Reptile & Amphibian Forums

"In the wild the leopard geckos will thermoregulate during the day" Is this true? I thought they didnt like bright light?

Leopard Geckos are nocturnal.

They sleep in dark places during the day. In your setup, you'll have a heat pad (or light) on one side of the tank, and nothing on the other side.

You will have a hiding place on each end of the tank,and a humid hide in the middle.

During the day, the leo will sleep in one of the hiding places, but every once and a while it will wake up, decide it's too hot or cold, and slink across the tank to the other hide. (It'll also give you a dirty look like 'what? I just woke up, leave me alone')

During the night when it's active, it will lounge and nap wherever it's most comfortable temperature-wise.

During the day I rarely see my leo, but within half an hour of the lights going out, she's at her food dish staring at it (or at me if I'm in the room). From then until the time I go to bed, she's out wandering around eating/pooping/and doing other things geckos like to do.

So yes, they are nocturnal.
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Blaine

0.0.1 HY/Patternless/Normal Leo (Echo)

someone keeps telling me they are nocuternal and that they need uva uvb and that they will thermoregulate during the day in the wild ? (and should in captivity I guess ? )

Here are the answers:
-they don't need UVA/UVB
-they'll thermoregulate (thermoregulate refers to heat only, not light)
-they aren't a fan of bright light, but some will still hang out if a bright light is on. Depends on the individual.

As far as thermoregulation, they won't bask in bright light (usually). They'll lounge wherever it's warm and darker. Like on a heat pad, or under a heat emitting ceramic bulb.
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Blaine

0.0.1 HY/Patternless/Normal Leo (Echo)

thats what I thought its on another board they have there "herptigolgy certifcate" and are telling me new research (june 2003) says that ALL herps need UVA UVB, and I dont believe that.

Most herps in captivity seem to not NEED uvb light as long as there is a dietary source of d3 available. Bearded dragons as well as uromastyx have both been raised up by breeders without any "special" lighting that is thought to be needed.
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Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
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