can I use my fish aquarium light for a gecko along with the basking light?

Question

I have a 55 gal aquarium with two lights and my son is going to get a lizard, I have bought a 20gal tank and all that goes with it but the uv light and until I get the extra money would like to know if I could use the aquarium light? until that time. I get conflicting answers so just want more opinions

Answer 1

its not gonna hurt it but i would recommend that the tank be in a naturally bright room for the time being

Answer 2

Gecko's don't need a uv light because they are nocturnal. They do need a heat lamp. One other thing, heating/basking rocks are not recommend. The direct contact to a heating device can cause burns. Stick to under tank heating elements and heating lamps that are out of the gecko's reach.

Answer 3

We have owned 3 geckos, just sold them to a travelling Reptile company who teach kids about exotic and interesting reptiles and such. We housed them in an aquarium with heat pads and didn't use heat lamps. They were happy and healthy for 2.5 years with us.

My suggestion tho is to speak with someone who actually works with geckos and other reptiles and knows all the ins and outs. The fellow we purchased our gecks from was extremely knowledgeable and had 9 gecks of his own along with numerous other lizards and snakes. His recommendation was heat lamp or pad, both at once not recommended and heat pad was good choice for radiating heat through tank. Check these sites for detailed info, particularly the first one which talks about heat pads vs heat lights and the dangers of heat rocks:

http://www.reptilerooms.com/Sections+index-req-viewarticle-artid-24-page-1.html

http://www.geckonetwork.com/caresheetleo.htm (heating info is a few paragraphs down on this site but there is excellent info about feeding and preparing the gecks home and worth the read)

http://www.crestedgecko.com/lg_care.htm (a little hard to read due to amount of info crammed on the page but some very good tips including not using a heat lamp that is a daylight quality but rather using red or blue as gecks being nocturnal don't like or need the white light)

This should provide enough reading material and info for you to confidently prepare for and care for your new gecks. From these sites you will probably learn that either heat sources are acceptable and it comes down to which you want to use and what you can afford at the moment.

Best of luck and enjoy, they are sociable little guys if they are handled daily.

Answer 4

It should not pose a problem. Just make sure the reptile has warmth. A heating pad on low with a dishtowel over it will work fine until you can get the correct lights and I would also suggest an electric "basking rock" at some point ...

Answer 5

maximum fish opt to have an afternoon and evening. Fish aquariums have lighting fixtures in them as a fashion to grant a daylight hours and a evening. imagine about fish in organic situations, inclusive of lakes and oceans. The solar rises, and the solar gadgets. therefore, at the same time as your aquarium comes with a smooth on the properly, you should turn it off at evening. top the following website lower than, provides information because the "organic" gentle is to ascertain your tank close to a window the position they could be able to get the solar, taking into interest how a lot publicity, we wouldnt opt to cook dinner our little acquaintances. and likewise strategies for gentle with bulbs. The tank in my mattress room is keen to organic gentle, at the same time as the only in the front room is on bulbs. All fish and creatures choose a dozing time, and grants nocturnal species time to come back out also, at the same time as its darkish ope this helps :)

Answer 6

that is fine i have a 60 gallon tank set up for my water draons...as long as ur basking light is at a watage good enough 4 size of tank......very important do not use just basking light not good heat and hot rocks can harmlizard in fact they sometimes retain hotter spots

Answer 7

you really need a heat lamp ..but ill tell you know before you buy this pet ..they are not an easy pet to keep and very expensive ..you also need to have a lot of interaction with it or it will become hostile and make sure you have pet insurance...as it is dearer for reptiles than any other pet to have treatment...so think very hard before you go ahead with this one..To many of these pets are giving in to shelters because they are hard to keep .....please read up on them ......

Answer 8

I HAVE A LEOPARD GECKO. YOU SHOULD REALLY PICK UP A HEAT LAMP AND KEEP IT ON 1 SIDE OFTANK SO IF IT GETS HOT HE CAN GET OUT OF THE HEAT FOR AWHILE.

Answer 9

TRY THE RIGHT AND WRONG YOU WILL LEARN