I use UV as they are exposed to it in the wild and as you are "trying to get as close to a wild set up as i could in regards to lighting" I find it strange that you would use the Arcadia Jungle Dawn instead of something that would in fact benefit your gecko. "The Arcadia Jungle Dawn is a full spectrum LED plant growth lamp" - straight from Arcadia themselves. So if you don't have any live plants in the vivarium this is going to be as much use as a normal light bulb or opening the curtains.

Leopard geckos are crepuscular as so, as you have mentioned, are more active during the evening and early morning which means they would get the benefits of UV.


As for calci-sand, even 9 out of ten of the sand lovers hate that stuff.



Gavin.

 

I have yet to come across a gecko that will not bask under UVB during the day if it is provided... and I have seen dozens of species of "nocturnal" geckos basking in broad daylight in the wild. It is well known that Leopard geckos are crepuscular and thus it is probably best to provide it for them... if they are anything like all the other geckos I keep/ have kept, you will see them availing themselves of it if it is given - and in fact this has been reported by many people that have tried it, some of them on here.

 

ok i may need to try and switch up the bulb.

with regards to trying to get it a near to the wild as possible i meant giving a full day and night cycle.

my gecko very rarely comes out in the day and i didn't see how she can benefit from such little exposure.

does anyone know if there is a product that simulates dawn and dusk? as in dims on and to give the same effects?

 

I presumed so but when doing that getting something that is beneficial, doesn't matter by how much, is surely better than, what is in this case, an over priced light bulb.

How much light does the room, in which the vivarium is placed, get? If it is enough to distinguish between night and day then there is no need for extra lighting. The UV can be switched on for 2-3 hours after you put the heat rises, in the morning, and again before heat falls, in the evening. I have a reptile house with out any windows so I have the room lights on for 12 hours a day and the UV only coming on as I have mentioned. These animals have evolved in such ways that they only need minimal exposure to the sun to have a fully functioning D3 cycle.

If you send a PM to ArcadiaJohn he will give you some great advice, although given the title of this thread he will probably pop his head in and give his thoughts and advice.


To add to Thrasops' words on nocturnal geckos basking, I give all of mine access to UV lighting and I have even noticed my Goniurosaurus species( cave geckos ) out during the day using it and they are about as nocturnal as you can get.



Gavin.

 

the room the vivs are in doesn't get a great deal of light.

but i will add a UVB to the current set up.

i do have live plants in the viv. Will UVB effect plant growth?

 

I think it all depends on which bulb you get. I would advise sending a PM to Arcadiajohn and explain your situation, he will recommend the best light for benefiting both the gecko and your plants.

Just out of interest what plants do you have in your vivarium?



Gavin.

 

i grow food for the tortoise in there. so weed growing kits, pansies etc in the cooler end (although that end is currently housing the young male i have - its sectioned off from the female). The female can still get to a cooler section if needed - sorry hard to explain.

I've found she doesn't tend to bother the plants - but the occasional insect that i feed will go have a munch. i did try growing them in the tort enclosure but thet don't get a chance to grow.

I'm looking into plants which are more native to the natural area for leos.

 

i grow food for the tortoise in there. so weed growing kits, pansies etc in the cooler end (although that end is currently housing the young male i have - its sectioned off from the female). The female can still get to a cooler section if needed - sorry hard to explain.

I've found she doesn't tend to bother the plants - but the occasional insect that i feed will go have a munch. i did try growing them in the tort enclosure but they don't get a chance to grow.

I'm looking into plants which are more native to the natural area for leos.

the plants are potted for easy removal. but i am considering changing substrate so they can be rooted in the viv

 

Hi,

My latest thinking on this very subject is out now in the latest issue of practical reptile keeping magazine,

Leo's are not nocturnal for sure as stated. Thus is why so many present with chronic and painful conditions to pretty much every vet in the country. If historic thinking was right, this would not be the case.

I am more than happy to help you if you wish, I need to know the viv size and the Leo types I.e red eyes or not.

John