New Exo Terra Medium Low Terrarium set up

[prestoleo]

Hi everyone!

New to this site and forum and need some expert insight please.

My son just got a juvenile Leo and he is set up in the basic 10 gal tank with white daytime and red night time halogen lights. Temp in tank is in good range and humidity is good too.

We are upgrading his habitat to the Exo Terra 20 gal Medium Low Terrarium and my question is about lighting for the new Terrarium. We have done lots of research about this new Terrarium and live the features etc.

We will of course be setting up the new home with the hot / cool sides with appropriate hides etc. We will be using the appropriate UTH for the tank.

What lights are the best? We really like the Exo Terra canopy designed for this Terrarium but what bulbs etc should we use. Know that Leo's need belly heat but have heard so many different views about lighting.

Many thanks for any help!

 

[Keeboard]

You don't need any lights as long as there's enough natural light from a window

 

[prestoleo]

You don't need any lights as long as there's enough natural light from a window

Thank you for your reply.

What about the UVB light recommended for proper digestion?

 

[PoppyDear]

Hello and congrats on the new Leo!

Lights are actually unecessary, especially UVB. As long as you suppliment the diet correctly and use an under tank heater you will have no issues. The tank should also recieve minimal natural light from a window and the tank should maintain temperatures of 67°F and above, if it doesn't, then consider lights. An UTH is really best for digestion, instead of lights, consider a thermostat to control the temperature, I use and reccomend the Jumpstart thermostat;
•https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NZZG3...t=&hvlocphy=1026995&hvtargid=pla-320548817996

Here's a temperature guide for all leopard geckos as measured with the probe of a digital thermometer (and controlled by a thermostat):
•88-92 F (31.1-33.3 C) ground temperature right underneath a leo's warm dry hide
•no greater than 82ish F (27.8ish C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
•no greater than 75 F (23.9 C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

As for suppliments, what do you plan on/are already using?

Good luck!

 

[Zux]

Thank you for your reply.

What about the UVB light recommended for proper digestion?

UVB light is not what aids your Gecko in its digestion, only core body temperature achieves this. Popular methods of providing that heat are either through Heatmat or overhead Lamp - either or both of which will need to be Thermostatically controlled.

UVB light has huge benefits for almost any species of captive reptile but must be provided in the correct way, so I suggest doing a lot more research before considering this as an option for you and your Gecko.

 

[prestoleo]

Hello and congrats on the new Leo!

Lights are actually unecessary, especially UVB. As long as you suppliment the diet correctly and use an under tank heater you will have no issues. The tank should also recieve minimal natural light from a window and the tank should maintain temperatures of 67°F and above, if it doesn't, then consider lights. An UTH is really best for digestion, instead of lights, consider a thermostat to control the temperature, I use and reccomend the Jumpstart thermostat;
•https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NZZG3...t=&hvlocphy=1026995&hvtargid=pla-320548817996

Here's a temperature guide for all leopard geckos as measured with the probe of a digital thermometer (and controlled by a thermostat):
•88-92 F (31.1-33.3 C) ground temperature right underneath a leo's warm dry hide
•no greater than 82ish F (27.8ish C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
•no greater than 75 F (23.9 C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

As for suppliments, what do you plan on/are already using?

Good luck!

Thanks SO much for your reply. Our Jump Start thermostat will be here tomorrow to use with the UTH. Just so confused about the lighting. Temps in tank are within the ranges you mentioned above. We use ReptiCalcium.

Thanks again!

 

[prestoleo]

If we were to purchase the Exo Terra Compact Flourescent Canopy Top for the new Terrarium (PT2227) which bulbs would you recommend for use in the canopy? Should we use a daytime heat lamp (26 watts) and a blue night time lamp?

 

[PoppyDear]

For lighting, only use if you cannot achieve air temperature greater than 67°F or do not have access to natural light. As Zux said, UVB won't help with digestion, it can be provided if you do more research but many Leopard geckos can live without it their entire lives provided they have natural light for a day and night cycle.

As for the bulbs, you shouldn't need a night time bulb if you have the temperatures I mentioned but the heat lamp (26 watt) will probably suffice, I may even reccomend lower wattage. For night time viewing, Hagen/Exo-Terra's Night-Glo Moonlight bulb will work.

The only other thing I would like to add is that in additon to the (Zoo Med..?) Repti Calcium you should probably add the some pure calcium and Zoo Med Reptivite Multivitamins to his suppliment schedule. I can provide a feeding and supplimenting schedule if you'd like!

No problem!

 

[prestoleo]

I like you PoppyDear!

Thanks for all of your help.

We do have a small bottle cap in the terrarium with the pure calcium powder in it. Have no clue if the Leo eats it or not though. I guess my lighting questions all stem from the fact that I want to set up the new terrarium as close to the natural habitat as possible and mimic the natural day / night cycle. Really want the little Leo to be happy and healthy for a long long time. Would you post pictures of your set ups? So glad I found this site. All of the help from everyone so far has been great!

 

[Zux]

On the subject of night lamps, it is extremely important for the long term health of the Gecko to have an extended period of absolute darkness every night, so if supplemental heating is required, this ought to come in the form of a Ceramic Heat Emitter and not any form of light emitting lamp.

