Leopard geckos are one of the best little pets you can have because they’re easy to care for. However, even though they’re low maintenance, it is still wise to research what your leopard gecko’s tank temperature should be. Overall, this is essential for their health. So, what is the best temperature for your little lizard friend?
Three fundamental temperatures are wise to keep your leopard gecko tank at:
- Basking surface, or directly under the heat source: 94 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit
- Warm hide: 90 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit. This is important for their digestion.
- Cooler end, or away from the heat source: 70 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the evening, temperatures can safely drop to 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, mimicking the desert drops at night in their natural habitat.
In this article, we will answer questions about leopard gecko tank temperature, such as whether a specific temperature is too hot or too cold. We’ll also cover how long your leo can go without heat and whether it is normal for them to feel cold, among other things. Overall, learning this information will help you support your gecko’s health and well-being.
Why Is Temperature in a Leopard Gecko Tank Important?
The temperature of your leopard gecko tank matters because it helps your gecko digest food properly and prevents blockages. If your gecko friend doesn’t have enough heat, it can feel weak, sluggish, and less active, which can lead to an unpleasant illness.
If your leopard gecko tank is too hot, your lizard can suffer from heatstroke, dehydration, or stress. For example, if your AC unit doesn’t work properly during the summertime but your leopard gecko’s heat source is on, they might get too hot in their enclosure.
In this case, it is wise to turn it off during the hottest parts of the day. The same applies if your house stays cool in the winter months; you’ll want to make sure the tank stays warm enough for their daily needs.
Is 90° Too Hot for a Leopard Gecko?
A leopard gecko in 90-degree weather will not be too hot, but it is best to keep it there only for a limited time, as it can experience severe dehydration, potential heatstroke, or heat stress. That is why it is wise to provide a cool side so your leopard gecko gets a good balance of warm and cool temperatures.
If you think your leopard gecko is too hot, we recommend looking for these signs:
- Redness in the skin: Usually under their belly, their skin might look flushed or unusually red as they try to find a cooler spot.
- Heavy breathing: This can look like rapid throat movements or an open mouth, as if they are trying to cool off after being hot for so long.
- Lethargic or weak: As mentioned above, your leopard gecko might become very lethargic or barely move if its body is trying to cope with the heat.
- Neurological behavior: Your lizard friend might act strangely if it gets too hot. Watch for movements like tail twitching, jerky movements (like they are hiccuping), or loss of coordination.
- Glass dancing or agitation: You might notice your leopard gecko trying to leave its cage to escape the extreme heat. This might look like it’s climbing on the glass, or it might look irritated.
- Refusal to go to the hot side: Leopard geckos will spend all of their time on the cooler side and avoid the heat altogether. They will more than likely go to a corner to stay away from it entirely.
Is 75° Too Cold for a Leopard Gecko?
No, 75 degrees is not too cold for your leopard gecko, but only if it’s on the cool side. If the entire cage is at this temperature, then yes, 75 degrees is much too cold for them to stay in. This is because this temperature prevents your gecko from digesting its food properly and can lead to respiratory issues, making it feel lethargic. If temperatures stay this low, avoid feeding them.
However, as mentioned above, your leopard gecko can be too hot to be in 90+ degree “weather,” so they will retreat to the cooler side to get away from the heat.
Is 67° Too Cold for a Leopard Gecko at Night?
No, 67 degrees is not too cold for your leopard gecko during the night. This is because their natural habitat in the Middle East (Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Nepal) can get cold at night, making 67 degrees a perfect nighttime temperature for your leopard gecko.
This also helps your leo maintain a healthy circadian rhythm. Plus, you don’t need to turn on the heating elements in the evening unless the tank drops below 60 degrees.
If you notice the tank is becoming too cold each evening for your leopard gecko to handle, then we recommend utilizing one of these non-light-emitting heat sources:
- Deep heating projectors, which provide infrared heat (meaning they heat the objects around them).
- Ceramic heat emitters, which heat the air without producing light that can disturb your gecko’s sleep cycle.
Make sure none of these heating sources have colored night lights, such as purple, blue, or red. Any light source can disrupt your gecko’s sleep rhythm.
Should My Leopard Gecko Feel Cold?
Leopard geckos are essentially cool to the touch. This is because reptiles are cold-blooded animals, meaning they cannot generate their own heat. Also, we are much warmer than leopard geckos, so they feel cool to the touch for that reason as well.
