Need Help Please!

[fob616]

So i just got my geckos..

And I have a heat mat and a night light. I placed the heat mat under my humidity box and I dont know where to place my night light and how long im supposed to keep it on.

Please respond

 

[gage]

leave the mat on 24/7 and only put the light on when nessecary

 

[fob616]

So when necessary do you mean when its cold?

 

[acpart]

Ideally the heat mat will keep the floor hot enough so you won't need the night light.

Aliza

 

[sleepyjones]

Night lights are generally used so that you can better see the geckos when they're wandering around at night (Red lights are best, as the geckos cant see red light).

They shouldn't really be used as an added heat source, you might find that the light will cause the temps to be a bit too high for nighttime. If your going to use a night light you should keep it on the warm side of the tank, as the light will give off heat and may cause the cool side to become too warm (if you placed it on the cool side).
If your using the light in the correct manner (ie as a visual aid) you should just have it on when its dark so you can see the geckos at night.

Hope this helps.
Shout if anythings unclear, and get some good temp readings with and without the light just to ensure the night light isn't increasing the temps too much.

 

[Spots]

Is a blue night light okay as well? or just red?

 

[sleepyjones]

Im not sure about blue light.
Reptiles can't see red light, so that's definately the way to go.

Blue light apparently is the worse colour of light as it stops some chemical balance in the brain that aids sleep (or something). Might not be a problem for nocturnal animals at night though.

 

[VampyricAngelX]

Is a blue night light okay as well? or just red?

I use a blue night bulb for my 55 gallon to keep the temps right on the warm side and my gecko seems just fine.