i am new to leopard geckos and I just dot a baby albino leopard today and I am confused as to which is better and safer. someone told be a red heat lamp on a dimmer switch. with a ambient air temp on hot side at 88-90 and cool side 75-80 with a basking site at 90 surface temp. is this correct?

or is it better to go with the under the tank heaters and if so what size or watt one should I get for a 20 long. and if Under Tank Heater is better do I use white light during day and heat matt at night.

whats you take on this and if my temps are incorrect please let me know.

I personally use an Under Tank Heater (small size...can't remember brand!) but even human heating pads will work, and they are adjustable...and probably cheaper! I like that over lights because there is less 'clutter' and you don't need to have clamps, etc. The heater should stay on all the time. Below is the link to the care sheet on this site - it is very useful, and discusses temps. We would love to see pictures


Leopard Gecko Caresheet (Eublepharis macularius)

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~Tamara~

The creatures I love to spoil!
1.1.0 Leopard Gecko (Matilda & Bob Marley)
2.1.0 Desert Tortoises (Thor, Scar, & Sundance)
0.1.0 Appendix Quarter Horse (Baylee)
0.1.0 Pitbull (Miss Riley Skyy)

I actually use both. A human heat pad on 24/7 and an overhead light on during the day. I have 2 females in a 20 gallon long, the overhead light being an everyday 60 watt bulb. It keeps my temps exactly where they need to be, both day and night.

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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

I use the overhead light with either a 100 watt for a tall tank and a 60 watt for a normal sized tank. I normally don't like the use of red lights because of an article I read some time back on how it can destroy a reptiles eyes is due course.

I don't know if anyone else has ever read about the use of red lights on for any extended period of time.

I have used both in an environment during the winter months just to give them a warm spot when the lights go out.

If your room is always kept very warm an Under Tank Heater heater may be sufficient.

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Thanks For Reading My Post

bob/stano40

i was told a red light was the best thing because the Leopard Geckos cant really see red. is this right?

It doesnt really matter. The light is being used during the day. It doesnt need to be on at night. I used both as well.

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MARSHA

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

OK so what is the proper ambient air temp for both cool and hot sides. is it 88 on hot side and 75-79 cool side. also does the light and Under Tank Heater go on the same side and should I have both on during the day and the Under Tank Heater only at night. or should I use light for day and Under Tank Heater for night.

PS sad thing is that the albino baby I got yesterday afternoon was fine he/she ate 2 sm crickets and then today when I came home for lunch he was crawling and not using his back legs and his tail was twitching alot. so I brought it back to the store for a credit and then decided I would just get the adult leopard instead. alot less fragile I guess. i think the little one may of got his tail stuck or legs in something. i dont know but I am also happy with this new one also.

BTW this is also not my first lizard just first gecko. i currenty have a mali uromastyx and used to have a iguana when I was a teen.

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