Lighting and UVB, crested gecko care
Crested geckos do not strictly require UVB because commercial CGD contains vitamin D3. That said, current hobby consensus favors low-level UVB as enrichment and a backup, it costs little, supports natural behavior, and hedges against diet gaps.
Level: intermediate. Part of: Housing.
- Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off. A timer removes the daily chore.
- UVB: Arcadia ShadeDweller 7% or Zoo Med 5.0 T5, mounted above the mesh top, 10 to 14 inches from the highest basking spot the animal can reach.
- Replace UVB bulbs every 12 months, output drops long before the bulb visibly fails.
- Plant lights (LED full-spectrum) are great for live-plant vivariums but produce no useful UVB. Keep them separate from husbandry lighting.
Canonical URL: https://geckinspect.com/CareGuide/lighting
Geck Inspect is the professional platform for crested gecko
(Correlophus ciliatus) breeders and keepers, collection
management, breeding planning, AI-powered morph identification,
multi-generation lineage tracking, and a verified community.
Enable JavaScript to use the full interactive app, or
create a free account.