Replicating a natural environment for your crested geckos should always be your priority if you want them to survive for long. You have to ensure their enclosures have the right humidity, lighting, and temperatures as well.
New owners always ask whether crested geckos need heat. Well, it depends on the room temperature and what time of the year it is. Ideally, geckos thrive in temperatures of around 70-80° F. So, if temperatures fall below 60° F, you’ll have to provide some form of heating.
As long as you have the right temperatures in your crestie’s tank, then you should not worry about providing heat lamps or heat mats.
In case you’d like to get a few insights on heating a crested gecko’s tank, then I would suggest that you read on.
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How To Keep Crested Geckos Warm In Winter
If you are living in areas where winter months tend to get too cold, you might have to look for way to keep your crested gecko a bit warm.
Cresties should be kept in temperatures of around 70-80° F for them to be active and grow normally. Winter months might see a drop of the said temperatures and that might lead to geckos becoming inactive.
If you fail to address the sharp decline in temperatures, then there is a chance of losing your crestie. Luckily, you don’t have to worry because we’ve compiled a few ways to heat a crested gecko enclosure during winter.
1. Use A Ceramic Heat Lamp
A ceramic heat lamp is always my go-to option when I need to heat my crested gecko’s enclosure. Unlike other heating options, ceramic heat emitters do not produce any light that can disturb your gecko at night.
These lamps tend to distribute heat evenly across your gecko’s vivarium. This means that the temperatures will stay even across the tank. You will also love the fact that you can leave a ceramic lamp running 24/7. So, if you are living in a very cold area, a ceramic heat emitter will come in handy.
If you are looking to heat your crested gecko’s tank, we’d recommend that you pick the BOEESPAT Ceramic Heat Lamp. It is a 60W ceramic heat emitter with high thermal efficiency.
PS: Make sure you plug the ceramic heater into a reptile thermostat; it helps keep the heat at the right temperatures without getting too hot.
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2. Use A Heat Mat
Heat lamps are great for heating the terrarium from above, but remember you’ll also need to provide heating from below. In such a scenario, heat mats or pads will work well.
Heat mats should be used in conjunction with heat lamps as they are only effective in heating the substrate. As you’d expect, a heat pad should be placed under the substrate in order to prevent burns on your crested gecko.
You’ll also have to use a good thermostat in order to control the heat that the mat emits. In case you have to use a heat mat, I’d recommend that you buy the Zoomed Reptitherm Undertank Heater.
3. Use A Basking Lamp
A basking lamp should come into play when you do not want to heat the entire tank. It is designed to concentrate heat on one spot instead of radiating it evenly. This means that your crested gecko can come out and bask a little bit whenever he or she feels like.
A 25 or 50 Watts basking lamp should work just fine. Avoid using 100 watt bulbs as crested geckos do not live in large tanks. I would suggest that you go with the Zoo Med Labs 25W Nano Basking Spot Lamp if have a small enclosure.
Do not forget to PURCHASE the REPTI ZOO Dome Lamp Cap as it is supposed to hold the basking lamp in place.
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Dos & Don’ts When Heating A Crested Gecko Tank
Heating a crested gecko enclosure is not mandatory, but if worse comes to worst, then you should observe the following tips:
- Avoid using bad heating equipment such as heat rocks and high-voltage basking lamps. These fixtures have a bad reputation of causing burns to cresties. Unless you want to end up with a crusted gecko (LOL) I would suggest that you keep away from heat rocks.
- Always Use a reptile thermostat controller when heating your geckos enclosure. This gadget will switch off your heating source as soon as the right temperatures are achieved and vice versa.
- Basking lamps and other heating fixtures that produce light should be turned off at night. Ceramic heat emitters are the only gadgets that can run for 24 hours without causing harm.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
How Cold Is Too Cold For A Crested Gecko?
Ideally, cresties should do well in temperatures of 65 degrees Fahrenheit and above. If temperatures fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, then the Gecko will become inactive. Such low temperatures will affect the well-being of your gecko and might even lead to death. Always monitor the temperature and humidity in the gecko’s enclosure using the Zoo Med Labs Digital Thermometer Humidity Gauge.
Do Crested Geckos Need A Heat Lamp?
Crested geckos do not necessarily require a heat lamp, especially if their tanks have the right day and night temperatures. Heat lamps should only come into play when the temperatures drop below the recommended level. Even then, you should use a low-wattage heat lamp to prevent the crestie from getting heat stroke.
Do Crested Geckos Need Heat Mats?
Heat mats or pads are also not needed if the crested gecko’s night temperature is good. Heat mats are not as effective as heat lamps, but they can play a major role when it comes to warming the crested gecko substrate.
Wrapping Up!
I hope you have learned a few things about heating crested geckos terrarium. There is absolutely no harm in keeping your crestie during winter. Just make sure you are doing it the right way to avoid burning the creature or even causing a fire in your reptile room.
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