i have given up on the heat mat idea, so the second hand tank we bought has a floresent uv light fitting at the back (which we wont use) and one that has been made by prevoius owners in the top of the wood, made from a household plastic light fitting with a white basking bulb in, all works. i was just wondering if the plastic light fitting would be safe being plastic from melting and as its inside the tank will it be safe from the moisture. i hope you know what im on about!
2007-05-09 11:06:37 · 4 answers · asked by unkeyp 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
if i use a heat mat under the tank the heat will not penertrate through my WOODEN vivarium. so now i have to use the other option which is warmth from a light, if you are not going to be helpfull dont answer. i have not bought any animal yet as i am trying to find out how to look after it first. THANKYOU
2007-05-09 11:17:00 · update #1
Hi check this vidio out on heating for leopard geckos.
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-care-for-leopard-geckos
2007-05-09 20:58:20 · answer #1 · answered by Edd e 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would advise against using the plastic fitting. I work in a store where one of the commercial display units has a plastic fitting over the lamp sockets (for looks) and these have melted with 75-100 watt bulbs.
If the top is screen, your best bet would be a metal reptile light fixture with a ceramic housing for the lamp (buy whatever wattage you need for the distance from the top of the cage to the substrate - most fixtures will tell you not to use a wattage above a certain amount). If the top is solid and has a screen/glass front, I'd advise cutting a hole in the top , stapling a screen over it, and doing as above, but adding some additional screened cuts for ventilation. Use metal screen, because crickets can chew through the fiberglass type.
2007-05-09 12:09:40 · answer #2 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Leopard geckos do not need or like a basking light or UV light, they are nocturnal. All you need is a red light for night, a LOW LOW wattage, and a heat pad on a thermostat for 24/7. and yes, heat pads go UNDER the tank, not on the inside.
Please learn about an animal before you get it: reptilerooms.com
2007-05-09 11:14:12 · answer #3 · answered by mezcladoreptilia 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depending on how the tank is setup I would say a cheap clamp lamp would work best, and you want to have it on one side of the tank and allow the other side to be cooler to give the lizard somewhere to escape to if he becomes too hot
2007-05-09 13:40:50 · answer #4 · answered by talented_at_breathing7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