New Gecko (and reptile) owner

[ljg990]

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Hello,

My name is Lawrence and I’m going to be a first time reptile keeper this Friday. I’m going to get a baby Leopard Gecko and I’m super excited. I have a 20 gallon long tank, 3 hides, one for the hot side, cool side and a humid hide to help with shedding. I’m going to start with using paper towel as a substrate and I will be using an under the tank heater because I heard they need belly heat to digest food. I also bought a UVB fixture as I heard it is good for them. The thing I am confused about is: 1. Should I get another light (LED?) or is the UVB lamp sufficient? 2. Do I keep the UVB on for the full 10-12 hours of daylight for the day/night cycle?

Thanks in advance!

[acpart]

Ideally you'll be dusting the feeders with calcium and vitamin D3. You don't need the lights at all since the gecko is nocturnal, as long as there's ambient light in the room.

Aliza

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome aboard, Lawrence!

All these issues are very important when using UVB for a leopard gecko.

• What exact brand & name of UVB light & fixture did you buy?
• For ambient light I place a 15 watt incandescent bulb in a 5.5 inch dome. It's dimmed to half power by a rheostat/dimmer. That provides a photo period for your leo and enough light for viewing. I leave that on about 12 hours.

There are alternatives to past "conventional" lighting and heating. Within the last several years UVB for reptiles is being discussed more and more.

It's correct that leopard geckos can successfully be kept using a combination of supplements (calcium with D3, plain calcium carbonate, & a multivitamin without D3), under tank heating, and a "plain" substrate. Keepers have been doing so for ages.

UVB lighting for a 10 gallon is excessive! There's just not enough space within a 10 gallon to safely or effectively provide UVB lighting.

If you wish to use UVB, here are guidelines for lighting and heating when using a 20 gallon long enclosure: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall. If you also wish to go bioactive, a 36 x 18 x 18 enclosure will be ideal. There you'll have room to establish a substantially deeper substrate.

Best practices for a leopard gecko's 20 long enclosure: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall . . . . . . GU member Marillion with Dr. Fran Baines

14 January 2021: UVB guidelines for a shade dwelling gecko like a leopard gecko with a Ferguson Zone UV Index requirement = 0.5 - 1.0

\/ \/ \/ See UVB guidelines below for a 20 long enclosure!

• + Dr. Fran Baines (Reptile Lighting facebook group's lighting expert & DVM) recommends using Arcadia Reptile's 12" long T5 7% Shade Dweller UVB linear tube light with a reflective fixture to ensure a .5 - 1.0 UVI (UV Index) rating at a 12" depth through mesh.
• + use linear fixture with a reflective coating for tube light
• + place UVB tube fixture over the warm end
• + slate substrate covering at least half the enclosure's length: flat slate or slate chunks randomly arranged. (Slate is a superior stone for absorbing heat.)
• + place a 50 watt Arcadia Deep Heat Projector (DHP) or a suitable wattage halogen flood bulb on the warm end directly above slate substrate to maintain heat
• + thermostat for for Deep Heat Projector or halogen flood bulb

When providing UVB for shade dwellers like leopard geckos, Dr. Fran Baines (DVM and lighting guru) recommends a backup dose of a powdered D3 supplement @ 1-2 feedings per month.

For additional details please read here.

For link 157 click: Best practices for using UVB through mesh on a 20 gallon long enclosure: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall . . . . . . GU's Marillion, Fran Baines DVM, & Elizabeth Freer -- January 2021

[ljg990]

Welcome aboard, Lawrence!

• What exact brand & name of UVB light & fixture did you buy?
• For ambient light I place a 15 watt incandescent bulb in a 5.5 inch dome. It's dimmed to half power by a rheostat/dimmer. That provides a photo period for your leo and enough light for viewing. I leave that on about 12 hours.

There are alternatives to past "conventional" lighting and heating. Within the last several years UVB for reptiles is being discussed more and more.

It's correct that leopard geckos can successfully be kept using a combination of supplements (calcium with D3, plain calcium carbonate, & a multivitamin without D3), under tank heating, and a "plain" substrate. Keepers have been doing so for ages.

UVB lighting for a 10 gallon is excessive! There's just not enough space within a 10 gallon to safely or effectively provide UVB lighting.

