Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Lately Ive heard alot of conflicting info on what kind of light bulb to use for my leo. Some people have told me I have to use a uva/uvb bulb, others have said a basking bulb, while other have said just leave the light on in the room and that will be fine. Whats the real answer!!!!

Here is my 2cents and personal opinion. I use a ReptiSun 2.0, or similar other 2.0 bulb. It is for nocturnal animals, but does have small amounts of UVB which helps all reptiles process D3, which as we know in high amounts is lethal. Of course, the arguement could be made, that they are nocturnal, so don't get much exposure to the UVB... true enough, but I'm finding the more comfortable my geckos get, they do venture out into the light, so I prefer to have a "good" light for them during that time.

As for basking lights, I think it is the general concensus of this forum that Leos prefer and are healthier given belly heat, utilizing a UTH with Thermostat or Rheostat. I can honestly say from my personal experiences with my leos (which I've only had 3-4 months now), that given proper substrate/ground temperatures, they are most happy. So I'd so nix the basking light.

Again, just my opinions
Jeff
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1.4.0 Nannar, Abbie, Aspen, Sigma and Raleigh
0.0.1 Ball Python Ernest

Belly heat is much more important and needed. Boo does have a daylight bulb (25watt) on a timer so he knows day from night but his main source of heat is an under tank heater. He has 3 hiding spots over top of the UTH with an area of tile inbetween where he usually spends alot of his time laying out in the open even with the lights on.

My other unit has 3 tanks and i've put a long arm lamp on the very top of it. It too will be on a timer and provide light 12 hours/day to those three tanks and maybe two more beside it on my entertainment unit if i can position it right

I do think a day/night schedule is important but i don't think that a light is sufficient for heating. Under tank heaters provide the best heat and cost alot less to run. Plus being attached to a thermostat/rheostat you can better control the temperatures

Red
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1.0 crested gecko
1.0 leopard gecko
(hoping to get 1.0 blizzard, 0.2 patternless)
1.0 papillion (small dog)
2.0 bettas
and 2 very annoying younger brothers LOL

We haven't housed a leopard gecko in anything other than a rack in over a year. Obviously you can't get lights in every shelf of a rack so the answer to your light question would be that they do not require a basking light or UVA/UVB light. The purpose of a UVA/UVB light is to allow the body to naturally produce vit. D3 which is needed for the body to use calcium. If you use a calcium powder that also contains vit. D3 you do not need the special lighting.

Just my 2 cents on the matter,
Uriah and Tina Walker
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does that mean i just wasted $44 on a reptisun bulb for my tegu?
he gets calcium/v.d3 powder on his food.

Yes. We also keep bearded dragons and chameleons w/out UVA/UVB lighting. There are different views on the affects that special lighting has on different species. In our experience we have noticed no ill effects that a lack of UVA/UVB light has had on any of our animals.

Uriah and Tina Walker
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while i agree, they do not NEED UV lighting, i do think they benifit from it. i kept bearded dragons indoors for a while with no lighting like that, and they grew fine and healthy with just the calcium and D3. but when i put them outside and cared for them exactly the same, they were much brighter in color and more active. i assume it was from the UV from natural sunlight.
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your head will collapse, but there's nothing in it, and you'll ask yourself, "where is my mind"

if you have AIM, IM me at chichandoCONrosa

My friend just had a veiled chameleon die because he was using a very old UVA/UVB bulb that no longer emitted enough UVB. He did supplement with Calcium/D3 and the cham still got MBD to the point that his legs had to be put in casts and the animal still ended up dying.
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

One of the most exhaustive books on the subject of veiled chameleons was recently translated from german for US audiences. It's very interesting to see the differences in philosophy regarding husbandry issues.
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One of the most exhaustive books on the subject of veiled chameleons was recently translated from german for US audiences. It's very interesting to see the differences in philosophy regarding husbandry issues.
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A more complicated book on chams would be a good read since there doesn't seem to be enough information available on them... but, not like they aren't complicated ENOUGH already.
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame