If you are setting up an enclosure for your new Leopard Gecko or looking to add lighting or redo to your pet’s habitat, we will cover everything from heating to UVB in this article!
It is important to keep in mind that there is no single correct way to set up heating and lighting for a Leopard Gecko.
What may be best for one person may not be ideal for another. The key to success is trial and error in your environment. Don’t be afraid to test and adjust your setup to achieve the desired result!
Although they are most active in the dark, daylight also plays an important part in their daily cycle! Without daylight, a Leopard Gecko’s photo period may be thrown off and their health can suffer as a result. Leopard Geckos should have 14 hours of daylight during the summer months and reduced to 12 hours during the cooler winter months.
Although Leopard Geckos are most active in hours of mostly darkness, many have been observed emerging for short periods during the day to bask – especially in the hours of dawn and dusk. Leopard Geckos may also partake in a process known as cryptic basking. This process involves the animal exposing a small portion of their body to the light in order to absorb the beneficial effects of the lighting spectrum.
The Ideal Thermostat Setup For Your Leopard Gecko Enclosure
Providing the optimal habitat for your leopard gecko is essential to keeping them healthy and happy One of the most important elements of their enclosure is maintaining proper temperatures Leopard geckos require a temperature gradient with a warm side around 88-92°F and a cool side around 75-80°F. The easiest way to heat one side of the tank is with a heat mat or heat tape underneath the tank. However, these heating elements can overheat if not regulated properly. This is where a thermostat comes in.
What Is A Reptile Thermostat And Why Do You Need One?
A thermostat is a device that automatically regulates temperature. There are several types of thermostats made specifically for reptile enclosures. The most common type is an on/off thermostat. This thermostat uses a probe to monitor the temperature and simply turns the heating element on when the temp drops below the set point and off again when it gets warm enough. This creates a consistent temperature range.
Thermostats are essential for controlling heat sources like heat mats. Not only does a thermostat prevent overheating, but it allows you to easily maintain the proper warm side temperature day and night. Without a thermostat, heat mats and other heat sources stay on constantly, leading to potentially dangerous hot spots.
How To Set Up A Thermostat In A Leopard Gecko Enclosure
Setting up a thermostat for your leopard gecko is a very simple process:
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Place the heat mat under the tank on one side. Make sure there is some air flow underneath if using a glass tank.
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Install the thermostat probe under the substrate on the warm side. Ensure the probe is positioned properly to get an accurate reading.
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Plug the heat mat into the thermostat.
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Set the thermostat to 91°F to maintain a warm side temp of 88-92°F.
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Plug the thermostat into an outlet and observe the temperatures over a day/night cycle to tweak the setting if needed.
The probe temperature reading on the thermostat should match closely with a separate digital thermometer placed on top of the substrate. This ensures everything is calibrated properly.
Choosing The Best Thermostat For Leopard Geckos
There are a few key features to look for when selecting a thermostat for your leopard gecko enclosure:
- Designed for reptiles/herps
- Adjustable temperature range appropriate for leopard geckos
- Ability to handle the wattage of your heating element
- Digital display for easy monitoring
- Alarm for hot/cold alerts
Some top thermostat options include:
- Hydrofarm Jump Start MTPRTC
- Zoo Med ReptiTemp RT-600
- Inkbird ITC-306T Pre-Wired Thermostat
- Bayite Temperature Controller BTC211
With a proper thermostat setup, you can rest easy knowing your leopard gecko’s habitat will remain at an ideal temperature. This key piece of heating equipment is an inexpensive way to provide optimal health and safety.
Do Leopard Geckos Need Night Lights?
Leopard Geckos are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. They have eyes that are designed to navigate and hunt in the dim hours of dawn, dusk, and even darkness of the night.
Contrary to popular belief, reptiles CAN see light from the color red and blue, and their photo periods can be disrupted by using these “night lights.” It is best to give your Leopard Gecko what is most natural for them at nighttime – total darkness.
Do Leopard Geckos Need Heat at Night?
It is natural, and even recommended for Leopard Geckos to have a drop in temperature at night.
In the wild, once the sun goes down, the Leopard Gecko’s habitat cools down. Providing your Leopard Gecko with a nighttime drop in temperature down to 60ºƒ is recommended. By providing a temperature and light cycle fluctuation, you can closely resemble a Leopard Geckos natural environment.
If the temperature in your home dips below 60ºƒ, you can add a heat source such as a low wattage deep heat projector or ceramic heat emitter on a thermostat set to mid-60’s to allow for a natural, yet safe range of temperature fluctuation of your gecko’s environment. In the past, many keepers have opted to use heat mats to offer a source of heat with non-visible light around the clock.
We now know that it is ideal not to provide our animals with the same temperature 24/7, and a night drop in temperature is safe and recommended.
Leopard Gecko Heating (how to use a thermostat and heat mat for reptiles)
FAQ
Do leopard geckos need a thermostat?
Ideally, a heat mat controlled by a reputable mat-stat thermostat is recommended, turning the matt on and off to maintain an even temperature.
What is the ideal temperature for a leopard gecko?
The correct temperature gradient for a Leopard gecko would be around 30-32°C (86-98°F) on the warm side and around 22°C (71°F) on the cool side. This is most easily achieved using an overhead heating system such as a heat bulb or ceramic heat emitter.
What is the best heating setup for a leopard gecko?
The most preferred heating for leopard geckos are halogens, followed by deep heat projectors, and ceramic heat emitters for supplemental heat. You’ll want to experiment with the thermostat probe to find out what’s giving the best surface temperature but also ambient temperatures you need.
How do leopard gecko heat pads work?
Leopard gecko heating pads are placed under the tank to increase the temperature to the desired rate. These are low output heating devices, which increase the temperature and remain energy efficient. Q. Leopard gecko heat mat or heat lamp? A. Heat mat is preferable as leopard geckos require belly heat.
What temperature should a leopard gecko tank be?
In your leopard gecko enclosure, you need to create a temperature gradient from the cool side to the warm side. Cool side temperature should range from 75ºF to 80ºF. Warm side temperature should be between 85ºF and 95ºF. To archive the ideal temperature in your leopard gecko tank, you can set the thermostat temperaturebetween 90ºF and 95ºF.
How does a leopard gecko’s temperature change?
A leopard gecko’s temperature isn’t regulated on the inside like it is with us humans which makes it vital to their survival. Reptiles are cold-blooded, so a leopard gecko’s temperature is altered by the environment. If they’re not provided with enough opportunity to warm up, then various bodily functions, like digestion, start to fail.
What is a leopard gecko heat mat?
This leopard gecko heat mat is suitable for tanks up to twenty gallons. The mat measures 6” x 8” and comes in a box, which includes one heat pad, double sided tape and a manual. Made from durable PVC material, the heat pad is a soft device, which makes it easy to fold, convenient to use and very easy to clean.
Can a heat pad kill a leopard gecko?
A heating pad that is too hot can crack your tank or worse, it can kill your leopard gecko. When it comes to connecting your thermostat, it’s imperative that you don’t put your probe between the heat pad and the tank, this will give a false reading which can negatively impact the heat inside the tank.