Leopard gecko night heat: Do I need a red lamp to keep him warm?

Thanks for reaching out about Darwin. Leopard geckos like warm temperatures, the hot spot should be around 90-95 F. But ultraviolet radiation should also be provided even though these animals are not very active during the day. Good luck.

A heat mat will maintain proper ground temps but may not keep ambient temps within normal ranges for a leopard gecko. A basking light should be used during the day to mimic the natural environment. If nighttime temps drop too low, even with a mat, consider a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) that will produce heat without visible light.

It is okay for nighttime temps to drop a bit. Make sure they don't go lower than the low 70s F. Consider a thermometer at each end of the enclosure to verify temperatures. If necessary, a 60 watt CHE would probably heat or maintain temps above the low 70s F in a small tank overnight. You would need to test it out. Save the receipt in case you need to return it or buy a 100 watt CHE and move it farther away from the tank.

As long as the room temp doesn't drop below 70 F overnight, Lincoln should be fine. A nighttime drop in temps is normal in a beardie's natural environment anyway. Be sure to pick up a spare along with the replacement tomorrow. In a pinch, a hot water bottle wrapped in a hand towel can be used as a heat source.

I think leaving the red light on at night is fine. I would try not to let it get below 60s at night. I am going to attach a great resource about husbandry and diet for your bearded dragon to help give you better guidelines on his temperature, lighting, and diet. I hope this helps. http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html

Hi there. I have a created gecko in my sons room. We love him! I would encourage you to get a red night lamp for his cage. It helps keep the cage warm, adds some light to the room, but is a spectrum that does not interfere with his circadian rhythm. As far as the oils go, there is a lot we don’t know about exotic animals. I would not be too concerned, but I would recommend watching closely for any signs of respiratory symptoms such as breathing hard, not eating etc. Best of luck and have fun with your gecko! They are a great little pet! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for reaching out about Sushi. Adding a heat lamp to bring the temperature the rest of the way up is recommended. This should be put on a rheostat so the temperature can be fine tuned. Good luck.