UVA/UVB

[Rurso01]

It seems there are so many different ideas on what fulfills the geckos needs with the UVA/UVB lighting that I wanted to try and get a consensus as I'm trying to get this taken care of. We currently dust our crickets with repashy plus (which contains d3) and I've learned that the UVB lighting helps better absorb the calcium. We just purchased a blue light (60 watts) that is said to emit both UVA and UVB lighting. My questions really are:

1. If I leave my blinds open in the room, will the sunlight give her the necessary UVA/UVB light?

2. If not, do I leave the light on directly over the tank until the evening to which I change to the night bulb currently heating the ambient air and cool side to the upper 70s?

3. Is it even necessary to have the UVA/UVB lighting since they're nocturnal? This is usually the other side of the argument so I assume I'll get a mix of both responses....

 

[endrien]

You do not need UVA/UVB light for a leopard gecko...they are nocturnal therefore in the wild they get none of this.

You should give calcium 3-4x a week with a multivitamin 1-2x a week. Calcium w/d3 should be anywhere from once a week to twice a month(Opinions vary).
Too much D/3 can be a bad thing and lead to problems.

Of course everyone has different beliefs for supplements, but after researching multiple care sheets this is what I have come to. I let my leo's regulate their own calcium intake by leaving a calcium dish in at all times and giving d3 once a week. I do see them using the calcium and they know how much they need.

 

[Rurso01]

thats the kind of response i like to see!! thanks endrien. very precise! i will use those figures for our Lela. Thanks!

 

[cook75]

thats the kind of response i like to see!! thanks endrien. very precise! i will use those figures for our Lela. Thanks!

UVB is not necessary, but a benefit.

 

[Rurso01]

do you feel that just leaving several windows exposed to her tank with suffice? Assuming the sun hits her tank from a 10 foot distance? Figured thats gotta do something. She does sleep all day however.

 

[BGalloway]

do you feel that just leaving several windows exposed to her tank with suffice? Assuming the sun hits her tank from a 10 foot distance? Figured thats gotta do something. She does sleep all day however.

Most windows block UV light, glass generally blocks UV light. So distance from the window doesn't even matter because there's no UV light getting through. The vitamin D will help Ca absorption.

 

[Dimidiata]

Leo skin can transmit more UV light then other lizards that may be even baskers, in therory leos may benifit from very small amounts of UVB but high amounts may harm them since their skin transmits more the other lizards.

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/skintests.htm

However, they really dont require it so long as they are provided with ample supplimentation of D3 and calcium.

 

[cook75]

Leo skin can transmit more UV light then other lizards that may be even baskers, in therory leos may benifit from very small amounts of UVB but high amounts may harm them since their skin transmits more the other lizards.

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/skintests.htm

However, they really dont require it so long as they are provided with ample supplimentation of D3 and calcium.

Are my eyes going bad or did that website kind of blind you too?

 

[Dimidiata]

Must be your eyes. XD

 

[Rurso01]

agreed very blinding site hard to read lol. but thanks for the help I appreciate that. it seems like 50% of people say they need a UVA/UVB and 50% say they dont so its hard to get an answer I feel confident moving forward with. I will just use d3 once every 2 weeks and continue giving her calcium 3/4 times a week with a MV 2 times a week. thanks guys!

 

[endrien]

agreed very blinding site hard to read lol. but thanks for the help I appreciate that. it seems like 50% of people say they need a UVA/UVB and 50% say they dont so its hard to get an answer I feel confident moving forward with. I will just use d3 once every 2 weeks and continue giving her calcium 3/4 times a week with a MV 2 times a week. thanks guys!

No problems, almost everyone here does not use a UVB(Including the larger breeders) and their geckos are perfectly healthy!

 

[verogold]

I can certainly vouch for the use of UVB. My gecko is 9 years old and is in great health. I adopted him from my friends son who was not taking care of him properly. The poor little guy had such a low desire to eat. A friend of mine suggested UVB and I was astonished how at the difference it made. I have to be tough sometimes and count his calories

 

[katie_]

Glass filters out all UV rays.