Heating a 20-gallon tank

[Dosh]

Hey everyone,
New here; I know there are plenty of threads around asking similar questions, but I see a lot of different answers in a lot of different places around the 'net. So here I am to get a direct answer. I appreciate any input and suggestions, and I'm sure my new little leo will as well.

Now then, to the point. Getting said leo tomorrow, and the tank's (theoretically) warmed and ready. I don't know that I have accurate temps, as all I have is a Zilla dial thermometer since my gun just busted with impeccable timing. So actual temp aside, I'm heating a 20 gallon (30x12x12 inch) tank fitted with repticarpet with a 75 watt incandescent bulb for day, and a 50 watt black incandescent for night (no UVB anywhere of course). I don't want to ask any leading questions, so instead I'd like to ask, quite simply: what, if anything, am I doing right or wrong, and what can I do to either fix or compliment the set-up?

If anyone would like me to be more specific with my questions, I can be; I'd just prefer to avoid aforementioned leading questions, as they led me in all kinds of circles when I got my beardie recently, and even more so with my ball python... But I digress, and again I appreciate any help and advice y'all have for me. (Sorry for the long post!)

Thanks!

 

[DrCarrotTail]

For leopard geckos an UTH is far better than overhead lights. The air temperature of the tank does not matter as much as the floor temperature. They need a floor spot of 90 degrees to warm their bellies but the air should be a bit cooler than that. Also overhead lights tend to dry out the enclosure and can stress geckos. If you use them I would make sure your new friends have at least one warm and cool hide that is deep enough for them to get 100% away from the light if they want to.

There are lots of opinions and no one "right" way to keep leos (and beardies!) which leads to variation in the responses you receive to questions. You should take advice with a grain of salt and do what make sense and works for you while making sure to meet their basic needs

 

[Lavodnas]

Repticarpet looks nice but won't absorb any heat from an overhead light source. The UTH would be a better option, but if you don't want to use an under the tank heater, you may want to consider using a piece of tile on your hot side to provide better belly heat for your leo.

 

[Dosh]

There are lots of opinions and no one "right" way to keep leos (and beardies!) which leads to variation in the responses you receive to questions. You should take advice with a grain of salt and do what make sense and works for you while making sure to meet their basic needs

Yeah, you're right about that... Just kind of frustrating for someone coming into the hobby new, I guess.

Also overhead lights tend to dry out the enclosure and can stress geckos. If you use them I would make sure your new friends have at least one warm and cool hide that is deep enough for them to get 100% away from the light if they want to.

So drying out the enclosure is a legitimate issue for a leo? I do have a humid hide present, for what that's worth.
Also, I should have pointed out, the room won't be very bright during the day; should I not maintain some form of photoperiod cycle with a lamp? If so, should I use something lower than 75 watts if I do also use a UTH?

Repticarpet looks nice but won't absorb any heat from an overhead light source.

What substrate would you recommend for absorbing/retaining overhead heat? I'm actually curious for an uromastyx and also my beardie (I want to change his substrate when I upgrade his tank). Or is that even an issue outside of leos?


Thank you both for your help!

 

[Lavodnas]

Uros and beardies don't need belly heat like leos do so they should be fine with just the lights. For one of my leos, his entire tank has slate tile on the bottom. For my other guy, I just have one slate tile and the rest is part of my "do it yourself" foam climbing area.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I have a floor lamp on a timer in the room with my leos and there is a big window in the room too but there is a big tree right outside that diminishes the light that comes through (hence the floor lamp). As long as the room with your leos in it gets some natural light, like enough that you can see to get around but maybe not enough to read a book by you should be okay. If there's not enough to see by, I might just get a desk lamp or something and put it in the same room but not right next to the tank.

I've seen a lot of geckos with shedding issues that are caused by a combination of tanks that are too hot and too dry. All incandescent bulbs put off a fair amount of heat and IMO are not ideal to have over a small enclosure like a 10-20 gallon tank. For leos UTH is the way to go and I would only use supplemental heat if the temperature of the room they were in was under 65 degrees.

 

[Dosh]

Thank you both for your replies. Perseus is now all situated and getting used to his new home, and has even eaten a little already. I've done away with both lights as heat sources, and now have a Zoo Med UTH and a 60 watt CHE for him. I've left one of the lamps on the enclosure - albeit with a 45 watt bulb now - but I'm only using it for something to light the viv briefly so that I can check on him. He seems pretty content so far (though my savannah monitor is acting jealous!), but I'll be closely monitoring his temps for the next couple of days.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Is the savannah monitor acting jealous or hungry? Haha I would think that lizard would snap a leo up as a snack in a heart beat! Good luck with him! We need pictures!

 

[Dosh]

Yeah, Rhea's a house pet so I came in to put her under lock and key before I even brought the leo's shipping container inside... But she actually was acting differently than when I introduced her to my beardie or my budgies; I think she's jealous of the leo's cute little viv and accessories when all she gets is two lamps and a cave!

Anyway, no pictures yet - haven't got anything to take them with unfortunately. But believe me, he's one good-looking gecko!