Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm going to be making an enclosure for my leopard geckos and am debating between which type of heat to use. It'll be made out of melamine. I'm debating whether to use a heat source from above (such as a red light bulb or heat emitter) or to heat from below with either heat tape or UTH under some type of tile.

Which does everyone use and prefer? And why? What is everyone's opinion and the best type of heat source for leopard geckos?

All comments and suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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MichaelRehker
"Which of us has not been stunned by the beauty of an animal's skin or its flexibility in motion?"
--Marianne Moore

Definately a UTH. Or you can use both. Leos get their heat by soaking it up through their belly. Since they are nocturnal a light from above wouldn't do much good. I use both and it works great.
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Katie F.
Peach State Geckos
Breeding Mealworms
My Email

I have used both together and seperate. The belly heat it necessary for them to help digest food and all, but /ve notice with my tanks that UTH doesn't heat the surrounding air very well, so when its cold out I use an infrared basking bulb with the UTH. Leos (and all animals,I think) can't see infrared light so to them it is pitch black at night. But by using a basking or spot bulb it directs the heat straight down where you want it.
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Emily

1.2 SHTCT (Gus, Baby & Gizmo)
.1 Tangerine (Ziggy)
1.1 Patternless (Zander & Daisy)
.3 Hypo High Yellow (Zoe, Dini, & Munch)
1. Normal (Nelson)
.1 ???? (Unnamed)
1.1 ferrets (Oliver and Delilah)
1. budgie (Max)
0.0.1 Ring neck Parakeet (Kiwi)
1.1 German Shepards (Jake and Abigail)

The Spotted Gecko
**Updated 01-07-05**

What I use is a ceramic heat emitter, and I have a tile substrate. The CHE heats up the tile, and makes up some nice belly heat, but it also heats the air. All that with 1 heater.

This works for me, if your house is overly cold i would think you would need both the heat sources though

Joe

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MichaelRehker
"Which of us has not been stunned by the beauty of an animal's skin or its flexibility in motion?"
--Marianne Moore