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I realize this may be a personal choice or debated issue, but I'm wondering whether to provide overhead heat (w/ infrared heat light) or belly heat (with UTH) for a single leopard gecko? Also, what should the temps be on both the warm and cool side?
Thank you!
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I prefer UTH/Heat Tape controlled by a thermostat and light dimmer. I see my geckos move on and off the hot spot, plus I don't always have to take a light fixture off the top of the tank when I want to feed them or clean their cage.
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-Sal
1.5 Leopard Gecko Colony
Heres what i do. I have a UTH on the warm side, but it only gets it up to 80 degrees. So I also have a heat lamp. It has a 50 watt reptile bulb and it get the temp up to around 90 on the warm side. This also simulates the sun better than just a room light. But they still get belly heat. A UTH is a must. They need belly heat definately. If you use a bulb also, which you probably wont need to, you dont need any special lighting unless its for night viewing. Then you can just get a red party bulb and it will work. The warm side should be 90-95 and the cool side should be around 75-80. My use of an overhead lamp is a personal preference, also it doesnt overheat along with my UTH, most people on here just use a UTH though. Hope this helps.
During the day i use a 75 watt infrared bulb in the center of the screen top with the rest of the screen covered with fabric and a position a 25 watt bulb at the basking area.
During the night i just use the 75 watt infrared bulb.
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0.1 Albino Leopard gecko
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1.0 ball python
UTH is pretty good, I wish mine got a bit hotter though, might be inadequet power...
A heat lamp would work if you have a substrate that can absorb heat for belly heat.
I found that if u just use a 40-60 watt clear light bulb ( depending on what your house temp is ) that it will heat the cool and the warm site to what it needs to be.
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My Album
1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"
0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"
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