>>I am just getting started with my first terrarium. I have planted the terrarium with various plants and am eager to get started once everything is working well!
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>>Anyway, my question pertaining to lighting is what should I use. I have done alot of research on this site, books and online and could use some recommendations. I have a 20 gallon long terrarium and looking to house 2 gold dust day geckos, pic included of terrarium. When I went to petsmart, it seems my options there are to get an aquarium light basking light black light. Or to get an all in one package (includes all three). Any ideas?
>>Thanks in advance!
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I agree with the other poster that you need to fill up all that open space. Bamboo tubes are great, if you can't get them you can use PVC pipe although they look like crap, cork tubes are great too.
I can't tell from the photo whether your light fixture is fluorescent only or fluorescent/incandescent combo. There's a couple of ways you could go:
A) Fluorescent tube such as ExoTerra 5.0 (to provide UV) regular incandescent bulb or ceramic heat emitter (to raise the temp) for daytime, at night switch to low wattage red or blue bulb or turn your heat emitter down (if your home stays warm enough all night you won't need this)
B) Self-ballasted mercury vapor bulb (such as Zoo Med Power Sun) provides light, heat, and UV, but remember that vibration drastically reduces the life of these bulbs, so try to mount on a secure high-temp fixture above the tank so you never have to move it. Nighttime use low wattage red or blue bulb or heat emitter, same as (A)
I'm not too positive about the UV output of black light tubes, but my understanding is that they emit too much UV. Does anyone out there know one way or the other?
Good luck with your P. laticauda, they're very cool gex.
