If you’re a leopard gecko owner, you know that your pet always seems to be on the warm side. This is because leopard geckos need a warm environment to survive. In this blog post, we will discuss the ideal leopard gecko temperature and provide tips for reptile owners on how to keep their pets at the correct temperature.
5 Reasons Why Your Leopard Gecko Is Always On The Warm Side
The Overall Temperature/Basking Spot Isn’t Correct
The most common reason leopard gecko owners report this behavior in their pets is because the warm side and/or basking spot temperatures have not been properly established.
The conclusion is a leopard gecko that is desperately attempting to stay cool but will never feel this way due to the heat mat or basking light being too cold.
This may be remedied. Make sure you have a thermometer on both the hot and cold sides. Check that your hot side is between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature on your cool side should be 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Basking areas should be kept at 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit. For a 20 gallon aquarium in an average room with a temperature of 72F, 75W lamps like this one usually do the trick.
Your Leopard Gecko Is Feeling Stressed Out
Leopard geckos may be very stressful, to say the least. These creatures are tiny, so they have a hard time competing with other predators when it comes to size. Leopard geckos are always on edge, and when they first encounter you, it’s no different.
You mean well and are eager to care for your leopard gecko. You’ve gathered all of the supplies necessary for a great habitat, set up the tank, and calibrated the hygrometers and temperatures, keeping an eye on both. Even though you’ve done everything correctly, your leopard gecko needs time to get used to his new home.
They’re Trying to Assert Dominance
Just like in the animal kingdom, leopard geckos have their own pecking order. When new animals are introduced to habitat, or when one is feeling threatened, they may try to assert dominance by staying on the warm side of the tank.
This behavior can also be exhibited when two leopard geckos share a habitat and one feels threatened by the other.
This is why it’s important to have a leopard gecko habitat that is large enough for more than one leopard gecko if you’re thinking about adding another one to your family in the future.
If you are seeing this behavior and do not want to add another leopard gecko to the tank, you can try to create more hiding places on the cool side of the tank. This will help your leopard gecko feel more comfortable and less stressed out.
They Are Shedding And Need Heat And Moisture
As leopard geckos grow, they will shed their skin from time to time. It’s important that leopard gecko owners take special care of their leopard gecko during this process. A lot of leopard geckos hide in the cool side area when they are shedding. However, your leopard gecko might stay on the warm side of the tank if they are shedding and need more heat or moisture.
To help leopard geckos shed, you can use a leopard gecko humidifier to help create a moist habitat that will allow your leopard gecko to get rid of their old skin faster.
Shedding leopards may also need a slightly warmer environment, so using a higher wattage basking light may help speed up the shedding process.
The Cold Side Is Too Cold/Moist
If leopard geckos are uncomfortable on the cool side, they may stay on the warm side of their tank. This could happen if leopard gecko owners keep temperatures too low on the cool side or have too much moisture in the leopard gecko habitat. If your leopard gecko is staying away from the cold side, you will need to raise the leopard gecko temperature on the cool side.
Leopard geckos are native to a climate that is always hot, so when the chilly side becomes too cold, which is anything below 75F, they become wary of the cool zone.
It’s important that leopard geckos owners make sure leopard gecko habitat has proper temperatures and humidity levels so leopards are comfortable. The best way to do this is by taking regular measurements with a leopard gecko thermometer, hydrometer, and leopard gecko humidity gauge.
You can also use leopard gecko substrate to help leopards feel more comfortable in their habitat as well. Leopard gecko carpet mimics the feel of sand but is easier for leopards to hold onto. This will allow your leopard geckos to move around the leopard gecko habitat without slipping, which may help leopards feel more comfortable.
Symptoms To Look For
Not Eating
If leopard geckos are staying on the warm side of their habitat, they may be trying to tell leopard gecko owners that something is wrong. One common sign that leopard geckos are not feeling well is if they stop eating.
If leopard geckos don’t eat for a long time, leopard gecko owners should take leopards to the vet. There could be a number of reasons why leopards are not eating, but the most common is that leopard geckos are sick and need leopard gecko medicine to get better.
If leopards are not eating, leopard gecko owners should also make sure leopard gecko habitat is up to leopard standards.
Strained Bowel Movements / Impaction
Leopard geckos may also have leopard gecko constipation if leopards are staying in the warm side of the habitat. Leopard gecko impaction is a common leopard ailment that leopard gecko owners need to watch out for.
Symptoms of leopard gecko constipation are strained bowel movements and a decrease in the number of leopards defecating.
Digging
When leopard geckos feel stressed out, leopards may begin digging and hiding more. Leopard gecko stress is a problem.
