Hey guys I have a question. I am getting ready to set up a larger enclosure for my leopard gecko, and was thinking about using a heat lamp for heating him. I know people use lamps from Home Depot Lowe’s etc to heat bearded dragons and was just wondering if anyone has experience/thoughts on their use. The main thing I’m worried about is how much light they emit since leopard geckos need 24 hour eat. Thanks!
The fixture is just a fixture. The amount of heat it puts out will depend largely on the bulb you put it the main consideration is that whatever fixture you get is rated for the wattage bulb you are using. Sometimes those fixtures are only rated for 50w so you will want to check before using them. But there isnt really a difference between home improvement store ones and reptile ones. If using for heat I'd make sure it has a ceramic socket as opposed to a plastic socket.
Oh well the same holds true, each one is different and they all run at different temps depending on your house temp and type of fixture. Luckily they are cheap so it doesn't hurt to try a couple until you find the bulb that produces the temperature you need. I usually use normal household bulbs.
I try to find a halogen bulb that has a nice wide beam (BR30, BR40, PAR38, etc) and a high lumen output. I like my 1790 lumen bulbs because they're pretty bright. Some of the low power bulbs won't provide enough heat or light. Best to try some different ones out and measure how they work in your enclosure.
Thank you. I was thinking about using a ceramic heat emitter, I was just trying to find a cheaper option. It only needs to be around 80° but it can’t emit light.
CHE works too, but they get VERY hot to the touch and pose a burn risk. The heat projectors will direct a good amount of heat and don't get nearly as hot on the outside.