I've asked this question on virtually every lizard and gecko board I've come across but very few people seem to have an answer.

My geckos (pictus) are nocturnal. They only come out when all or most of the lights in the house are off.

I'd like to be able to watch them by using a black light or reptile black light.

HOWEVER!!! Here in AZ we really don't need the heat producing black lights, I was thinking those florescent tubes would be better, no heat. But years ago I read that that those florescent tubes caused cancer in fish. (people used them for the glo ornaments in their tanks) Does anyone know if this is true for lizards? Or was it ever true?

Sharon

well we have 2 cresteds nocturnal as well & I put a blacklight up for viewing but I am not so happy with the results, too eye straining when viewing not lit well at all, I am going to go ahead & get a low watt red bulb you can find them I heard as low as 8 watts but I have only seen 15 watt, at this wattage virtually no heat is produced so no worries there.

I am going to go ahead & get a low watt red bulb

You mean one of the party colored bulbs from walmart? Or a reptile specialty bulb?

Sharon

I would stay away from the black lights that are used for ornaments and at clubs and stuff, I would think that if they hurt our eyes to look at, that they will hurt the geckos eyes also...

another idea to possibly try... get a normal tube light, and get the colored plastic sleaves that go over them, maybe if the blue is dark enough it will only simulate moon light and the pictus will come out... or maybe the red or purple would do it.... I saw them in the pet store the other day, and though about trying them for night time viewing...

Jason

Well, the thing is that the black light is supposed to be light in a spectrum that does disturb (i.e. cannot be seen by reptiles) reptiles.

There is a red "heat lamp" that is for birds or baby birds, and often used for reptiles, and there is of course the "black or red" heat lamps specifically designed for reptiles. Those bulbs do not emit light in a spectrum that reptiles can see.

Now that I think about the party black light may not be the exact same thing, it may not even be "close enough." Damn. I really hope someone has a good answer!

the reptile black lights are fine... its the other ones (that you can get at the party store) that are believed to not be good....

Jason

I like the new exo tera glow light...its a dome light leave it on all day and then turn it off at night and it gives a green glow for about hours...but it can last longer or shorter depending on the watts of the bulb

I use a red light bulb as well.....works great, I think it's a 25wt. firebat has a good idea with the colored sleeve thing, I've seen them before and I'll definately be checking into that glowlight ur talking about Raziel, never heard of that, do you own one? How long do they glow for?

yeah i own a medium one you can check it out at exo-terras webn site...it depends i guess on the sieze and the watts of the bulb for how long it glows

heres one of the things raziel is talking about
http://www.exo-terra.com/products/glow_light_i.php

looks pretty neet

i jsut got a 25 watt night glo for reptiles.. the type fish tnak canopy's use.. so thats what its in

i got a glo light and they work awsome when you turn it of thers enough light to see but my geckos still come out they last about aslong as they are on fore e.g. 12 hrs. = 12hrs. but near the end it starts to get darker.

i think it would be ok- isnt that what they use at the zoo for nocturnals? I think that is what they use here anyway. But like firebrat said, i wouldnt get the ones that are at the party store.

i just got two baby geckos in a 1o gallon tank and i have a bright florencent tube at the top of the tank but it is 60 watts its heating the tank up way too much i heard that putting just a small ordianry light bulb in there can work is this true ?

Flourescent bulbs don't usually generate heat. Are you sure the heat is coming from the bulb and not elsewhere? When I use bulbs I tend to go with the nocturnal black light for reptiles. I've tried the red as well, but just have a personal preference for the lighting effect from the black.

it cant b a florescent bulb then. its like a strip light its bright white im worried it might be hurting the leos eyes aswell, it cant b florescent it must just b normal cause everytime i put it on the tank heats up straight away.

Sounds like a flourescent, but the heat thing is throwing me. Maybe someone here has heard of ones that throw off heat. What are the temps like in the enclosure?

well if i leave the light on for around an hour it will go over into the 90s but i leave it off at night and the temp will drop into the 70s which is ok but i think the lamp and the heat mat combined are just generating too much heat i might give a normal light bulb ago and see if that works is it ok to just use that though??