Do Leopard Geckos Need Lighting?
Leopard geckos are a popular choice among reptile lovers, and with their wide array of colors and sizes, there’s much to enjoy. But in addition to choosing the right environment, it is also important to understand if they need lighting.
Daytime Lighting
Since leopard geckos are nocturnal, they do not require natural sunlight to thrive and actually need a period of darkness each day to remain healthy. Therefore, a light source for daytime is generally not necessary for their overall wellbeing.
Night Lighting
Even though leopard geckos don’t need light during the day, they do require a nighttime source of light in order to see their food and detect heat from their surroundings.
Types of Lights
A white light should be used to provide a nighttime source for your leopard gecko. It should be equipped with an appropriate wattage, such as a 25 or a 50 watt bulb, and placed at one end of the terrarium. This light should be kept away from the leopard gecko’s sleeping spot and its intensity should be adjustable in order to prevent it from becoming too bright.
In addition to the white light, a red light should also be provided in the terrarium. This should be placed above the warm spot, where the leopard gecko can use the bulb purely for warmth and not for light.
Important Tips
- The light’s wattage should be appropriate for the size of the terrarium. Too much can burn your leopard gecko if they come too close.
- Choose a light without any glass shades. Glass shades can block out ultraviolet radiation which some leopard geckos need for essential body functions.
- Make sure the light is adjustable. This way, you can adjust the intensity if it gets too too bright.
- Maintain a normal day-night cycle. This means providing your leopard gecko with 12-14 hours of darkness and 10-12 hours of light.
Leopard geckos do not require a daytime source of light to remain healthy, but nighttime lighting should be provided in order to help them see, detect heat sources, and find their food. The light chosen should be of appropriate wattage, without any glass shades, and adjustable. It is also important to maintain a normal day-night cycle that includes 12-14 hours of darkness and 10-12 hours of light.
