I have had my new Gecko for about a week now. I did my research and had my tank all set up be for hand. I just have a few quick questions about lighting. I know they dont need top heat as long as the UTH keeps it at 90-93 (warm side). But I have a blue light (sais it is like moonlight) that I use for viewing,can this light stay on in the day or should I only use it at night? Also I was going to use a 15w for day viewing (even if he is resting in the day) if it doesnt stress them?
Hi MrEdd ~
Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!
How about giving GU a second chance?
It sounds to me like you might have just gotten a leopard gecko? Is that true? We do need to be certain.
If so lighting/heating depends on several things, one being the ambient temps of the room in which you house his enclosure.
An UTH provides basically just a warm "spot". If you measure, you will see how quickly the heat decreases only inches above the UTH.
Some of us also recommend a large overhead dome housing a CHE. That will create more of a warm "zone" and make your leo more comfortable when he ventures out of his warm caves. If you use a Night Glo Moonlight bulb, some people say only at night. Others recommend a CHE plus a low wattage bulb like a 15 watt bulb in a small fixture adjacent to the CHE as one method for providing your leo with a "photoperiod".
The UTH and the CHE
might be on separate thermostats. The low wattage bulb could be on a rheostat. The overhead fixtures might also be on a timer set to go off at night.
(Realize this sounds like a lot of wires. ;-))
This is what I recommend:
Temperatures for all leos regardless of size:
88-93 F (31-34 C) ground temp at warm end inside the warm dry hide
no greater than 85 F (29.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
no greater than 75 F (24.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the cool end
Leave the UTH on 24/7. Can turn off overhead heating at night unless the ambient room temperatures are particularly cool during the night.
