Do Geckos Need A Heat Mat

In this article we are going to be looking at if pet leopard geckos can survive in captivity without heat be it heat mats or basking lamps.

Do geckos need a heat mat.

Lets get straight to the. Sadly they only produce very modest temperatures so aren t suitable for your leopard gecko s basking spot. Heat mats are probably the cheapest and easiest form of reptile heating available. This makes them excellent choices for ball pythons leopard geckos corn snakes etc but not so much for crested geckos gargoyle geckos and other species that require vertical space.

This means that it gets all of its heat and energy from its surrounding environment. Do leopard geckos need heat to live. This gives the gecko the ability to regulate their own temperature and choose which area they would like to stay in. The heat mat should cover about one third of the total ground space giving the enclosure a warm side and a cooler side.

Leopard gecko heat mats are designed to go on the outside of the tank but when working with a wooden enclosure you will need to place the heat mat inside which you can achieve by placing the heat pad at the bottom of the tank you can choose which side you want to be your warm side. If you do need to use the heat mat then you will need at least one thermometer right on the glass inside the tank on top of the heat mat to get a reading of what the mat s actual temperature is. All the time the heat mat must connect to a thermostat so that the temperature can be adjusted and your baby can stay healthier. Heat tape and heat mats are really only effective at heating surfaces.

How long do i need to turn on the heat mat for leopard gecko. Because of this the leopard geckos need warmth to survive. Prorep cloth element heat mat 17 11 20w. Whether crested geckos need heat mats depend on the temperature at which they are kept.

Crested geckos should be kept at temperatures of 72 80 f 22 26 5 celsius. If your vivarium is colder than this you will need to use a heat source to keep it at the correct temperature. Then you can adjust the rheostat or thermostat accordingly. The differences there is still an ongoing and even heated debate as to which one is better heat mat or a heat lamp.

Using a heat mat is simple and will ensure a constant hot zone that s great for your leopard gecko to go and warm up on. As your lovely pet requires constant heat the heat mat should be turned on 24 7.