Eurydactylodes Gecko Lighting

Eurydactylodes are crepuscular to nocturnal geckos, most active at dusk and during the night. Their lighting requirements are simple, but providing the right setup supports their natural behaviour, health and — if you keep a planted bioactive vivarium — plant growth.

Back to the Eurydactylodes Care Sheet | Gecko Care Hub

Do Eurydactylodes Need UVB?

Like other New Caledonian geckos, Eurydactylodes have historically been kept without UVB using D3 supplementation alone. However, low-level UVB provides genuine benefits for these small geckos:

Supports natural vitamin D3 synthesis for calcium absorption and healthy bone development — particularly important for rapidly growing juveniles and egg-laying females
May support better overall health and natural activity patterns
Helps regulate circadian rhythms

If providing UVB, use a very low-output bulb — a 2.0% UVB T5 or T8 tube is the maximum appropriate output for Eurydactylodes. They are shade-dwelling forest geckos and fall within Ferguson Zone 1. Never use desert or high-output UVB bulbs. Always ensure the enclosure has well-shaded areas so the gecko can completely avoid UV exposure if it chooses.

Day/Night Light Cycle

A consistent photoperiod supports natural behaviour and is important for breeding animals.

Summer: 14 hours light / 10 hours dark
Winter: 10 hours light / 14 hours dark
Use a plug-in timer to automate the cycle year-round

Eurydactylodes are sensitive to light disturbance during their dark period. Avoid bright room lighting near the enclosure late at night, and never use red or blue night lights — geckos can perceive these wavelengths and they disrupt the natural dark period.

Lighting for Planted Bioactive Setups

Eurydactylodes thrive in densely planted bioactive vivariums. Live plants need adequate light to thrive — a full-spectrum LED or combined UVB/UVA T5 tube serves both the gecko and the plants simultaneously. Ensure the enclosure has shaded areas at ground and mid-level where the gecko can retreat during the day. A timer-controlled LED is the simplest and most reliable solution for small Eury setups.

Lighting to Avoid

Basking bulbs or heat lamps — Eurydactylodes do not need a basking spot and are extremely heat-sensitive
High-output UVB bulbs (5%+) — far too intense for a small shade-dwelling forest gecko
Red or blue night lights — disrupt the dark period; use no supplemental light overnight