Cage Rocket

Heating is the number one requirement when it comes to preparing a cage for a leopard gecko. Without heating, cold-blooded creatures, such as they are unable to travel or drive will have a weakened immune system and may not be able to digest food properly. So: the heating is important. Once you have your heating leo understood well, you wonder what you make of light.

Leopard geckos are nocturnal, but of course we're not, it is important to us that we can see our pets at least part of the day. The other consideration is that Leos need a day-night cycle, as they would get outdoors. This way they can live in captivity as they would in nature hiding and resting during the day and go out to eat and be active during the night.

If your heating system includes a heat lamp, then of course it will bring to light during the day. If you just use a heating pad without a heat lamp, then you will need a light source as well to simulate daylight in the tank (the levels of ambient light in your home almost certainly will not be bright enough by themselves). In this case, make sure the light does not add heat as you had not negotiated.

Whatever the source of light you should be for approximately 12 hours per day or 14 in summer. extinguish it should encourage your leo out of his skin box and look for food, so you should feed him at the same time you turn on the light. Even though there are still significant levels of ambient light in the room your tank is Leo, lower light levels should trigger this behavior (he will think that it is sunset, which is a time of active creatures night).

If you want a light so you can see your leo when it is active, you will need to use a light that can not see. For this you can use a red bulb (with get a red glass, and not just a red coating).

Whatever type of lighting you use in your cage for the leopard gecko, to use timer switches ensure that your Leo one day regular and predictable cycles per night. You might think you do not forget to turn lights on and off, but this is not something to rely on that you're bound to forget from time to time once the novelty of having a new pet and different have receded a bit.

Some people think the leopard geckos need a UV light which product to get the vitamins they need, but that does not make much sense as night they get very little direct sunlight to the wild and do not suffer for it. As long as a vitamin supplement is given and the insects are feeding properly gut loaded, it should not be any problems with vitamin deficiencies.

Lighting a cage for a leopard gecko is not rocket science, but it is extremely important to do things.