Do leopard geckos need UV lighting?
It is my contention that leopard geckos do not NEED Ultraviolet lighting to survive and thrive in captivity. They have been bred in captivity with no special lighting for years with no ill effects. There haven’t been enough studies to say for sure that they wouldn’t benefit from it, though. Leopard geckos are nocturnal animals which means for the most part, they sleep during the day, when the sun is out. I’m not sure how they synthesize Vitamin D3in the wild, but in captivity, they should be supplemented with a good herp vitamin with Vitamin D3, like Miner-All I for Indoor herps. They will be fine regulating their circadian rhythm (sleep cycle) by the regular sunlight that filters through the window. This, and the seasonal change in temperatures will also let them know when the seasons are changing. Although, I’ve heard of breeders manipulating lighting and heating to induce off-season breeding in leopard geckos.