To go further, a leopard gecko’s body temperature depends on whether it’s on the warm or cool side of its cage. Sometimes they may feel like 70 degrees, and other times they may feel like 90 degrees. Even so, a normal human’s body temperature is 98.6, so they will essentially feel cool against your skin.
How Long Can My Leopard Gecko Go Without Heat?
Your leopard gecko can go a few days without heat, but it shouldn’t be prolonged, as their overall health will suffer. The main reason some leopard geckos can go days without heat is a power outage or, unfortunately, equipment failure.
If the equipment breaks, you should replace it ASAP. If you need one quickly, we recommend going to a local pet store or finding one in a buy nothing group on social media. Many people may even let you borrow some of their equipment or give it to you if they no longer need it. Overall, there are quick and easy ways to get them.
Lastly, if the geckos are cold, stop feeding them. Although adult leopard geckos only need to eat every few days, feeding them while they are cold can mean their food will not digest properly, causing food impaction, severe infections, or, in the worst-case scenario, death.
Can You Overheat a Leopard Gecko?
You can most definitely overheat a leopard gecko. Although it’s unfortunate for a leopard gecko to get too cold, getting too hot is more fatal. Because leopard geckos are cold-blooded animals, they cannot sweat, so their body temperature will rise rapidly and lead to neurological damage, organ failure, or death.
Note: This is why it is wise to make sure your gecko has a hot and cold side for their cage. Also, make sure they have a large enough enclosure with multiple hides and areas they can go to chill out or warm up, if needed. If they show unusual behavior, like refusing to go to the warm side, we recommend taking them to a vet ASAP to see what is going on.
What Symptoms Should I Look for in My Leopard Gecko if the Temperature Is Off?
Although your leopard gecko cage’s temperature might be good one day, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the next day. Multiple factors can cause this, including faulty equipment, the outside temperature (especially if it’s near a drafty window or sunlight is directly on the tank), or a malfunctioning AC/furnace. For this reason, always monitor the temperature and your leopard gecko’s behavior.
Here are some symptoms to look for if your leopard gecko’s enclosure is off:
- Loss of appetite: Your leo might stop eating entirely due to the lack of heat.
- Constant infections: bubbles around the nose, clicking sound when breathing, swollen mouth, etc.
- Gut impaction: firm belly, bloatedness, dark bruising that is visible on their underside, or not poop.
- Regurgitation: whole, undigested insects being thrown up in their home.
- Belly has darker skin
- Sluggishness or lethargy
What Kind of Heat Source Is Best for My Leopard Gecko?
The best heat sources for your leopard gecko are overhead heating elements and a heating pad. You can also add a dimming thermostat, which closely replicates sunlight and its warmth.
Overheads provide a more natural thermal gradient than heating mats, but heating mats are excellent for belly heat and help keep hiding spots warm and cozy. Heating mats are also great for temporary quarantine enclosures.
Note: Avoid heat rocks because they can cause belly burns and are not considered safe for leopard geckos. Also, avoid colored night bulbs, as they can cause long-term distress and disrupt their circadian rhythm.
Is a Heat Mat or Heat Lamp Better?
A heat lamp is better because it mimics the natural sunlight, whereas a heating mat does not and is usually under the tank. Here is a quick comparison and contrast between a heat mat vs. a heat lamp:
| Heat Lamp | Heating Pad | |
| Primary heat source |
|
|
| Digestion support | High; provides plenty of heat for their entire body to digest properly; warms the rocks below them well too | Moderate; provides only surface belly heat |
| Safety risks | If kept securely on top of a mesh screen the burn is low risk | Higher risk of belly burns unless if it is connected directly to a thermostat |
| Nighttime usage | Usually not made for nighttime, but it depends on the bulb (deep heat projectors do not contain light and can remain on) | Perfect to emit nighttime heat as it can stay on 24/7 |
| Air temperature | Heats the ambient air and is true to real thermal gradient | Only heats the glass and floors; no air heat |
How to Keep the Tank Temperature Regulated?
Now that we have discussed multiple factors affecting the tank’s temperature, let us review how you can keep it regulated. It would be unwise to put your hand in the tank and guess the temperature, so we need a few items.
1. Two Thermometers
First, get two thermometers: one for the cool side and one for the heated side. This ensures you know the exact temperature and how to fix the issues at hand.