If you wish to use UVB, here are guidelines for lighting and heating when using a 20 gallon long enclosure: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall. If you also wish to go bioactive, a 36 x 18 x 18 enclosure will be ideal. There you'll have room to establish a substantially deeper substrate.



For additional details please read here.

For link 157 click: Best practices for using UVB through mesh on a 20 gallon long enclosure: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall . . . . . . GU's Marillion, Fran Baines DVM, & Elizabeth Freer -- January 2021

Thanks for all the info! I have a mini desert uvb lamp from zoomed, and an exo terra 13w desert uvb bulb. I do have a 20 gallon long tank and have the bulb to the far right side of the tank, which keeps the light mainly in that area. I actually just got the little guy today, he seems very uneasy right now, which I heard is normal. But, I was wondering how long it usually takes for them to settle in? I’m a worrier by nature and I want to see him eating haha. Thanks.

[ljg990]

Hello,

I can’t really find anything online about this for some reason. Is it okay if I dust mealworms in calcium and multivitamin? I have Zoomed Repticalcium with no D3 (I use UVB) and the multivitamin is Repcal Herptivite multivitamins with beta carotene. I am a new leopard gecko owner, and I’m paranoid about everything lol. I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing for this little guy.

Thank you

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hello Lawrence ~ Did you see my reply to your first thread?

Please reply to the following issues. UVB must be carefully adapted to your situation.

1. UVB must be done safely. Otherwise your leo may really be in danger!
2. What size/dimensions is your leo's enclosure?
3. What brand & exact name is your UVB bulb or linear tube light?
4. How old is your leo?

[ljg990]

Hello Lawrence ~ Did you see my reply to your first thread?

Please reply to the following issues. UVB must be carefully adapted to your situation.

1. UVB must be done safely. Otherwise your leo may really be in danger!
2. What size/dimensions is your leo's enclosure?
3. What brand & exact name is your UVB bulb or linear tube light?
4. How old is your leo?

My tank is 20 gal long, the uvb light is exo terra desert 13 W, 8 months

[Elizabeth Freer]

My tank is 20 gal long, the uvb light is exo terra desert 13 W, 8 months

1. What is your substrate?
2. How are you heating your 20 long?
3. If you're using a heat mat, what dimensions?
4. Is your UVB located on the same side as your heat mat?

Enclosure size = OK for UVB
Leo = 8 mo

I don't know whether Exo Terra's Desert 13 watt UVB bulb is adequate for your setup. To know by yourself, you'd need to invest ~$200 in a Solarmeter 6.5R to measure the strength of rays at 12 inch depth through your mesh top.

Are you on Facebook? You might join Reptile Lighting and ask them. They are among the experts on the net.

Alternatively switch to Arcadia Reptile's 12 inch liner fixture & set up your 20 long: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall enclosure just like I recommended on your first thread.

[ljg990]

1. What is your substrate?
2. How are you heating your 20 long?
3. If you're using a heat mat, what dimensions?
4. Is your UVB located on the same side as your heat mat?

Enclosure size = OK for UVB
Leo = 8 mo

I don't know whether Exo Terra's Desert 13 watt UVB bulb is adequate for your setup. To know by yourself, you'd need to invest ~$200 in a Solarmeter 6.5R to measure the strength of the rays at 12 inch depth through your mesh top.

Are you on Facebook? You might join Reptile Lighting and ask them. They are among the experts on the net.

Alternatively switch to Arcadia Reptile's 12 inch liner fixture & set up your 20 long: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall enclosure just like I recommended on your first thread.

I’m currently using paper towel, I’m not on Facebook unfortunately. I don’t use any social media. I did hear that this bulb is sufficient for 12 inches plus going through a screen top. But, I’m always looking for the best thing to do, I’ve been researching non stop. It can be frustrating sometimes though, because I either can’t find anything about what I’m looking for or I get a very wide range of opinion on the matter.

[Elizabeth Freer]

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I’m currently using paper towel, I’m not on Facebook unfortunately. I don’t use any social media. I did hear that this bulb is sufficient for 12 inches plus going through a screen top. But, I’m always looking for the best thing to do, I’ve been researching non stop. It can be frustrating sometimes though, because I either can’t find anything about what I’m looking for or I get a very wide range of opinion on the matter.

As you were replying, I added questions 3 & 4. Please reply to those ?s too.