Do this
- Measure exposure where the gecko can actually sit.
- Provide an immediate route from light into complete shade.
- Keep fresh water and monitor crested gecko behavior every day.
- Record changes so a reptile veterinarian receives useful evidence.
Crested gecko · UVB and shade
Does a crested gecko need UVB?
Crested gecko care should include the measured low-output UVB gradient below. Preserve complete shade and switch every light off at night.
The amount reaching the gecko changes with its distance from the lamp and anything positioned between them.
Use the practical checks
The short answer
Offer gentle UVB with an immediate route to shade for crested geckos
Crested gecko care should include the measured low-output UVB gradient below. Preserve complete shade and switch every light off at night.
- Adult home
- At least 45 × 45 × 60 cm (18 × 18 × 24 in) for one adult; larger furnished height is welcome
- Warm zone
- Basking area 26–28°C (79–82°F)
- Cool and night
- Cool area 20–24°C (68–75°F); A controlled drop to 18–20°C (64–68°F)
- Humidity
- RSPCA baseline 40–50% with brief rises toward 80%; RVC guidance 50–70%
- UVB
- Low-output UVB with a measured gradient near UVI 0.7 to zero shade
- Food
- A complete formulated crested-gecko diet is typical; use a reviewed plan for suitable insects and supplements
The honest fit
Would the adult routine work in your home?
Avoid this
- Do not choose a lamp by percentage without distance guidance.
- Do not leave visible lighting on overnight.
- Do not copy another reptile species' setup.
- Do not treat a persistent health change as a shopping problem.
01
Design light and shade together
For a crested gecko, use low-output UVB with a measured gradient near UVI 0.7 to zero shade. Group the brighter zone with daytime warmth while preserving dark retreats and foliage or hide cover nearby.
A lamp percentage cannot predict the dose on its own. Follow the fixture maker's distance chart, account for mesh, and measure at the highest place the gecko can actually reach when possible.
02
Keep the cycle predictable
Run the daytime lighting on a timer for roughly 12 hours, then make the enclosure dark overnight. Replace the lamp on schedule or verify output with an appropriate meter.
Secure or guard fixtures so the gecko cannot contact hot glass or a breakable lamp. After rearranging climbing routes or hides, re-check distance and shade instead of assuming the old setup still applies.
03
Coordinate food and UVB
UVB, heat, calcium, and the rest of the diet work as one husbandry system. More supplement is not a safe substitute for unmeasured lighting, and more UVB is not automatically better.
Discuss supplement choice with a reptile veterinarian, especially for a red-eyed or unusually light-sensitive morph, a growing juvenile, an egg-producing female, or a gecko showing weakness or skeletal change.
Useful tools for measured heat and light
Three optional picks matched to this topic. Confirm the species' target temperatures, UV Index, fixture distances, and thermostat requirements before buying.
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Digital outlet timer
Automates a consistent light schedule for compatible equipment; it does not replace a thermostat for heat control.
Consistent schedule · Not a thermostatCompare Digital outlet timer options
Dimming thermostat
Controls a compatible heat source from a probe reading, with dimming or pulse modes selected for the equipment.
Probe-controlled · Match the heat sourceCompare Dimming thermostat options
Ceramic-socket lamp dome
Supports a compatible overhead heat or light lamp; confirm wattage rating, clearances, mounting, and thermostat needs.
Rated ceramic socket · Check clearancesCompare Ceramic-socket lamp dome optionsKeep deciding