You can, if you so choose, provide heat from a heat lamp, thereby providing heat and light at the same time during daylight hours, but you will need to experiment with wattage and purchase a special dimming thermostat in order to safely control the heat provided by the bulb and maintain a thermogradient which is crucial.

In this case, considering the size of the enclosure, I would stick with a heat-mat as the primary means of heating as Poppy suggests.

Your wish to provide a photo-period however, is well founded and will be greatly beneficial to the Gecko. You may notice people say on the internet that Leopard Geckos do not require any lighting, have sensitive eyes and prefer shade/darkness at all times, this is simply not the case and is a very archaic way of thinking.

How you provide the Gecko its photo-period will largely depend on its surrounding environment. My Geckos are all kept in very shaded room so the distant window light would not be even close to sufficient for their lighting needs, if this is the case for you also you ought to consider providing light on a timer to properly mimic a photo-period. I do this via UVB systems so perhaps some of the other keepers here may have ideas as to how you can accomplish this which suits your needs.

 

[prestoleo]

Poppy Dear - it's me again!

What wattage for the night glo moonlight bulb would you recommend?
In looking at Exo Terra's site they have 15 - 100 watts.
If we do go with the daytime heat lamp (in addition to the UTH) and the night glo bulbs - which Exo Terra light fixture would you recommend ?

Sorry for all of the questions but I certainly appreciate your help!

 

[Zux]

Edited - Mixup - Replied to PM.

 

[prestoleo]

Shane

Thanks so much! This new terrarium will be set up in my sons bedroom. Some natural light but in my opinion not a large amount during the day. His bedroom faces the front of the house and in order to maintain the temp we use wooden window blinds. The new terrarium will have the UTH and controlled by the Jump Start thermostat. With the low amount of natural light in the bedroom during the day this was why I was thinking about the daytime heat lamp - what light set up based on this thread would you recommend? Would any of the Exo Terra products work best? I will set up a timer for the lights as well. Many thanks!

 

[prestoleo]

Shane

No Ouch ....

Sorry - I just posted another few questions to you...

Thanks! Lee

 

[PoppyDear]

Thank you!

The calcium cap can stay in there while the Leo is a juvenile, but I wouldn't reccomend it when he/she becomes an adult, an overdose is plausible when a Leo has free access to the calcium. I reccomend a schedule such as this;
Weekly Schedule for Leopard Geckos 12 months old & under

Crickets or dubia >> Monday - Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3
Crickets or duba >> Tuesday
Mealworms >> Wednesday
Crickets or dubia >> Thursday - Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3
Crickets or dubia >> Friday
Mealworms >> Saturday - precipitated calcium carbonate without D3
No food or free choice >> Sunday

Future weeks:
Continue on since all weeks are identical. . . . . .

If you want a natural lighting, that night bulb does a good job of mimicing moonlight, a simple, low wattage (15 or so) bulb can function as daylight. Again natural light works just as well!

A setup of mine can be found here (As well as some other great ones!)
•http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...al-info-intros-and-pics/83142-tank-setup.html

Since then I have changed that setup to look like this:




EDIT: I had a delayed post and added these things after Zux posted. Zux has included great advice and is probably more educated than I, he is a very respected member in my eyes. As for wattages, I would reccomend a 15 watt, for fixtures, I believe you mentioned you were getting the hood...? A standard incandescent bulb would be fine in my opinion. Leos do need darkness at night but the night bulb mimics moonlight, something they would have in the wild. I would still reccomend a thermostat/dimmer to control any lighting.

 

[Keeboard]

I'd take the bottle cap of calcium out, your Leo could overdose. Dusting insects appropriately is enough Edit: Sorry, I didn't see the second page. I didn't know that PoppyDear had already stated this lol

 

[prestoleo]

Shane

Can't get my private message response to your last message to send...

I did send you a response in private message asking a few more questions:

1 - What wattage of heat emitter would you recommend - any fixture recommendations for the daytime heat lamp and heat emitter? Placement location on screen top?

2 - How would I control the heat emitter with a thermostat - silly question I know...

Many thanks again!

 

[Zux]

Shane

Can't get my private message response to your last message to send...

I did send you a response in private message asking a few more questions:

1 - What wattage of heat emitter would you recommend - any fixture recommendations for the daytime heat lamp and heat emitter? Placement location on screen top?

2 - How would I control the heat emitter with a thermostat - silly question I know...

Many thanks again!

I actually received them all and replied now, I think there is perhaps an issue with the site today?

If you didn't get my replies, let me know.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hello! Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Are the dimensions of your Exo Terra Medium Low 24 x 18 x 12 inches high?

An 8 x 18 inch heat mat stuck underneath one back corner towards either the middle or from that same corner towards the front and along one side may work.

Be sure to compare actual enclosure dimensions with actual heat mat dimensions. The coverage is just as important as the wattage.

Click: Zilla Large Heat Mat 8"x18" (50-60 Gallon) | eBay

My leo is housed in a 20 long: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall. I give her a photo-period by providing a 15 watt incandescent bulb in a 5.5 inch dome fixture. (That's the black dome fixture in the center.) The bulb is dimmed to half power by a rheostat and timed to go off when the heat goes off at night. That bulb is further shielded from my leo by tall silk plants in the center of the enclosure and right below the 5.5 inch dome. As long as your room temps dip no lower than ~67*F it's fine to turn off the heat at night.