Light & Heating help

[Slewis]

Hi
I have an adult leopard gecko and I’m so confused about the right light and heating setup. Some say don’t use floor heating mats, so say do. Some say to use a basking bulbs, others don’t.
I currently have a heat mat on the floor controlled by a thermostat and no basking bulb.
I use a 39w 6% UV-B bulb.
Is this okay? Should I add a basking bulb?
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Slewis ~

Please share brand names for ALL equipment that you have. Some details = trial & error -- especially finding the correct basking bulb wattage. The basking bulb wattage should be as close as possible to the wattage you actually need. The basking bulb should NOT be dimming excessively.

1. Is your UV-B bulb a linear (tube) bulb or a compact fluorescent? Which brand? Off-brands can damage geckos' eyes and/or cause skin burns!!!
2. Please disconnect/remove your UVB bulb until the details get sorted out. Continue using your heat mat to supply heat. Correct UVB depends upon proper UVB + heat from the basking bulb. This basking bulb should be centered & right next to your tube UVB.
3. You WILL need a basking bulb to replace your heat mat. The basking bulb's strength depends upon many things!
4. What are the exact measurements of your enclosure? Currently a 36 x 18 x 18 inch enclosure is recommended as the minimum size enclosure for leopard geckos.
5. Is your leo housed in a glass enclosure? What brand?
6. Does your enclosure have a mesh top that came with the enclosure?
7. Where are you located?
8. Please Google the exceptionally accurate Zoo Med Labs digital combo thermometer humidity gauge (TH-31) I just recommended. Then you'll be able to share precise temps.

 

[Slewis]

Hi
Thank you so much for your response.

1. I use a D3 T5 tube. 39W 6% UV-B Arcadia brand It’s 850mm
2. I have a wooden viv, with a glass front. It’s 1200mm x 460mm x 460mm. I have a bulb fitting, which is housed back right. The UV-B tube is in the middle of the roof.
3. I am in west London
4. Zoo Med thermometer is in and on basking side, it’s 93f and 42%

On the advice of another member, I will be changing the substrate to tiles.

Thanks in advance.
Sally

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I'm very concerned about your heating & lighting set up for your leopard gecko in the wooden enclosure. I hope you've removed your UVB tube until your set up gets approved. Incorrect UVB can damage a leo's eyes & cause burns.

For ease of keepers more familiar with USA inch measurements, I add those values to your comments.
"1. I use a D3 T5 tube. 39W 6% UV-B Arcadia brand It’s 850mm (= 33.465 inches)
2. I have a wooden viv, with a glass front. It’s 1200mm (= 47.244 inches) x 460mm (= 18.11 inches) x 460mm. I have a bulb fitting, which is housed back right. The UV-B tube is in the middle of the roof."

Generally your UVB tube/fixture should be 1/2 the enclosure's length. That depends upon UVB tube strength, mesh blockage, & specified distances. But you may not be using a mesh top??? The basking bulb correctly sits right next to your UVB tube & right in the middle of your UVB tube.

 

[Slewis]

H

I'm very concerned about your heating & lighting set up for your leopard gecko in the wooden enclosure. I hope you've removed your UVB tube until your set up gets approved. Incorrect UVB can damage a leo's eyes & cause burns.

For ease of keepers more familiar with USA measurements of inches I add those values to your comments.
"1. I use a D3 T5 tube. 39W 6% UV-B Arcadia brand It’s 850mm (= 33.465 inches)
2. I have a wooden viv, with a glass front. It’s 1200mm (= 47.244 inches) x 460mm (= 18.11 inches) x 460mm. I have a bulb fitting, which is housed back right. The UV-B tube is in the middle of the roof."

Generally your UVB tube/fixture should be 1/2 the enclosure's length. That depends upon UVB tube strength, mesh blockage, & specified distances. But you may not be using a mesh top??? Then the basking bulb correctly sits right next to your UVB tube & right in the middle of your UVB tube.

Hi Liz,

I’ll join the FB group, thanks for the recommendation.

I’ve had this setup for over 10 years. He has always been healthy until this impaction issue, which thankfully he has recovered from and the substrate has been changed.

The brackets in the viv are designed to hold this length of bulb. I’m not saying it’s right, but just for your info.

The UV-B bulb runs centrally across the roof of the viv. Apart from the glass front, the viv is wooden, there’s no mesh. I haven’t used a basking bulb for some time, although the housing from when I did is in the back right corner of the roof. Are you saying this should be in the middle of the viv?

I’ve been using a heat mat, previously under the calci sand and temperatures sit around 94F.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

"I haven’t used a basking bulb for some time, although the housing from when I did is in the back right corner of the roof. Are you saying this should be in the middle of the viv?

"I’ve been using a heat mat, previously under the calci sand and temperatures sit around 94F."

Nope! Place your basking bulb in the middle/center of your linear UVB fixture & right next to the UVB fixture no matter where the UVB fixture is. OK? Locate your UVB tube & fixture at some angle (or parallel to the side) over the warm end of the enclosure.


............................................O = basking bulb ..
[---------------------------------------------] = linear UVB tube/fixture