lighting for albinos

daniela · 06-29-04, 02:48 PM

i am about to get two albino geckos and need some help with a few things,
1. can i keep 1 male and 1 female albino gecko together?
2. is it ok to use lighting for albinos because ive heard that thet are very sensitive to light,
i only want a light to let them kniow the differance between night and day, not for heat because my hot side is already at 30c.
help please!!

Ixidor · 06-29-04, 03:02 PM

I really don't have much experience with albinos, if the albinos are above 1 year and you don't want them to breed, or you can't incubate the eggs don't put them together. If your room has windows and is fairly lit during the day and dark in the night then that simulates night and day. (I know its not really "simulating" as its the real thing but I couldn't think of another word off hand.)

edit- Sorry I didn't completely answer the light question, I have also heard they are sensitive to light so if you do decide to get a light, plug it into a dimmer and make it more of a dimmer light. I would just get a heat pad if your room is well lit during the day

latazyo · 06-29-04, 04:40 PM

if they're not in a photography darkroom, I'd say they can tell the difference between night and day by ambient light

I don't use any light sources for my animals

crazyboy · 06-29-04, 05:14 PM

they will be able to tell the difference between night and day without a light as long as you dont have a really dark room.

you may keep a male and female together but it could cause the following; breeding to early(could result in egg binding), fighting, 1 not eating, breeding too often, etc.

Brock · 06-29-04, 05:46 PM

What size is the tank? If it is big enough, you can use a low wattage bulb and it won't make too much of a difference. You can put the bulb on the cooler side as well, but aim it towards the hotter side, that's what I used to do and it worked well, I didn't have any problems.

You can keep them together, but keep an eye out for any noticeable aggression: cuts, bit marks, ripped skin, broken limbs. The male gets aggressive during the courtship immediately leading to and act of breeding, so don't worry about that, it's natural. When they are introduced to each other, the male might rattle his tail and the female might squiggle hers around like a worm, as long as they don't go at each other they will get used to each other quickly.

I'm not sure what light you'll want to use, you might want to make a barrier from the light for most of the cage, but just so there's enough to see, such as a large piece of slate held up by rocks or something. Play around, I find that I get a perfect working/looking enclosure about the 3rd time I re-do it.

-Brock

daniela · 06-30-04, 02:48 PM

so is it best to keep two females instead
my tank is about 120l and room is well lit.

Ixidor · 06-30-04, 02:59 PM

Well, thats an opinion. If you plan on breeding your geckos in the future, keep a pair and put them in separate tank until the geckos and you are ready for them to breed, likewise if you don't want them to breed keeping two females is easier

geckofreakerz · 07-12-04, 12:37 AM

after about 4-6 months albinos eyes are more developed and get much more use to light.

Kevin McRae · 07-12-04, 02:14 AM

Using light with albino animals can badly hurt there skin................especially no UV light.............though you don't need UV light with nocturnal animals like leos.

Matt.B · 07-12-04, 04:13 AM

ummm.... no light cant hurt albinos skin that is unless you put them under the sun in the sahara desert.
Matt

Kevin McRae · 07-12-04, 11:04 AM

according to the "Pet Guys"any UV light can hurt any albinos skin, and according to some "experts" on General Discussion Forum" any light can hurt them.

Just my opinion