This may mean leopards need more privacy and a leopard gecko hideaway to help leopards feel safe. If leopards are constantly hiding, leopard owners should increase the leopard gecko humidity levels in the leopard gecko habitat.
Lethargy
If leopard geckos are staying on the warm side of their leopard habitat, leopards may be feeling less active. This is because leopards need to be warm in order to move around.
Leopard geckos that are feeling less active may also be a leopard gecko health issue, so leopard gecko owners should take leopards to the vet if leopards are feeling lethargic.
Aggression
Leopard geckos that are staying on the warm side of the leopard gecko habitat may be more aggressive. This is because leopards are trying to defend their territory.
Leopard gecko owners should watch out for leopard gecko aggression and leopard gecko biting. Leopard geckos may bite leopard owners if leopards are trying to protect themselves, so leopard gecko owners should be careful when handling leopards.
Inability To Self-Regulate
If leopard geckos are staying on the warm side of the leopard gecko habitat, leopards may not be able to self-regulate their body temperature. This is a problem because leopards need to be able to do this in order to digest food properly.
Panting
If leopard geckos are always on the warm side of the leopard gecko habitat, leopards may be too cold. In this case, leopard owners should move leopards to a warmer part of the leopard gecko habitat.
The best way to keep track of your leopard gecko’s temperature is by taking leopard gecko temperature measurements.
How leopard owners can help leopards regulate leopard gecko body temperature is by setting up a leopard gecko thermometer on the leopard basking side.
How do you recognize temperature deficits?
A UVA/UVB and Ceramic Heat Lamp
It’s critical that your leopard gecko gets regular UVB rays since this is what helps it create vitamin D and use the calcium you feed. They can also acquire metabolic bone disease if they don’t have enough calcium. It’s just as terrible and awful as it sounds.
However, if your leopard gecko does not have enough heat, it will be unable to physically function. If the temperature is too low, they won’t be able to digest their food – which can result in impaction and death.
If your tank has a shallow depth, placing an overhead light over the top of it is not recommended. You should use a high-quality ceramic lamp that you can attach to the side of your leopard gecko tank.
You should also have a temperature gauge on the leopard gecko tank to make sure the temperature is regulated.
A Thermometer and a Hygrometer
In order to make sure your leopard gecko is living in the right environment, you need both a thermometer and a hygrometer.
A thermometer will help you measure the air temperature, and a hygrometer will help you measure the leopard gecko tank’s humidity.
You should place this leopard gecko temperature and leopard geckos humidity gauges on the leopard gecko tank. This way, leopard owners can see what leopards need to be comfortable.
A Heat Mat
To maintain the tank at the correct temperature throughout the night or winter, don’t leave the light on during the night but rather use a heat mat that leopard owners can attach to leopard gecko tanks.
The heat source should be placed underneath the leopard gecko tank, so it doesn’t leopard gecko burn leopards.
FAQ’s
Start by inspecting your heating source. Is the thermostat reading correct? Examine the wall outlet where it is connected to make sure it’s in the correct place. Are the lightbulbs too close to the leopard gecko tank? If so, move them further away. If you have a temperature gun, check the thermostat’s temperature reading against it.
The quickest technique to (safely) cool down a leopard gecko tank that’s too hot is to open the tank and allow the heated air to escape. By eliminating the air from within the enclosure, you’ll prevent your leopard gecko’s body temperature from dropping suddenly.
Before opening the tank, set the room temperature between 75°F (23°C) and 80°F (26°C).
If the tank’s temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s not as urgent as overheating, so you may safely remove the leopard gecko while investigating.
If everything is in order, start by double-checking your thermostat and thermometer to ensure that everything is functioning properly. If it’s set too low, then adjust the temperatures accordingly.
If that’s not the problem, there may be a problem with your heat source. It’s possible that the problem is with your source of heat. It’s not unusual for something like that to happen.
Another potential cause of your tank being too cold is that the rest of your home is, as well. This is why it’s not a good idea to put the tank in cold areas such as the basement.
The leopard gecko temperature should be set between 65°F (18°C) and 75°F (23.8889°C) at night. The hot side of their tank should be set at 85° to 90° F, while the cool side should be set at about 75° F. This will help keep your leopard gecko healthy and comfortable.
If the temperature drops below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, you should use a heat mat to keep the leopard gecko tank at the correct temperature.
Leopard geckos can tolerate temperatures as low as 50°F (57.22°C). However, leopard geckos are cold-blooded animals, so leopard owners can’t leave leopards outside tanks.
Leopard geckos can go without heat for up to two weeks as long leopards; it’s not extremely cold. leopards can tolerate a drop in body temperature of about ten degrees Fahrenheit before they start to become uncomfortable. If your leopard gecko’s environment falls below fifty degrees, you’ll need to provide supplemental heat.
