Leopard gecko temperature and humidity

The figures

Why the night drop is a feature

The published guidance notes that leopard geckos tolerate a drop to 60 F at night, and that studies show a nightly drop in temperature is healthier than maintaining the same temperatures as during the day, with benefits for long-term health. Most US homes never fall that low, which means most keepers need no night heat at all.

If your home does get very cold, do not use a colored night bulb. Reptiles see that light and it disrupts the sleep cycle; the published alternative is a ceramic heat emitter in a wire cage-type fixture, which is good at raising ambient air temperature.

The humidity arrangement, which is the important part

Leopard geckos are desert animals and need a fairly dry environment. The ambient target is 30-40%, which should roughly match the humidity already in your home, and a screen top or equivalent ventilation helps keep it there. Occasional spikes above that are safe in a well-ventilated enclosure.

Shedding, though, needs more humidity than that. Shedding problems are among the most common health issues in this species, and the published fix is specific: do not raise humidity across the whole enclosure - that can make the gecko sick. Instead provide a humid hide lined with moistened substrate, placed in the middle to cool end, holding 70-80%.

Belly heat, clarified

The guidance addresses this directly: what people mean by belly heat is making sure the gecko's digestive tract gets the heat energy required for proper digestion. As long as the gecko has an appropriate basking area and preferably a warm hide reaching 90-92 F - measured with a digital probe thermometer or temperature gun - it gets the energy it needs. Overhead halogen and a thermostatted under-tank mat both achieve that. The measured figure is the requirement.