How to set up a leopard gecko tank: Bedding, lighting, and heat?

Leopard geckos are great "starter" reptiles. They don't require special lighting (UVB) like other reptiles. A 20 gallon tank is big enough for one. Add a heat source, hides and a water bowl and you are good to go. You can review gecko care at the links below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Leopard-Gecko/ http://www.anapsid.org/leopardgek.html

Hi there! We have a Crested Gecko and have so much fun with him! Don’t worry, they are a great starter reptile and are pretty easy to keep. In the winter we use a red light to keep the tank warmer, but not a specific heat lamp. This keeps the tank warm enough without getting too hot. Also very important is the humidity of the tank. Keeping it spritzed several times a day is necessary. We started with a tank your size and it probably would have been just fine long term, but we ended up purchasing a larger tank because we wanted a different look. Best of luck and have fun with your crestie! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for reaching out about Blep. Using a aquarium as a terrarium should work well. Hamsters don't have anything that could be transmitted to a gecko, just clean out well. For geckos, husbandry is paramount, providing the correct temperature zone, UVB radiation exposure, humidity and diet will provide the best results. 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.

Thanks for reaching out regarding Night Hawk and including photos. The pictures appear good and seems a lot of thought went into your set up. You haven't mentioned UVB radiation or diet, but everything else appears good. Even though geckos are noctunal, they are often inactive during the day but receiving radiation. Insect species need to be varied and gut loaded with a variation of fresh vegetables. Good luck.

The tank looks fine, but geckos absorb heat better through their bellies than through their back, as they tend to be more active at dawn and dusk, rather than other lizards that are active during the day and would bask in the sun in the wild.