Uv light and cresties - your observations please

[zarozinia]

A friend of mine is heavily involved in researching Uv lighting and reptiles.
I was wondering if we could all collate our experiences regarding observations of crested gecko behaviour when exposed to uv light. Also any related observations regarding breeding success.
I will feed back our findings to him, which would possibly be added to his website.
Any replies greatly appreciated.
For anyone with an interest in uv lighting, you can find his website at-
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/

[tmfleo]

Well I use UV lighting for my Sulcata Tortiose and my Leopard and Crested Geckos there set on timers 12 hrs for my sulcate tortiose, 8 hrs for my crested geckos, 8 hrs for the leopard geckos sence the geckos are nocturnal they don't require it but the live plants in the enclosures require light and I have found that uv light make the plants grow better that the plant grow lights the gecko might get some benifit from it as well.

[zarozinia]

Could you let me know your cresties behaviour in relation to uv light, do they expose themselves to it at all, is there any diference between male and females behaviour etc

[tmfleo]

Behaviour I have not noticed any differents but have seen then a few times they will sit up on there branch or clinging to the back wall exposing themselves to it like they were basking but not for long period of time aprox 20 minutes max.

[Dragonflames81]

I have a few tanks set up with lights because of the plants I have in there, but the one tank I have they all stay hidden during the day, the other tank my female stays under the light all day long. Other then her being the only one that does that I haven't noticed anything different about her. Coloring is still the same, eating still the same. So I don't think the lights make a difference but thats just me. I've had them under lights for at least the past year.

[ericdrob67]

Both of my cages have exoterra reptiglo 5.0 on them.... I have not noticed any "basking" or "hiding" behavior. They seem just as "happy" directly under the light or under a leaf. Coloring has always been "reactive" to light.... during the day mine are typically "duller" because of light exposure, but at night they always return to normal "active" coloring.

[genevieve]

Plenty of people keep their ciliatus in rubbermaids with no lighting and have no adverse effects on breeding. I have UV on all my tanks for the plants. Geckos don't seem to ever be out when the lights are on, doubt it makes much of a difference to them.

You can also do a search of the forum and you will see that there have been several other posts on this topic.

Genevieve

[Brian]

I haven't used them with Cresties. They do seem to like a low heat source.

[Christopher]

Flourescent sources of broad-spectrum UV (UVA and UVB) usually do not produce appreciable amounts of heat, even what one might consider "low heat." I use a 55-watt, 24-inch power compact fixture on a planted tank for my dumpy treefrog and it doesn't keep the enclosure much above 75 to 80 degrees (around 5 to 10 degrees above ambient room temperature). Basking lamps usually only provide UVA and generatre appreciable amounts of heat.

I do not keep my cresteds lit or heated most of the year. They get whatever light filters into the room from a window that faces a wooded area and whatever light filters into their enclosures from nearby tanks for other herps that do have UV lights and heat lamps. If it is very cold then I use large bulbs to heat an area of a rack. UV light is not neccesary for nocturnal species since they tend to avoid light. Most of mine stay buried under paper towels, repti-carpets, in hide boxes or under grapevine branches most of the day. That said, some cresteds hang out in lit areas. In the wild, this behavior may result in predation and serve as a natural means to eliminate "stupid" genes ;-).

Christopher

[KCgeckoguy]

UV light is a crock in my oppinion. Yes, It will make you plants grow well for a short time, but not your geckos. I have kept many species, noctournal and diurnal with great success over the years under cheap flourecent bulbs. Some filtered natural light enters my rep. room but not much. I say don't waste your money on an overpriced bulb. Most brands only keep their peak uv output for the first 6 mos anyway. After that, all your left with is a normal cheap bulb you could have bought for $1.99.

As far as research goes, I have had clutchmates that were kept separate, but in the same conditions grow at completely different rates from eachother. It happens all the time even when given exactly the same setup and same amount of food.

I still have much to learn about geckos, but I truly think people should not waste their money on special uv bulbs.