Heating light or mat oh my!!

[Star8527]

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Rescuing a adult on sat and he has been using a heat lamp.. but I see so many people say go with a heat mat which do I go with? I am no confused! Even the sticky on here for heating says the mat..

[acpart]

different people do different things, but in general leopard geckos (which is what I assume you have) need belly heat 24/7, so a het mat is best. Heat lamps can also dry out the air too much.

Aliza

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Leopard gecko keepers can successfully use overhead halogen heating above a slate basking area to create belly heat.

Keeping a leo on a heat mat is pretty much "old school". Heat mats are just "adequate". Several years back heating leopard gecko enclosures underwent a BIG change to overhead heating & lighting. It's no secret that leos adapt, that leos WILL utilize overhead heating & lighting to gain adequate "belly" heat.

1. What are the dimensions of your leo's home?
2. Does this leo already have an adequately sized slate basking area so he can soak up that heat? Slate is a superior stone for heat absorption! IF your leo is fine with overhead heating, I recommend it.
3. What are your future goals for keeping him?
4. Will you be aiming for a naturalistic enclosure or even a bioactive enclosure now or down the road?

[Dragonsongbird]

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I use a heat mat and a ceramic heating lamp. I turn the lamp off when I go to bed and turn it on again when I wake up, and have the mat going 24/7