Buy a digital thermometer with wire probes rather than cheap plastic analog thermometers, since the cheap ones only measure the glass temperature and give inaccurate readings, making it hard to tell if anything goes wrong. You can also get an infrared temperature gun for a daily instant-read of surface temperature.
2. Thermostat
A thermostat is yet another extremely important factor for a few reasons. First, heating elements should never be applied directly to the wall, and second, the thermostat can automatically control power output based on the tank’s actual temperature. Place the thermostat sensor probe directly under the heat source to measure how hot or cool your gecko feels.
3. Keep the Enclosure in a Stable Room
Putting the tank under or near a window, or in a room that can get drafty or extremely hot (like a sunroom, air vent, or near a space heater), is not healthy or necessary for your leopard gecko. Windows can overheat the glass, and drafts can make their home too cold. Make sure the room temperature stays between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. This helps you avoid changing the tank temperature regularly because of your home’s temperature.
4. Place Thermal Mass Under a Heat Source
One of the heat sources your leopard gecko might go to is a warm hide, flagstone, thick ceramic tile, or natural dark slate rock. Place this object directly on top of or below the heat source to ensure it remains warm, even after the light or heat is off for the night. This creates a built-in “heating mat” for your gecko’s belly and helps maintain a steady, warm mat.
5. Adjust the Insulation
If their tank still isn’t warm enough after all the work you have put into it, we recommend adding insulation by covering the screen top with a thick towel or aluminum foil. Keep these items away from the hot dome lamp to prevent fire hazards.
You can also insulate the back and sides with a foam background, taped styrofoam, or cork tiles.
What Should You Do When the Tank’s Temperature Is Too Low?
There are quite a few things you can do if your leopard gecko’s tank is too cold.
- The most important thing is to stop feeding them immediately. If there are bugs in their enclosure, we recommend catching and removing them while you figure out how to raise the tank’s temperature.
- As mentioned above, if things aren’t staying hot enough, we recommend insulating the tank by covering the screen or insulating the walls.
- Make sure the equipment is still working. If it is, check whether the digital thermostat is on or off. If it is, raise the temperature setting, or make sure the equipment isn’t out of place. If nothing else is working, you can always use a lightless heat source.
- Lastly, if the heat is completely cut out and you have no other options, we recommend using a warm water bottle in the tank, hand warmers (without letting them touch the geckos’ bare skin), or your own body heat by placing them against your shirt. This fix is only for emergencies.
What Should You Do When the Tank’s Temperature Is Too High?
Suppose the tank temperature is too hot for your leopard gecko. In that case, here are some things we recommend doing:
- Turn off all heat sources and provide cool water. If necessary, take them out and use this method, as the home’s temperature will cool them down quickly.
- Check environmental factors, such as whether the room is too hot. Improve airflow by removing any foil, blankets, or something similar. Also, block direct sunlight, as it can make the cage extremely hot very quickly.
- Make sure the equipment is working well. If it is, turn the thermostat down immediately. You can also lower the dome lamp’s wattage if needed.
How to Keep the Tank Warm Enough When the Power Goes Out
Suppose there was a massive storm in your area, and the power went out, but you found out it won’t be fully restored for days. In this case, it is extremely important to make sure the tank remains warm enough when the power goes out.
One simple solution is to spend some time at a friend or family member’s house, if they’ll let a leopard gecko stay for a few days. However, this might not always be an option for everyone, so you may need to take a few extra steps.
Another option is the warm water bottle method: take a water bottle, wrap it completely in a clean towel or sock, then place it in their cage near their favorite hide. They can snuggle with the towel and radiate heat. With this method, however, you’ll need to swap the water bottles regularly to keep them warm enough.
You can also use hand warmers. Wrap the hand warmers in a thick cloth sock or washcloth, as placing them directly on your leopard gecko can cause severe burns.
Lastly, use your own body heat! Although this method might not be ideal, it can also create a bonding experience for you and your leopard gecko. Put them in a small, breathable cloth, clean sock, or something similar, and hold it close to your chest under your shirt or sweater. Doing so will keep your leopard gecko safe from freezing.
Final Words
To summarize, a leopard gecko’s tank should be between 85 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit on the hot side and 70 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit on the cool side. We hope this article has provided you with enough tools to become the most successful leopard gecko owner you can be! If you enjoyed this article or learned something new, we recommend sharing it with other like-minded gecko friends, whether in an online community or a local group. We hope more people will know this information.
