Crested Gecko Lighting

Crested Gecko Lighting Guide

Crested geckos are crepuscular and nocturnal, meaning they are most active at dawn, dusk and during the night. Because of this, their lighting requirements are simpler than many other reptiles — but getting it right still matters for their health and wellbeing.

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Do Crested Geckos Need UVB?

This is one of the most debated topics in crested gecko keeping. Crested geckos have been kept successfully for decades without UVB lighting, largely because a complete CGD diet (such as Pangea or Repashy) provides vitamin D3 through supplementation. However, growing research suggests that low-level UVB offers real benefits:

Supports natural vitamin D3 synthesis, which aids calcium absorption and bone health
May improve activity levels, colour and overall wellbeing
Helps regulate circadian rhythms more naturally
Particularly beneficial for juveniles and breeding females

If you choose to provide UVB, use a low-output UVB bulb (2.0 or 5% UVB) on a 10–12 hour day cycle. Avoid high-output desert UVB bulbs — these are far too intense for a forest species.

Day/Night Light Cycle

Whether or not you use UVB, providing a consistent day/night cycle is important. Crested geckos use light cues to regulate their activity and sleep patterns.

Summer: 14 hours light / 10 hours dark
Winter: 10 hours light / 14 hours dark
Use a plug-in timer to automate the cycle and keep it consistent

Avoid exposing your gecko to bright light late at night or disturbing their dark period with room lighting — this can cause stress.

Lighting for Live Plants

If you have a bioactive or planted vivarium, your plants will need adequate light to thrive. A full-spectrum LED grow light or UVB/UVA T5 tube is ideal and will benefit both plants and gecko simultaneously. Position the light at the top of the enclosure and ensure there are shaded areas the gecko can retreat to.

Lighting to Avoid

Heat lamps and basking bulbs — crested geckos do not need or benefit from basking spots and can overheat easily
High-output UVB bulbs (10%+) — designed for desert species; far too intense
Red or blue night lights — geckos can see these and they may disrupt sleep; use no light at all during the dark period

Recommended Setup

A simple and effective lighting setup for a crested gecko vivarium:

A low-output UVB T5 or T8 tube (2.0 or 5%) on a 12-hour timer
OR a full-spectrum LED for planted setups, paired with vitamin D3 supplementation
No additional heat source unless room temperature drops below 18°C