UTH). This will provide belly heat, which is what leos need for proper digestion. If you find that that doesn't entirely meet your needs, then supplement the heat with a CHE.

Thanks for the info. I will look into replacing my heat bulb with a heat pad and a CHE.

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

dont get a heat rock cause they can burn your reptiles

 

[grboxa]

I don't get why these pet-store employees always recommend a day light bulb for heat, they always tell you to purchase the wrong supplies. It's like they know what they are recommending is wrong, but they want you to spend your money on something you don't need, go home research and spend money again on the supplies you do need because you found out what you bought isn't suitable.. It's so annoying. I'd go back to that store and tell that 'leo owner' that his advice is horribe.

UTH is a must and the best way to go . CHE , and a blue bulb are both good options for supplemental heat.

 

[karencowboymojo]

Thank's, That's what i have been reading. I am returning my 100 wt. day heat bulb tonight when my husband get's home from work. The one they recommended. My husband and I were talking last night about the light's, I couldn't imagine having that much light in my eyes for 12 hrs. Poor little guys.

 

[karencowboymojo]

Thanks for the information. I'm returning the $12 bulb they recommend and getting a CHE and UTH and exchanging my 24x18x12 tank for a 36" one that's on sale. I want my guys to have a cool pad. We are having fun with these little guys, they are like miniature alligators.

 

[karencowboymojo]

Thanks for the info. So you think the Blue heat light is good instead of the red? Or maybe blue heat light during the day and red for night? I took my 100wt heat day bulb out last night about 7 so I could feed them and wake them up and play with them. I didn't put day bulb back in this morning i still have the red one in but I have a side table light on about 3 to 4 feet away from them. Good thing I keep receipts and boxes for everything as I have been back to Petsmart a few times for exchanges.

 

[Ghobot]

Also curious about the red vs. blue debate on lights - I know leos aren't supposed to be able to register red light, but is the same true for blue? I've also heard something about blue lights simulating moonlight - any truth to that?

 

[TranceZ]

99% of the people that work at Petco or Petsmart never know what their talking about. Use a UTH. You don't need a light source or over head heat for leopard geckos.

 

[LeeseyGeesey]

Hey guys, just recapping. I've had my gecko for about a month now and i've already read here that I should get rid of my wood chip substrate. I came to this thread to figure out if I even needed my over head heat lamp/light for my gecko. It seems like my under the tank heating pad is doing the trick. Is this correct? One of the bulbs burnt out last night and I thought I read somewhere that I didn't even need it. I just want to make sure before I waste money.

 

[VampyreByte]

Leopard geckos are nocturnal so they really don't need the overhead light as long as they have belly heat being provided by the undertank heater. Sunlight coming into the room is usually enough for them.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Your gecko only needs belly heat from a UTH.