Worried the heat lamp isn't doing enough?

I have a thermometer on the way, and I have a day and night heat bulb so here are my questions.

1. Can I leave the night red bulb on 24/7?
2. Will the night red bulb heat the enclosure (a 20 gallon long, housing two 3 1/2 inch long leo's) completely and correctly?
3. I know UTH's are "best" but will the heat bulb get the job done?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Teclis

I have a thermometer on the way, and I have a day and night heat bulb so here are my questions.

1. Can I leave the night red bulb on 24/7?
2. Will the night red bulb heat the enclosure (a 20 gallon long, housing two 3 1/2 inch long leo's) completely and correctly?
3. I know UTH's are "best" but will the heat bulb get the job done?

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1. Yes, some people dont like to but it will not stress the animals
2. it depends on the wattage, i would say a 75w will get the job done, depending on what you keep the house temps at
3. as long as it is hot enough then you will be fine, the chances of an impaction does go up a little but as long as you are doing everything else right (food size, substrate, etc...) then you will be fine

i would also get a dimmer/rheostat. a 75w will probably get a little too warm in the summer at full blast, so in the winter you could turn it up and in the summer you can turn it down (if you let your house temps drop and rise). but check your temps and they will tell you for sure if you need anything else.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Teclis

I have a thermometer on the way, and I have a day and night heat bulb so here are my questions.

1. Can I leave the night red bulb on 24/7?
2. Will the night red bulb heat the enclosure (a 20 gallon long, housing two 3 1/2 inch long leo's) completely and correctly?
3. I know UTH's are "best" but will the heat bulb get the job done?

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Leopard Geckos require no heat day lamps at all. Only a under the tank heater. thats it! If you want to have a night bulb. let it be a red bulb. They cant see the red bulb. depending how big the tank is, Is the wattage of bulb it requires. for a 10 gallon go with the 50 watts. Its not really for the heat but more to see them active, since they are nocturnal. You house light is enough light for them. It does stress them out to have a white light bulb on in the day time. As long as there hide is 90 degrees, they will be fine. And yes if you want to have the red bulb on all day its fine. But Leopard Geckos get the best out of an under the tank heat source, at 90 degrees. and a cool side.

Also, I read about having calcium powder available to them? I have calcium powder from Premium Crickets, would it be alright to put that in there with them?

Put a little cup in there with calcium. With geckos I have found that they will choose a food right after you think you got it figured out....lol:rolleyes:

Mine right now are only eating mealworms.

Leos absorb all there heat trom there bellys, so like dan rose said the only heat they need is from a heat mat with a stat to keep the right temps at 1 side of there viv.. I keep all mine at 88 degrees.

Red bulb only needs to go on at night if you are putting it on to watch your leos at night as they can not see the red light... through the day no light is needed as the light that comes into your house is enough..

I use a milk carton lid to put a little calcium in and all my leos will lick the calcium out of them.. leave this in there viv at all times and top up when needed..

hope all this helps...:)