Geckos and Bright Light

[Leo TheoryZ]

I am new to my leopard gecko.
I have the hides and food and water and the vitamin supplements I am still iffy on. But I have an UTH and a regular 60 watt lightbulb it keeps the tank around 85* during the day and at night it keeps it a pleasant 70* for him.
Should I change lights because I heard they don't like bright lights he seems very happy

 

[sleepyjones]

Should be fine, someone may correct me on this, but lights should be ok.
You shouldn't be using the same regular 60 watt bulb at night though, from your post it kinda sounds like that is the case. If you are using lights you should have a night light, or red bulb (for the night time). The geckos have to be able to distinguish when it's daytime and when it's night time, as they are nocturnal creatures.
Im sure you could probably condition them by having a normal light on all the time, but it's probably not healthy for the wee guys.

Also, be sure when your measuring the temperatures that you are measuring the ground temperate and not the ambient temperature. Because Leo's are nocturnal, they don't "bask" or require warmth from sunlight or ambient air heat. They need heat at the ground level, on their bellies.
85 is also a little too cool for your warm side of the tank, you should probably try and raise that up to about 90 for the daytime.

As for hides, you should really have about 3 hides per gecko (plus a humid hide if your gecko likes them, mine dont). You should a hide in the warm side of the tank, one in the cool side and one roughly in the middle. If you've got 2 geckos in the same tank, you should have 5 or 6 hides.

 

[ARiES]

yea sleepyjones is right..the regular uv daylight can damage their eyes. but the uvb night blue/purple/red lights are fine i use a 50watt 60 shouldnt hurt and i also use the UTH so i keep a hide under the nightlight (left side of the tank) and a hide and the UTH on the other (right side of the tank) u want no less than two hides. Also the UTH helps them with digestion and also like sleepyjones said leos dont need to "bask" under any light.hope all goes well..

 

[Leo TheoryZ]

I have 3 hides and at night he has light from the light in the room it is clearly distinguished I feel.. But I am more concerned about the day bulb I have.

What day bulb do you use and he is about 6-7 months old.
Is this urgent I wont be able to get to the pet store probably for a few more days.

 

[sleepyjones]

A regular light bulb should be fine ... It's the UV lights that can harm a geckos eyes.

Just be wary about the obvious risks, ie if you have a backdrop or anything on your tank, make sure the bulb isn't too close as it could melt the backdrop, or even set it on fire. Make sure the bulb isn't too low to the ground of your tank in that the gecko could get burned if walking under it.

Common sense stuff really, but so common sense that it's easy to ignore / not think about when your setting up your tank.

 

[Leo TheoryZ]

Ya thanks for the reassurance. I was just worried about him
I have no backdrop and it sits on top of the screen cover. But I heard leos don't like bright lights

 

[ElapidSVT]

i don't use lights on any of my geckos.
they are nocturnal and don't really appreciate it.

 

[ARiES]

yea i hold my female bell albino in my room and the onlie light she gets it from the sun out the window or my room light..i use a night light 50watt..u should try an UTH

 

[Alusdra]

The albinos are the ones especially bothered by light. Normal geckos just prefer not to have it. I'd say forget the light and try to up your temps from the UTH instead.

 

[Alliemac]

My albino HATES bright lights but my other two don't care. They seem to have forgotten they are nocturnal. lol