I was wondering before I spent the money if an Under Tank Heater was better then a heating lamp? If a heating lamp is better could I use a lava lamp heating light instead of a heating lamp. Seeing as I already have a lava lamp that I never use that would save money. Just thought I would ask. Also is a calcium dish really needed? All of the calcium suppliments my LPS carries has D3 in it. I heard this is not good to use all the time. My final question is, do I need to declorinate the water in the water dish? As well as the water used to break apart the dish with cocanut fiber in it?

Thanks,
Powerman2442

Here is the link to the Herp Center Care Sheet for Leopard Geckos. This should answer most of your questions.

http://www.herphabitats.com/reptile_...pard_gecko.htm

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Colleen

Chlorine is never good, well unless you trying to kill things, we have always at least filtered the water (PUR/Brita activated charcoal) we installed an under sink RO (reverse osmosis) and now use that water (is it necessary to have a RO, No) would I recommend a charcoal filter, YES. And yes that goes for the humid hide substrate and the water you spritz the hide with.

Heat We've always liked the Under Tank Heater's for Leo's main reason, they last longer then bulbs.

Lava what? lava lamps are heated but a std. bulb (at least all that I have seen), and if you needed the extra heat during the day it could be used to bring up the temps, but I'd use a purpose built heating lamp fixture, vs. turning your Lamp heater upside down on top of the tank.

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Instead of using reptile Under Tank Heater, we use human heating pads that don't have an automatic shut off.

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Colleen

I also use human heat pads. Much cheaper than Under Tank Heater's. I also use Repti-safe to treat the water.

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

Ok I've read the care sheet 10+ times now. This was before I asked these questions. Some peopel say you need a calcium dish, some say you don't but you have to dust crickets. The care sheet doesn't tell me what one is right. Plus I heard you should'nt use calcium with D3 in it. If so, why not? All the calcium supplements I've seen have D3 in them. Well I tried the lava lamp idea and use a plan incadescent hood with two red bulbs in them and neither one of them got the temperature above 70 degrees F. Would an actual heat lamp raise the temp?

yes it would also calcium dish is the way to go they use it as they need it
and I got pure calcium powder from my pharmacist its an over the counter 500mg pure calcium mostly used by people who make protein shakes and do their own additives

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Both are correct....here is the section straight from the care sheet..

Calcium

A shallow dish of pure calcium powder should be left in the enclosure at all times. Leopard geckos require high calcium content and will utilize the dish as needed.

Vitamins

Supplementing your leopard gecko will help to insure that they are receiving all of their nutrients. Herptivite is a good supplement to use. Sprinkle some in a bag and add the insects that you plan on feeding. Lightly shake the bag to coat the insects and then add them to the enclosure. As the geckos eat the insects, they will also be eating the vitamins that are covering the insects.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Yes I've read that but it doesn't say don't use calcium with D3 in it, but I've heard people on the forums right here say not to use it "That often", if I remember correctly. Plus I've heard people on here say they don't even use a calcium dish. So I am stuck between a bunch of people saying they don't use calcium dishes, or not that often. And a bunch of other people saying read a caresheet that says use them all the time. Then, I have other people saying it is ok to use calcium dishes all the time but no D3 in the poweder. Kind of hard to figure out what to do when there are 5 or more different ways. Each way contradicts the other way. Hopefully I can figure this out.

correct, it doesn't say "don't use don't use calcium with D3" it says "pure calcium"

If it has D3, it isn't pure

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan