Crested Geckos & Heat Lamps - Are They Necessary?
By: Jason
Last Updated: March 14, 2023
A heat source is vital in maintaining healthy temperatures in many reptile enclosures. But what about crested geckos? Do crested geckos need a heat lamp to stay healthy?
Heat lamps are not necessary for a crested gecko tank in most cases. Crested geckos need 74-78°F (23-26°C) during the day and 68-70°F (20-21°C) at night; ambient room temperatures often meet that need. Use this heating method when you want a place for your pet to bask or to keep your gecko warm in colder rooms.
Please keep reading to learn what a heat lamp is, its pros and cons, and when it is the right tool for the job.
What Is A Heat Lamp?
The term heat lamp encompasses several different types of products designed to raise the temperature of a small area. Each uses a bulb to emit heat. The bulb is fixed in a dome or hood to hold it in place.
But there are notable differences. Some lamps produce light and heat, while others only emit warming, invisible infrared waves. For incandescent bulbs with actual lighting, the domes also keep the light source from bothering the humans in the room.
Both versions come in different wattages, which measure the amount of energy (i.e., heat) they produce.
The types of domes vary as well. Some have metal or plastic sockets to screw the bulb into, while others use a ceramic connector. High-wattage bulbs can get very hot, and the ceramic sockets do a better job of not overheating and creating a fire hazard. They may cost a bit more, but they are much safer.
When Should You Consider Heat Lamps?
There are two conditions when you want to use a heat lamp; to create a consistent temperature gradient or when the room temperature is lower than what you want in your crested gecko’s tank.
Temperature gradients are hard to create in smaller enclosures. In larger spaces with dense foliage, some tank parts are naturally warmer than others. For example, parts exposed to natural light in the room warm up more than shady spots at the bottom of the back. Enclosure size matters when making this decision.
Some tanks seem to hold the proper temperature everywhere, and a ceramic heat emitter focused on one spot can change that.
The second reason to explore heat bulbs is when the air temperature in the room around the tank is too cold. This is common in colder regions, especially at night or in winter. Using a heat lamp saves money by focusing the needed heat where the eyelash gecko wants it most.
But why this tool? What about a tank heat mat instead? Sources that emit heat from the ground, like a heating pad or a heat rock, work against the natural activity patterns of crested geckos. As an arboreal species, they use vertical space to explore and hide. During the hours of light, they want to hide down low where it is colder. Heat pads work against their nature and can disrupt their activity level. Avoid hot rocks and heating pads as tank heaters.
Many keepers do not need an additional heat source to take good care of their cresties.
Benefits of Heat Lamps
There are a couple of benefits to using heat lamps.
A heat lamp is your best tool whenever you want your crested gecko’s enclosure warmer than the ambient room temperature.
Heat lamps are a solid plan against unexpected cold snaps. If the furnace goes out (but you still have power), having an additional heating source is helpful to keep the average temperatures in a safe zone.
In less extreme situations, you might need to drop your thermostat lower at night to save some money. While reducing the average room temperature, a tank heater can keep your crestie happy and healthy.
Second, heat lamps can create a temperature gradient by creating basking spots. Basking spots are healthy parts of the natural environment for cresties and create natural warm spots and cool spots.
While there is some debate about whether crested geckos need “hot spots,” there is no dispute that ectotherms benefit from having the ability to self-regulate when they are too warm or too cold. Nice heat gradients allow that to happen. Many other ectotherms require basking spots to maintain optimal health.
Finally, ceramic heat emitters don’t shed any light. For keepers who rely on the warmth created by a bulb that sheds visible light, this problem at night can disrupt this nocturnal species’ internal clock. Crested geckos need no light at night, making a light fixture that only emits heat a better choice to warm up an enclosure between sunset and sunrise.
Overall, ceramic heating bulbs are easy to use.
Drawbacks of Heat Lamps
There are some downsides to these warming devices that are worth noting.
First, they get hot. That shouldn’t come as a surprise since it is the reason to use them, but anything that gets hot poses a potential safety issue.
Always read the instructions carefully and pay close attention to the recommended bulb wattage. Only use light bulbs equal to or lower than recommended for the model you purchase.
Beyond the fire safety issues, there are serious potential health concerns. If a crested gecko’s body temperature gets too high, it can suffer from heat stroke. While many models have built-in temperature regulation, the range of bad outcomes ranges from leaving a gecko uncomfortable to death.
Given that, these special lights require careful monitoring. You never want to leave a ceramic heating bulb unattended for too long. In addition, having a high-quality digital thermometer or temperature probe helps a keeper monitor the enclosure and notice issues before they become problems.
Another issue with any heat source is that it can speed up the evaporation of water droplets and disrupt the humidity levels. While all the liquid will evaporate eventually as the temperature increases, the speed of evaporation is different in different parts of the tank, especially in larger enclosures. Careful spraying around the tank, not just near the warmest spot, helps offset this issue.
The other solution to retain humidity in the tank is to use a proper substrate. Some tank bedding materials (like moss) hold moisture well, while others (like paper towels) don’t.
Finally, some models use a lot of power and cost a bit to run after a while. This tends to be more of an issue for reptile species that need continuous heating and not as much for the few situational needs of this lizard species.
Ceramic heaters have flaws that are worth noting before using them.
Best Heat Lamp For Crested Gecko
There are many great models on the market, each with different features.
- Zoo Med Repticare 60 Watt Ceramic Infrared Heat Emitter
- Fluker’s Clamp Lamp with Dimmer, 8.5″ Diameter
Why this bulb? Zoo Med has been in the pet reptile heating business for a long time. The flat-faced shape is more efficient and last longer (up to 5 years). The design works in humid environments, like a glass terrarium crested gecko enclosure.
Why this spot lamp? The dome has a dimmer which allows you to adjust the strength of the heat. It also has a ceramic socket, which won’t get as hot as a metal one. Lastly, the 75-watt rating is higher than we need.
If you opt for a different model that doesn’t include a dimmer, look for a plug-in dimmer. These tools are designed to connect directly to a table or floor lamp instead of wall switches.
Conclusion
Heat lamps are not essential in most crested gecko tanks, but sometimes they are the right tool. You never want to create a situation where their body heat might get too high.
When buying lamps for crested geckos, pay close attention to the exact wattage of the bulb and the dome. Read and follow the instructions.
After you’ve installed it, test the temperature settings regularly.
Keeping your crested gecko at the ideal temperature is vital to long-term health.
Want More>>>Creating a healthy crested gecko habitat
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