Do leopard geckos need heat lights or are they okay with a heat pad?

Question

Must leopard geckos have a light generating heat on 10-12 hrs a day, or is a heat pad on one side under the aquarium okay?

Answer 1

it will die with no heat on it that is why they live in the desert

so for my answer DUHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Yes they need a full spectrum UVA/UVB light + a Heatpad. Let me break it down for you: They get a special vitamin that helps them. I know that turtles need Beta Carotene that they can turn into vitamin A when needed. A vitamin A overdose is not so good. Now im not so sure if that applies for Leopards. But you do need a Light and a pad.

  Good Luck!!

Answer 3

Yes you need heat lamps

Answer 4

Yes, not only for additional heating, but also to simulate a natural light cycle. Leopard Geckos depend on light ques to tell them when to sleep, what time of the year it is etc. You should have 12hrs on and 12hrs off, so your gecko will know when it's night and when it's day.

UV lighting is not required for this species as they are nocturnal. Some professional keepers usually only have the UV light on for a max of 2 hours a day. Over exposure of UV lighting can cause damage to the geckos eyes, proper supplementation of vit D3 is all that is required.

A previous poster mentioned vit A, beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A within the body, Carrots are rich in Beta-carotene. The insects fed to your gecko will naturally be deficient in this vitamin. Feeding your insects carrot will resolve this problem.

Answer 5

Actually, since leopard geckos spend all their day hiding under shelters or in burrows they do not need the full UVA or UVB spectrum lighting that an iguana, bearded dragon, or any other primarily diurnal lizard needs. That last person to answer even admitted they aren't sure how this applies to lep gecks.

Either one of the options you are looking at works. I prefer reflector bulbs simply for the fact that in nature they would go under stuff to get away from the heat, and with a heating pad digging down will only put them closer to the heat source.

If you opt for the heating pad either put two shelters for it to hide under (one at the hot and cool end of the tank) or get a long shelter that can sit part on and part off the heat pad.

Answer 6

they must have light - day and night - i dont use a heat pad because it could easily burn the geckos belly. which could cause stress and infection. get a day light and a night light. the night light is usually purple or redish at night . if i were u i would get light switchers where they switch automatically. thats wat i have. hope this helps

Answer 7

hmm nt sure i have bearded dragons :P

Answer 8

they are nocturnal so they dont need UVB OR UVA they can have a heat pad it heelps with digesting food and they should have a heat lamp

Answer 9

No, they don't require a heat light. A heat pad under half the enclosure is fine as long as it has a thermostat to regulate the temperature.

Leopard geckos are primarily nocturnal. No UV lighting is required (they would just hide from it). Too much UV causes excessive shedding in leos.

Sand and calci-sand are bad for leos, they can cause impaction. Your Leo should be on a solid substrate like shelf paper, news paper, tile, or the like, so digging or burrowing and getting closer to the under tank heater should not be an issue.

The tempereature should range between 82 and 88 deg Fahrenheit between the cool and hot side during the day, and drop no lower than 65 deg Fahrenheit at night.

My leos are kept in storage tubs and are heated (from under the tub) with flex-watt. They get in-direct diffused lighting from the over-head household light and from other near-by enclosures (containing various reptiles).

I have A breeding trio of hypo-tangerine carrot-tails, a sub-adult broad banded, a sub-adult patternless, 8 recent hatchlings, and 2 yet to hatch.

Answer 10

yea they need a heat lamp 24/7