UTH & Heat Lamp...Need Both?

[Drexciya]

If I have a UTH do I still need a heat lamp from above? For Basking?
Still need the "sun" I would guess.
What bulb do you suggest I use? I hear about UVB bulbs.

Right now we have a Exo Terra Sun Glo bulb.

What are the temps for the substrate vs. basking area?
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

 

[efx*]

Leopard Geckos do not need a basking area. They just need a heating pad to help digest food. You don't really need a light at all... Also the temps on the hot side that the uth is on should be around 88-91 degrees.

I hope that helps


Dane

 

[Ccrashca069]

Well the warm or hot side 86-90 cool side High 70's but that is surface temp not air temp. I use UTH and a light during winter to keep my temps up. When it starts warming back up the lamps stay off. For the lights I use either ZooMed or Exo Terra Nocturnal Infrared Heat lamps. The light you are using I use for my box turtles during the day. Leopard geckos are night time reptiles.

 

[Drexciya]

Very helpful, thank you!

 

[Ccrashca069]

Your very much welcome. I learned from trial and error and asking questions here. Everyone here is very helpful.
I forgot too mention earlier, to get the surface temp you should either get a dig thermometer with a probe or a temp gun.

 

[Drexciya]

Our geckos sometimes lay on top of their hide and I placed the thermometer there and got a reading of 100 degrees. Like I said we use the Exo Terra Sun Glo bulb. Sounds like that if we get a UTH then we need to get rid of the light and probably should get rid of this particular bulb anyway since the temp on top of the hide where the gecko sometimes lay is too high. The temp in the tank should not exceed 92 anywhere that the geckos may go, is that correct? The "reptile guy" at the pet store picked out this bulb the other day for us and I guess it's too hot for leopard geckos. As new owners we're just trying to sort out all the bad info from the good quickly so our new pets will stay healthy.

In conclusion, if I'm understanding everyone correctly, leopard geckos only need the warmth to help digest their food and to increase humidity. This warmth can come from a light above OR UTH below but should not exceed 92 degrees. If using UTH we don't need an above tank light unless it becomes too cool on the cold side. Other than warmth to digest, they don't necessarily need any additional light other than normal indoor lights or daytime sunshine? If anyone sees that I'm incorrect in my understanding please let me know. We're hoping to finalize everything in the tank over the next day or so.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Belly heat from a UTH is preferred over raising the air temperature with overhead light/heat. The surface on the warmest spot where there tummy is should be around 92 degrees.

 

[Ccrashca069]

The lights also come in alot of differant wattages. From about 25 watts to like 200 watts. Somtimes you can find a 15 watt one.
Belly heat is more important then air temp. I use both because I live at about 800 feet above sea level on a mountain and we get alot of frost and very cold mornings during the winter.