Leopard Gecko Lighting

[Sg612]

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They can’t distinguish day from night without lighting. Just place plants to provide a bit of shade. Although let’s be real, the sun is super bright in their natural habitat. They don’t have dimmers. I’ve known many people who added UVA and noticed a positive change in activity and appetite.

You stated:
I was wondering my cool side temp is always at about 68 69

That’s quite cool for day temps. Can’t expect too much activity under those temps. If the enclosure was the size of a room and that was the temp in one corner I’d say who cares, plenty of warm area to be active. But in 30 inches, why would they want to leave that small area of heat(over the heat Mat)? Use a CHE on a thermostat as already mentioned by Elizabeth . You will have to monitor humidity as well and make sure it doesn’t drop under 40 percent.

When provided proper temps and photoperiod you’d be surprised of how active and curious they can be. However, not under dry conditions.

[Elizabeth Freer]

my tank is a 20 gal long I have a zoo med heat mat that covers half the enclosure hooked up to a jumpstart thermostat, my warm side is always at 90 to 91 the room it is in is around 68, I have an expanding foam background and I am knd off worried about her climbing up and getting to close, could I just use a 25 watt heat mat and make sure the temp is less than 80 in the spot closest to the lamp. I would leave it on so she could still get UVB and UVA it would be set on 80 and it would turn off at night.

Hi Geecko123 ~

Online all we have are written words and sometimes emojis. I'm troubleshooting your lighting and heating issues. I'd stick to powdered supplements with D3 instead of UVB within your 30 x 12 x 12 inch high leo enclosure.

You mention that half your 20 long is covered with a Zoo Med heat mat. As far as I know, Zoo Med does not make 11 x 17 inch heat mats. Did you mean a different brand heat mat? If not, you possibly could be getting more heat coverage from an Ultratherm.

[adewey]

Leopard geckos are nocturnal so they don't need UVB lights or heat lamps. Some leopard geckos, especially albinos, have bad eyesight and lights will make it hard for them to hunt.

You need to buy a thermostat or rheostat to control the temperature, but they work great. Something some people don't realize is that leopard geckos need belly heat. A heat lamp generally only heats the air, while a UTH heats the substrate.

[Geecko123]

I have a heat mat, I would use a heat lamp to heat the air and give her UVA.


"As far as I know, Zoo Med does not make 11 x 17 inch heat mats" its not exactluy half its their zoo med 30 40- gallon heat mat.

[Sg612]

Leopard geckos are nocturnal so they don't need UVB lights or heat lamps. Some leopard geckos, especially albinos, have bad eyesight and lights will make it hard for them to hunt.

You need to buy a thermostat or rheostat to control the temperature, but they work great. Something some people don't realize is that leopard geckos need belly heat. A heat lamp generally only heats the air, while a UTH heats the substrate.

They are crepuscular.

[Elizabeth Freer]

I have a heat mat, I would use a heat lamp to heat the air and give her UVA.


"As far as I know, Zoo Med does not make 11 x 17 inch heat mats" its not exactluy half its their zoo med 30 40- gallon heat mat.

Thanks for sharing. I try to give the best info I have on GU.

Cool side temps always mimic room temps where the enclosure sits. Citrine's chillin' in her "sleeping bag" when it's "cold" outside.

Zoo Med's 30-40 gallon size heat mat (16 watts) is just 8 x 12 inches. That's a smidge larger than 1/4 of Citrine's home. While it's fine for belly heat and maybe keeping two hides warm, there's little incentive for your leo to venture outside those hides.

I go by dimensions, not the wattage. If you switch out your Zoo Med heat mat for Ultratherm's 11 x 17 inch one, some of your leo's heat concerns will be fixed. Citrine could be more active with 2x her current belly heat.

I also feel warm air is important. Heat drops off considerably just inches above any heat mat.

[Geecko123]

do you reccomend a specific light? my goal is to heat the air and provide UVA, do you think I should get a 25 watt or 15 watt, what bulbs do you use?

[Geecko123]

you stated
"Thing is Zoo Med's 30-40 gallon size heat mat (16 watts) is just 8 x 12 inches. That's a smidge larger than 1/4 of Citrine's home" only about 1/4 of her tank is under 70, I would use the heat lamp to put that 1/4 area up to around 72, also it would help her be more active because I have a expanding foam background that she loves to climb on when its warm enough up there, so the heat lamp would help the background to be warmer.

[Elizabeth Freer]

do you reccomend a specific light? my goal is to heat the air and provide UVA, do you think I should get a 25 watt or 15 watt, what bulbs do you use?

I understand your goal. I don't think you can do both those things with a single bulb.

Please describe where the 8 x 12 inch heat mat is placed.

What kind of room light has she? My photoperiod lighting is only good for lighting an enclosure during the day if leos have limited daylight. I have that 15 watt bulb dimmed to half power, so it's basically a 7.5 watt bulb.

I recommend a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) to warm the air, but NOT if she climbs the background. Every other bulb is too bright during the day, because that's when leos sleep. CHEs are bulbs that produce heat but no light. I don't have a specific wattage to recommend. The CHE would need a separate thermostat. If Citrine climbs, there is no way a CHE that heats the ground to adequate belly temps would be safe when she climbs.

Overhead heating will not fix the problem that her heat mat is too small.

A ground temp increase to 72* might be too hot right beneath the CHE! I think she needs ground temps of 88-90ish to be comfortable prowling around.

[Elizabeth Freer]

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you stated
"Thing is Zoo Med's 30-40 gallon size heat mat (16 watts) is just 8 x 12 inches. That's a smidge larger than 1/4 of Citrine's home" only about 1/4 of her tank is under 70, I would use the heat lamp to put that 1/4 area up to around 72, also it would help her be more active because I have a expanding foam background that she loves to climb on when its warm enough up there, so the heat lamp would help the background to be warmer.

When you've seen her climb, what's the background's temp?

Did she climb it more than once? Sometimes when something new is added, a leo does a one-time explore.