leo geckos

[dirtyblacksocks]

There are scientists that still argue that UVB is beneficial for leo's, certain leo's under UVB will come out just before lights out and bask in it for a bit, when the UVB isn't in the same cage they will not bother to come out until after lights out.

They can also overdose on vitamin D3 in calcium, it crystalizes their organs over time.

I keep 5.0 UVB flourescents over my leo tanks, but it's more for the plants than the geckos.

Since putting them over the tank, though, one of my leo's has been coming out prior to lights out and staying out after the lights come on basking. So I suppose it holds some weight.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Leopard Geckos didn't evolve in a cave so I think that giving them a light cycle can't hurt. Obviously if your going to do this approach you should provide them with plenty of dark hides to rest in. I have plants in my 2 leopard gecko tanks so I have to have a light cycle going. My 2 adults could care less and lay out in the open under it. My 3 juvies rest out in the open sometimes and my big female hardly ever uses the caves.

 

[elevatethis]

There are scientists that still argue that UVB is beneficial for leo's, certain leo's under UVB will come out just before lights out and bask in it for a bit, when the UVB isn't in the same cage they will not bother to come out until after lights out.

Do you want to post a link to any actual literature supporting this? Or do you just "know a guy?"

Every bit credible research that I've read, direct questions to breeders, etc, say that UVB is completely unnecessary for leos to thrive.

You might not be hurting them by offering it, but don't say that it is beneficial without some kind of backup.

 

[Zeppelin3k]

Ya pretty sure their nocturnal. And a leo can live in a 10G for life.

Z

1 of my geckos NEVER uses the cave. Hes always under the heat lamp and UV napping.

 

[elevatethis]

1 of my geckos NEVER uses the cave. Hes always under the heat lamp and UV napping.

LOL...so based on this observation, you are saying that they aren't nocturnal?

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

Some don't mind being out in the light. Albinos for instance, the light hurts their eyes so they don't come out when lights are left on for too long.

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

I'll try to dig up the article I read and post a link, I found it through Google when I first started keeping leo's and was doing a lot of research to dig into their care requirements.

But yeah, there are actual scientists, I don't just know a guy. I've found several articles through Google, just have to figure out what phrases I used to find them.

 

[Zeppelin3k]

LOL...so based on this observation, you are saying that they aren't nocturnal?

If you would have read what he had quoted me, i am not saying that they are not nocturnal, im saying a UV light is a good thing to have......

 

[arowana man]

Leopard Geckos didn't evolve in a cave so I think that giving them a light cycle can't hurt. Obviously if your going to do this approach you should provide them with plenty of dark hides to rest in. I have plants in my 2 leopard gecko tanks so I have to have a light cycle going. My 2 adults could care less and lay out in the open under it. My 3 juvies rest out in the open sometimes and my big female hardly ever uses the caves.

i agree. they may be noctornal but some do like so ''bask''. mine does all the time. it depends on the leo's personality. i would consitter using a 20 long or a 15g. a 10 is might get a little crampt, as female leos can reach 8''.

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

Well I dug around through articles for about 15 minutes and couldn't find them, unfortunately there is so much information out there based around care sheets that it's hard to find real articles on the matter and I just don't have the time to put into it.

It took me hours, even days to come across them when I was originally doing research on care requirements.

There are, however two things that I think everyone will agree on and that seem to be common knowledge:
1. UVB helps all reptiles process calcium, nocturnal or not.
2. Vitamin D3 in large amounts will crystalize internal organs and nocturnal animals are especially prone to this problem.

It also seems to be widely accepted, and pretty much logical, that UVB bulbs won't HARM your gecko - considering they see sunlight in their natural habitat on at least a weekly basis and most likely daily.

I really wish I could find those articles - but I guess my point is that while leo's don't need UVB to survive it can have beneficial applications.