Do You Give Your Crestie UVB?

[ThePrairieNerd]

Hi! I keep reading conflicting information about whether or not Cresties need UVB lighting. I was wondering what your opinions were.

I was thinking about getting a low watt one anyway because I figure it wouldn't hurt and it could provide a little bit of heat.

 

[Herpin Man]

I don't keep crested geckos, but I do keep the closely related gargoyle geckos. I don't give them UVB. They grow, thrive, and reproduce well without it.
However, many herp hobbyists are beginning to provide UVB to non-basking species that don't necessarily require it, and feel that it is better for the animals. With that in mind, if you have a way of providing it, there's no reason not to. My suggestion is to use the fluorescent tube, though, rather than the screw in. I have read that these may damage their eyes. I haven't researched it personally, but better safe than sorry.

 

[GeckoLeen]

I have a crestie and a gargoyle. They sleep in a dark spot during the day so they probably don't need UVB, but I provide it anyway; their tanks are in a fairly dark corner of the room and they don't get much natural sunlight there. So I figure better safe than sorry.

 

[ThePrairieNerd]

Thanks guys! I decided to go ahead and give him a low watt uvb.

I've noticed that he doesn't seem inclined to hide in a dark spot though. I gave him a cork bark tube but he hasn't used it yet to my knowledge. He just kind of chills on a leaf or the side of the tank. It's cool that I can see him during the day but I don't want him to get sick or sleep deprived or whatever.