uvb lights for leos?

[Jace]

do leos need a uvb light?
or would an open window be sufficient?

 

[watspoppin25a]

they do not need any uv light, but some people use different types of lighting or heat lamps for heat(usually in addition to a UTH), or if they want the leopard gecko to feel it is a certain season(time for brumation or breeding perhaps?)
btw, leopard geckos are nocturnal!

 

[Srt14292]

they do not need any uv light, but some people use different types of lighting or heat lamps for heat(usually in addition to a UTH), or if they want the leopard gecko to feel it is a certain season(time for brumation or breeding perhaps?)
btw, leopard geckos are nocturnal!

+1

 

[rince]

First, please be cautious about what I am saying here. I am not an expert on leos and I barely have any experience. Ok, I totally get the part that leos are nocturnal and that therefore supposedly don't need any uvb lighting. Still they live in a region with about 14h of bright sunshine. Yes they hide in caves and cracks during the day, but still it is not the same as dwelling deep down in a cave. In addition to my UTH I have some light fixtures on top of my terrarium. Often I see my girls staying close to the hide entrance sleeping during the day, often even exposing the head or parts of the body to the light outside for quite some hours. The hides are really big and there is no reason for them to stay at the entrance, unless they chose to. Because of the fixtures being out of stock, the leos did get settled in without the lights in the beginning. I never saw them sleeping at the entrance during the beginning.I am not keeping leos for long, in fact I am still a bloody beginner, I can only describe what behaviour I am seeing in my two leos. I would not describe it as basking, but definitely they seem to chose to get some mild dosage of 'artificial sunlight'. It is not a matter of temperature. I have my UTH hooked up to a thermostat and the temperatures on the ground stay the same with or without the lights.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Keep in mind that nocturnal creatures' skin and eyes are not adapted for UV rays. Al they really nedd is to know when it's daytime and when it's nighttime.

 

[Saphira]

My vet says they should have it...when I questioned her about it she said she knows it doesn't necessarily make since but they "seem" to do better with it... is what they are noticing. :shrug

that being said...I haven't done it yet.

 

[watspoppin25a]

Keep in mind that nocturnal creatures' skin and eyes are not adapted for UV rays. Al they really nedd is to know when it's daytime and when it's nighttime.

rince, i think its more along the lines of the above(what GGG said) b.c I've seen my gecko do the same as you said(but with the light in my room insteado of UV fixture) but also i've seen her come completely out to sit only when the lights are all off. I think the best example though is that some of the best breeders in the leo industry use racks and have there geckos totally isolated from light all the time...

 

[rince]

... I think the best example though is that some of the best breeders in the leo industry use racks and have there geckos totally isolated from light all the time...

The only thing it shows to me, is that they can survive without light. It does not show if they chose to get some mild light exposure or not, because they don't have a choice in this case. If they are happier with having the choice or not I can not say. I just think that by replicating natural environments as closely as possible you will not harm your pets. If it makes a difference to them? Maybe not, but maybe it does. The reason why breeders keep them in racks I would say is more out of their convenience servicing them and to save space and probably some money as well, without hurting the animals.

 

[jclee]

I know that albino morphs are sensitive to UV. I think a lot of research is up in the air. The general consensus at present is that leopard geckos do not need UV, but more and more on forums like this, I hear accounts of vets recommending UV, often to speed recovery from vitamin/calcium deficiencies. I really think more research has to be done on the effects of UV on nocturnal creatures, and I do think the results of that will depend on things like Rince mentioned -- how much they get natural light exposure when sleeping in the wild.

I will say that most leopard geckos seem to do fine without UV, based on the accounts we have so far. I also don't think that mild UV would hurt, so if you really felt better trying it out, a low UV light would probably be OK, though it's certainly an added expense, especially since UV bulbs have to be replaced every 6 months or so when the UV runs out.

 

[Kristi23]

I don't use any lights for my geckos, just natural sunlight through the window. I've heard of geckos getting bothered by light and going off food. One thing you need to realize is that these are not wild caught geckos. These are geckos that have been captive bred generation after generation without any UV lighting. JMO

 

[rince]

... and because chicken are bred in captivity, they do
like standing in a cage where they can't even turn around
and be part of an egg farm...

Yes that is provocative and yes I know that this is no comparison
and 'no' I do not mean to insult or attack anyone.
Otherwise I would not be able to keep them in a little cage just
for my viewing pleasure either ;-)

to me you made a very valid and good point. Not all
leos are the same and you have to watch your animals.
I just don't see why we would make such a general statement
weather they like or dislike light in moderation, with focus on
the word moderation. I am not talking about installing uv lighting
into their hides, but offering them the choice. I still like to
think our animals are not that degenerated that they can't
decide if the light is doing them good or bad.
Even though most ppl seem to be more active during the day,
it would not be ok to not offer them any night simulation,
even though they would survive.
I guess we all have one common goal and that is to offer the
best possible environment to our animals.
I am not saying I am right in what I wrote earlier, I just
want us to think it a little bit before completely dismissing it.

 

[cotty]

I feel that supplying a light source is the best way of replicating a leos natural enviroment to replicate day and night!
My Leos have 3 hides so have a choice to hide away in the dark during the day(when the light is on) like they would in the wild.
That said i only use very low level uvb lighting that does'nt even give shade level uvb (Exo Terra Repti glow 2.0 the 5.0 only gives shade level uvb used for forest set ups),i feel that it is more important to set a natural photoperiod rather than provide uvb because as a noctornal animal i feel they do not require it.
By adjusting the photo period i can provide light periods that replicate the natural enviroment during that particular time of year!
I have kept leos like this very succesfully without any problems and it is very rare to see them out when the light is on but as soon as the light goes off they are out looking for food (as they would in the wild as the insects that they feed on become active just after dark).
This is just my personal opnion and so long as the animals are healthy and well looked after i don't think that light is required based on the amount of people that don't use it,but who's to say whether they are happier with light or without???

 

[CSMGecko]

I only use lights to simulate day and night. I have them on a timer and set to the day schedule. Also helps with the look of the tank when they are on and people may be in my house, the leos still come out in the light but not as active as when the lights are off. Just my 2 cents. The ones in the tubs do not have any type of lighting.

 

[Chupes]

My vet says they should have it...when I questioned her about it she said she knows it doesn't necessarily make since but they "seem" to do better with it... is what they are noticing. :shrug

that being said...I haven't done it yet.

Same thing here.

 

[lady.gekko]

I've been keeping/into Leo's for 10 years. I've not once used UVB lights. As I believe someone else has said on here, certain Geckos can be irritated by the light. I have a Bell Albino who will run around with her eyes closed, will jump and spazz out by a simple turn on of a bedroom light. She will run away from light regardless if it's a sudden or gradual increase of light. She will not eat, if lights are on, and in general seems to be stressed by the situation. I can't say "don't" use it, but I've seen no benefits to it besides being a stress factor. Stress can lead to health issues, possible blindness. I say if you "have" to use it/feel the need, get a lower running wattage bulb. I've seen some people running metal halides, which make coral reef tanks bloom, that's something that I wouldn't recommend on a Leo's tank!

 

[HugeGenes&LoLa]

Stick with a UTH, cables or heat tape.

 

[reptilekeeper]

I don't use a uvb light because they are nocturnal and don't need it. If they don't need it why use it?