Heating/lighting questions

[Strike2]

Well I recently got a leopard gecko and have a few questions about the lighting and heating.
1. I have a undertank heater under one of the hides and a 40 watt sun glo (exo terra) heat lamp above the log that the undertank heater is on. it keeps the inside of the log about 88 degrees and the top of the log in the low 90's...he seems to prefer this hide over the cooler side cave hide which is usually at 78 degrees. I have heard that they prefer the cooler side most the times, is this wrong?

2. At night should I be using a night glo (exo terra) lamp (looks very similar to a black light) or just turn all the lights off? (the undertank heater keeps the temp under the log nice and warm)

Here is the tank setup so you can get an idea of what I am talking about.

3. I have added a hide box in the middle of the tank that has moist paper towels in it, is this alright or should I use some other substrate like moss?

 

[ReptileMan27]

1:If a leo is spending all its time on the cool side, that would likely mean the warm side is to hot. If the temps are correct like yours are, he will spend most of his time on the warm side.

2:I personally would just turn the light off at night. Leos are nocturnal so no UVB or other bright lights are needed for them. I heat all my leos with just under tank heaters, and heat mats. Lights can be used for additional heat if needed, my herp room stays very warm so the UTHs and heats mats are plenty.

3: I use and reccomend paper towels for humid hides, their easiest and safest. Moss can cause impaction so I dont reccomend it.

 

[moosassah]

Is the light red? Seems to be the general thought that the red light does not bother the leos.

 

[Strike2]

nah it has a blue/purplish hue...almost like a black light...as a matter of fact it makes the calcium glow a little, so I will take the advice of reptileman and just turn the lights out...its anywhere from 72-75 degrees where the undertank heater is when the lights are off.

 

[robin]

hey nice setup looks like you have a patternless and he is beautiful. i would just turn off the lights at night but make sure he isnt in a cool room or one with a fan on or anything. dont let him get any cooler than that 72-75 degrees, at night

 

[Strike2]

He stays nice and warm (usually at 75 degrees) with the lights off.