Leopard geckos receive plenty of light in their natural environment, and these reptiles are most active during dawn and dusk. Due to the amount of light in their natural habitat, most leopard gecko owners try to imitate this by providing an artificial light source in captivity. However, not all sources of light are suitable for leopard geckos which makes pet owners ask;
Are LED lights safe for leopard geckos?
Yes, LED lights are safe for leopard geckos. They are small but highly efficient and durable. Even though most of them do not give heat, they still make a good choice, and you can combine them with a heat bulb to provide adequate lighting and heating conditions.
While most people believe that leopard geckos are nocturnal animals, they are, in fact, crepuscular species. It means that their most active time is at dawn and dusk. Therefore, providing the lizard with a good light source promotes a healthy circadian rhythm in your pet.
Even though leopard geckos are not very active during the day, they can still tell apart day from night. Thus, you need to provide them with lighting conditions that reflect what the lizard would experience in the wild. The reptile maintains an internal clock as long as you give the correct imitation of its natural environment.
The LED light settings should imitate those in their native environment. As such, you should keep the lights on for 14 hours during summer and not more than 12 hours during winter.
Transitioning between these seasons should also be gradual, i.e., when approaching winter, start reducing the light hours weekly by 30 minutes 4 – 8 weeks before winter fully sets in. The same should also apply when transitioning to summer. Having a timer in the enclosure ensures that switching on and off the lights is automatic, so you don’t have to do it yourself.
Other Safe Types of Light for Leopard Geckos
Besides LED lights, there are other types of light that are safe for leopard geckos. They include
Incandescent Lights
These lights are some of the most common and affordable bulbs. It produces an excellent amount of light in addition to heat, meaning that, unlike an LED, you will not need to get an additional heat source.
Just like UVB, incandescent bulbs do not have a lot of UVB, which is okay for leopard geckos since they don’t need much of it. Another good thing about incandescent bulbs is that their output does not reduce not until they die off. However, these bulbs are not as long-lasting as LED bulbs.
Infrared Light
While infrared lights are a good choice for leopard geckos, you may only use them during the day as these reptiles do not need light at night. Leopard geckos can navigate in the dark, and any light at night would interfere with their sleep pattern. The effects are worse in baby and juvenile leopard geckos.
If you opt to use such, they might need a special socket such as ceramic or porcelain since their high power output can melt ordinary sockets.
Types of Light to Avoid for Leopard Geckos
Halogen Lights
These bulbs are an impressive choice for leopard geckos because they have light, UVB and produce heat besides high wattage. Halogen lights are, however, expensive and require a meter making them not a great choice for leopard geckos, although they are good for most of the other reptiles.
Can Leopard Geckos Use Daylight Instead Of Artificial Light?
The challenge with using daylight for leopard geckos is overheating. It isn’t easy to control the temperatures when using natural light as the source. In addition, daylight is subject to unavoidable changes due to weather deviations in the environment. As such, it is best to provide the lizard with a constant light source.
In addition, glass filters UVB rays; as such, daylight will not provide the pet with usable UVB rays. Therefore, even though leopard geckos still need UVB, they don’t need as much as other reptiles do.
Do Leopard Geckos Need Light At Night?
Even though leopard geckos are active at dusk, which sometimes extends to the night, they do not need light. They can navigate in the dark as they have remarkable night vision. As such, you should turn off the tank’s light at night and should not use infrared rays for nighttime.
The nighttime hours should also be equal to those of the surroundings, meaning they will be longer in winter and shorter in summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Leopard Geckos Need UVB?
Most people assume that leopard geckos do not need UVB. However, they need light in small amounts since they cannot produce vitamin D3 without light. The vitamin is vital for calcium absorption. Even so, leopard geckos do not need as much light as most other pet reptiles, such as bearded dragons and turtles.
LED bulbs produce light but a lot less than other lights.
Will My Leopard Gecko Feel Cold If I Turn Off the Light?
One of the key reasons most leopard gecko owners are hesitant about switching off the light at night is the worry that the pet will feel cold. It is a vital concern if the light you use doubles up as a source of light and heat. To avoid this, it is best to choose a bulb-like LED light that only produces light.
Conclusion
LED lights are safe for leopard geckos, no wonder they are becoming an increasingly popular choice among reptile owners. The light is not only good at producing the light required by leopard geckos during the day but is also long-lasting, giving you value for money. If you cannot afford an LED light, you may use incandescent bulbs, which are cheaper yet safe.