Leo Loves a Light?

[leolover23]

My leopard gecko (a.k.a Lizard Boy )
had his red night light burn out recently.
We had also been using that bulb for the daytime.
"Well," we thought "no worries!"
We had our white light as well.
The white light was in there for a few days,
and during that time,
he went into a "Lizard Depression" or something.
He wouldn't come out, all he did was lay in his cave!
Then we got a new red bulb, and what do ya know,
he's out and about, as happy as ever!
He went in his humid hide and basked under the light!
It was amazing!
Do any of you know if there's some science behind this?
Do they prefer the red light for some reason?
Can they not see the red light, or does it make their cage darker to them?
Maybe he thought it was daytime all day!
Any ideas?

 

[lepgeckosrock]

Leos don't normally care for white light as they are nocternal and sleep during the day so if you had a white light on all the time it was probly thinking it was day time. As for the red light no leos don't see it for what reason I don't know but that is why we use them at night so we can watch our leos

 

[sushikam]

When I got my first gecko I used a red light as a heat source, as I was not aware for about a week that they needed belly heat, and noticed that he would always climb up his little tree thing and "bask" under it. I finally learned (after joining this forum) that he was doing that because that was where the heat was and by climbing up the tree he was getting as close to the heat as he could.

It's possible that is the problem with your little guy. I definitely would recommend getting a UTH if you don't have one already (not trying to call you out or anything!), and then just stick to using a red light for night viewing or what have you. As Roger said, they do not care for the white light because it is too bright for them, like daylight, so your leo was likely hiding all the time to get away from it.

 

[leolover23]

That's what I thought--thanks yall!
Ok, this sounds dumb too, but what is UTH?
Under the cage heater? I have one (if that's what it is).
Thanks!

 

[thekooliest]

Yup, Under Tank Heater. You should have one, they need belly heat to digest.

 

[leolover23]

Yep, I got one! TY again yall!