Gecko question?

Question

I`m buying my daughter a Leopard Gecko. Do I need to fit a heat light in the vivarium if I`m using a heat mat. The viv is quite small and fitting a heat light would be very difficult. Would a simple strip light do?

Answer 1

No heat light. Smallest tank would be a 10 gallon. Use under tank heat mat only on one side. They need 3 hiding places--a moist warm hide, a dry warm hide, and a cool hide. A dish for calcium, and a water bowl. They need to eat crickets every day and the crickets must be gutloaded first (which means they must be fed before feeding to the reptile). No UV light is necessary--they are nocturnal species. See www.reptilerooms.com and go to the forum section to read care sheet info.

Answer 2

If you're worried about heating your tank, an under the tank pad should work just fine. If you're worried about your lizard getting enough UV you could put your tank near a window. Just be sure that you monitor the temperatures so they don't get too hot.

If you are looking for a heat lamp that would fit most big chain pet stores carry Zoo-Med. They have a smaller heat lamp out. I just use a regular bulb in it depending on how hot I want the tank to get. It's a black fixture that you can either set right ontop of the screen lid or you can use the clamp and clamp it on the tank.

Answer 3

yes it would I however I don't think you should put the heat pad in the cage because a thermamitor can't tell how hot the cage might be and the gecko would fry. I used to have one and I used a heat lamp and it worked perfectly and also FYI only have the heat lamp on half the cage because sometimes they want to get away from the heat and they go in the other half of the cage. and good choice leopard geckos are so fun!!!

- hope I helped you! have fun with your new pet!

Answer 4

I used a ceramic heat lamp, but if u have a mat this should be ok as long as the heat get get through the material of the viv (plasic, glass ok, wood too thick)

Answer 5

If you have a heating pad, then you do not need a heating light ( blue, black, or red lights ) but you still need to put a day light on the tank...
All reptiles need some form of UV lighting, it helps with digestion and gives them the proper light cycles that they require...
It depends on the size of your tank for which size day light you need...and easy way to get one that fits...Exo-Terra makes a hood ( it's fairly new) that uses engergy saving light bulbs, the small hood is made small enough to fit ontop of their smallest vavarium, I think it's only 9 inches long or so....( can be found at PetSmart or Pet CO )
You can also get a small fishtank light fixture...about 7 inches long and use a low wattage bulb in it....
But they DO NEED day light....

I hope this helps...GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 6

Ah a Leopard Gecko!! the vivarium needs to be of reasonable sockage or the triplant cannot be audicated, without the audication theres's no way it'll work.
A simple strip is unpredicable as it may cause the eothorium to spontaneously combust and that's not good.
Hope this helps!!

Answer 7

i have heat pad and heat light for my leopard geko ..i did try just with the pad but it wasnt warm enuff...the temp as to be 70s at nite and 80s during day ...if it gets 2 warm i switch the light off ..my geko is 13 yrs old ..

Answer 8

id personally use a heat mat rather than a light

Answer 9

A heat mat is sufficient.
Leopard geckos are nocturnal, so they do not bask.
They don't need any light.

Answer 10

you could put a bottom heater then put a lamp overtop of the terrarium