Leopard gecko temp at night?

Shay_Mont37

New member
Hello! I have a leopard gecko that is 4. I upgraded his tank about 2 months ago and was letting him settle into his new space. He doesn't come out of his hides much at all. But I was wondering if its okay to keep the temp higher at night?? He will stick his head out and be taunted out of his hides with food sometimes if his temp is at 85 but won't even budge a bit if its colder. I just want to know if that's okay, I don't want to hurt him in the long run.
Also, since he doesn't come out of his hide at all really, I was hoping someone had some helpful tricks?? He'll stick his head out if he sees food on the tongs but sometimes once I pull it further away, he becomes uninterested and goes back in the hide. I don't know what to do. I want to be able to hold him and connect with him but I can't when he's constantly hiding.
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Hi ~

  • What are the dimensions of your leo's enclosure?
  • What are the dimensions of the heat mat?
  • What is the room temperature during the night?
Are you matching these temperatures?

Temperatures - A temperature gradient from warm to cool maintains your leo's health. Here's a temperature guide for all leopard geckos as measured with the probe of a digital thermometer or a temp gun (and controlled by a thermostat set at 91*F/32.8*C):
  • Warm end ground temperature: 88-92 F (31.1-33.3 C) underneath a leo's warm dry hide
  • Cool end ground temperature: 70ish-75 F (21.1-23.9 C) Usually the cool end ground temperature matches the room temperature where the enclosure sits.
  • 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
Leave the heat mat/UTH on 24/7. If you wish, during the night turn off overhead lighting/heating (~12 hours on and ~12 hours off) unless ambient room temperatures drop lower than 67ish*F (19.4*C).
 
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