Heating/Basking lights

[ZachStep]

Hello everyone, I am new to the Leopard Gecko world, but I've had some experience with BDs a couple of years ago (passed on due to impactation).

My question is in regards to basking lights. I have heard they need them, however I am confused since they are nocturnal, would they really be necessary? I have a heat pad underneath the tank at this time (10 gallon) and I'm going to allow it a few days of operation before I decide if I need to increase the size or install a thermostat.

I can understand installing a UVB light to assist with keeping a proper sleep schedule, however I would like advice on the set up of my tank.

Thanks.

 

[david13]

You need 2 more hides(3 total- 2 normal and a moist hide)
I would just take the light off if you have some sort of sunlight coming through a window in the room you tank is in. You DON'T need a uvb light or a basking light just a heatpad should be fine.. I would get a cheap thermostat for your tank and a thermometer.
Put them over the heatpad The temp. goes by belly heat not by the air.
You should also have a little dish (pop bottle cap) in your tank with pure calcium in it so they can get some whenevr they want.

and WELCOME to GF


hope that helps

 

[ZachStep]

I have two thermometers at this time. One is the probe (white cord), and the other is at the top (no idea why my friend put it that high). I have a moist hide that should be here by next week (hoping that moist reptile mulch will be safe), and I'm looking for another hide (last one I was able to find at petco).

As far as lighting, the room the tank is in does not recieve light until around 4pm, so what would you recommend? Also being a rotating shift worker, I have window tint and black curtains to assist with sleeping during the day.

Should I purchase phosphorous free calcium powder? What temp should I keep the ground at? The rock (not the evil heat rock) stabilizes around 93F after an hour of being on.

 

[david13]

I have two thermometers at this time. One is the probe (white cord), and the other is at the top (no idea why my friend put it that high). I have a moist hide that should be here by next week (hoping that moist reptile mulch will be safe), and I'm looking for another hide (last one I was able to find at petco).

As far as lighting, the room the tank is in does not recieve light until around 4pm, so what would you recommend? Also being a rotating shift worker, I have window tint and black curtains to assist with sleeping during the day.

Should I purchase phosphorous free calcium powder? What temp should I keep the ground at? The rock (not the evil heat rock) stabilizes around 93F after an hour of being on.

i never heard of reptile mulch so i dont know.. but you can just make a hide (coolwhip dish) unless you awnt everything to look very nice. You can just leave the light on.. you could get a stand though so it gave it light without heat, but actually as long as it doesnt go over 93 degrees it should be fine.

The calcium should be just pure calcium, no vitamin D3 or phosphorus ( i have some i could sell you because i bought wayyy to much.. it would be a great help for me to get rid of some of it if you could buy some- however much you want) just pm me

the temp. on the heat pad should be 89-92 about.. and everywhere else like on the cool are should be in the 70's i believe

 

[gothra]

You can just rely on the heat pad + thermostat to provide belly heat for the gecko. You can have a light to give them a sense of day/night, but your light seems very bright (or is the pic overexposed?).

 

[david13]

Tru.. i would raise the ligh up 3 feet just so they could have some night and day without getting nailed with light

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Leopard geckos are noctournal, so they do not need any special lighting... except to be able to tell day from night. Also, I do not recommend any substrate that could be ingested.

 

[ZachStep]

Ok, a lot to reply to (darn vampire sleeping habits!!!)

Reptile mulch: Just some form of pet safe mulch (or bark) that can assist with keeping the hide humidity up (should I monitor the humidity level inside the hide?).

Lighting: Its not that bright in person and I will change the basking light over to a CFL (lowest lumens I can find). So far the temperature under the hide is anywhere from 89-96 F. I know that 92ish is supposed to be the correct temp, but does that mean inside the hide or just the hot side in general? I am going to attempt to stabilze the temperature in the room to see if that will help the tank.

The reason its so bright is because the camera auto adjusts the lighting.

 

[david13]

If the light makes stuff warm it should be on the hotside of the tank, if it is than it should be 92 probably on top of the rock hide because in case she goes on top.. 92 should be the floor temp on the hotside for a UTH.. if you are going to have your light there so it gives off heat or if it does give off heat, make sure it is on the hot side.

 

[ZachStep]

The UTH and light are on the same side. I'll wait for a few days to see if the temperature evens out or if I'll need to purchase a purchase a thermostat.

 

[david13]

sounds good

 

[ZachStep]

I guess common sense should have told me to install a thermometer that remembers the highs and lows

 

[david13]

i got a temp gun that is really nice

 

[LadyGecko]

Welcome to the forum and the world of leopard geckos!!

As for lighting-the basking light will add too much heat to the tank especially in the sumer temps

If the room is relatively dark until 4 pm-just leave a room light with a 40 or 60 watt bulb on during the daylight hours-it can be a floor lamp- table lamp-a desk lamp-whatever you have in the room and are comfortable leaving on all day

That will be sufficient light to give them a photo period without blasting the tank with bright white light
As Marcia stated-
I would stay away from any type of substrate that they can accidentally eat-and if you do not care for the look of paper towels-get some tile and cut it to fit the bottom of the tank

I' read that you have a uth for a 10 gal tank but your tank looks larger than that to me in the pic

If it is-buy the correct size UTH rated for the tank size (it has this info on the packaging) and you should have np's with getting it warm enough
You should also use a thermostat on the uth-the simple dimmer ones are fine

The uth should be sufficient heating if it is the right size for your tank and it should heat the floor area up to 88-92 degrees -temp measured with the digital thermometer probe laid right over the area inside the tank where the UTH is under

You are correct in that with Leos- unlike dragons which are sun basking animals- you want to have the heat coming from below and measure the floor temps for the hot spot-not the air temperature

You will be concerned with air temps as far as the heat gradient goes and I think that a basking lamp makes the whole tank to hot for Leos

also-if you get (have) a red eyed Leo(albino strain) the white light will irritate and even injure it's eyes

I hope that this helps

Have fun with your new Leo and post pics soon


Sandy

PS-temp guns work great too-and they are around $25 online









Sandy

 

[ZachStep]

Size: It is a 10 gallon tank (its one of the Zilla Critter Cages). Once fully grown, I'll probably move the leopard gecko into the 20L I have sitting in the garage.

Substrate: Currently tan reptile carpet (no more sand after the poor BD).

Lighting: I know now that the Bulb is too hot for the cage now, I just didnt trust the UTH (I've always had daytime reptiles, BD and Green Anole). I will probably purchase a 9W CFL (supposed to be as bright as a 40 watt bulb).

Thermostat: I will need one since the SW tank does a GREAT job of warming my room during the summer (the A/C being set at 80 doesnt help).

Thermometer: I am looking for one now, just wanted to keep a record while I"m at work for the never steady temps.