Leopard lighting help

[Niall]

Hi, I'm currently setting up my first Leopard Gecko tank and I'm incredibly confused about the lighting/heat arrangements. If anyone can answer these questions it would be much appreciated especially from someone who's had first hand experience. I already asked in the pet shop but they didn't seem very sure of themselves.

1. Do I need a fluorescent light to create the 12 hour day/night cycle or would ambient room light be enough?

2. Would I need a heat pad as well as a light as I hear things about heat mats being beneficial Gecko digestion or would this be to hot?

3. I was told by the pet shop that one of the Exo Terra Infra-red Heat Lamps would be suitable for day and night heat for a Gecko as they cannot see the light wavelength, they're good for nocturnal viewing and supply heat would this be acceptable?

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Dog Shrink]

No UV lighting isneeded for leopard geckos. They are crepuscular creatures (awake mostly after sunset and before sunrise), so they do not benefit from UV lighting the way some ohter herps do. An under tank heater is really the only source of heat you need. It is belly heat that is most important to leopard geckos for proper digestion with an optimum temp range of between 88-95*F. If your leo is in a room with natural sunlight no additional light is needed to establish a day/night cycle. If you have your leo in a dark room or just wish to view your tank better a standard 15 watt incandescent bulb can be used on a timer to help establish a day/night cycle. Anything brighter than a 25 watt will likely cause stress to a leo esp. one with red eyes. If you need to suppliment heat that your UTH might not be making then you can substitute a 50 watt infrared or moonlight blue bulb to suppliment heat, but if you have a properly sized uth (covers at least 1/3rd of your tank's floor surface) then you shouldn't need this. I prefer the blue moonlight as does my leo. He won't comeout if a red bulb is on but happily explores if I use the blue moonlight bulb.