lighting through glass with leos

Question
QUESTION: hi iv had a leopard gecko for about 2 years now, but i bought a new tank stand that will hold two 10 gal tanks (trying to conserve space in my tiny room). on the top i have my 2 chameleon tall tanks, and i want to put my leopard gecko on the smaller  inside shelf, well the tank fits really really snug so my lights will not fit on top of the tank, is it ok to have the lights shining through the sides of the tank, through the glass sides? since its not UV lighting and its just for heat?

ANSWER: Hello Autumn,

Well, you will really have to watch to make sure that her tank doesn't overheat with her being on top & heat rises.  She will still need a cooler end of around 78-80 to cool off when needed.  
Are you using an undertank heater for her though, she does need belly heating.  The lights wont hurt her since they are just lights & not UVB lights though.
What type of thermometer do you use to measure the temps with?  A stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun?

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Tracie
yes i have an under tank heater and i use a stick on thermometer, the light would just be shining on the sides of the tank, on one side so that she has a cooler side. i just bought this tank stand that holds two tanks and i thought that the second shelf would be the same size as the top shelf but once you put the tank on the bottom shelf the top shelf is like resting on the tank on the second shelf, that's how snug the fitting is. right now i have her lights on top of her tank but once i move her into this shelf there is no room on top, i cant even get my hand on top b/c the shelves are really close together. i was just making sure that she would still get heat if i shined the lights through on glass side of the tank and not through the mesh lid, and that she would still be heated.

Answer
Hello Autumn,

Ok, good the undertank heater will be fine.  As long as the undertank heater is on, a little bit of heating from the light shining through the glass should be fine.  Plus, she will still get her day & night cycle regulation as well.
That is too bad you bought that stand for the tanks, & it wont fit on the shelves correctly!  How frustrating.  I think that will work just fine.  
Maybe you should recheck the temperatures with a digital probe or temp gun, instead of a stick on type of thermometer that you have because those can be off on the temps.

Tracie