Leopard Gecko Temperature

Question
QUESTION: Hello Tracie,

I was wondering if you could help me concerning the temperature of my leopard gecko's enclosure. I will be buying the gecko in a few days, so i just want to get its home up and running.

I have just bought the setup for my leopard gecko which is :
The tank
The Woodchips
Water Dish
Hides
*HEAT MAT*

The heat mat is the problem, well at least i think it is.

I've put it on the outside of the enclosure as instructed and its making contact with the glass, and its working and turned on, but i cannot feel much warmth through the thin layer of substrate on the inside of the enclosure,however, i can feel a very slight warmth.

I may be just paranoid but, is this amount of heat sufficient?

I'm just really worried because this is my first reptile..

Thankyou!

Jordan

ANSWER: Hello Jordan,

Well, you don't want it getting too hot so it doesn't burn him.  
You will also need to use a low wattage basking light on the same side that you have the undertank heater on to create a hot spot of around 88-90.  So you will need to get a temp gun or a digital probe to measure the basking spot when you are finished setting it up.  Just use a clamp light type of fixture & use a household lightbulb to get the basking spot fixed up.  So one side can be warmer with the basking spot, & the other side will be a little cooler, around 80 or so.  
The only thing with the woodchips is that crickets may have a tendency to hide underneath them & make it difficult for him to get them.  Unless you plan on feeding him outside of the tank.  Otherwise, you can switch the woodchips out & replace it with tiles, carpet, paper towels, or felt.  
You can put one moist humid hide/cave right on top of the undertank heater to keep the humidity in there to help with his shed.  If you want to put the other one on the cool side, so he can have something to sit in or on, that is fine.  A half log is sometimes nice for them, also.  You may find that when he is comfortable, he will come out some during the day also.  
How large is the tank you will be putting him in?  
You can also put a tiny dish of calcium supplementation powder in there for him to lick when he needs it.  You can also dust the feeders too.  Whichever way you want to do that is fine.  

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Thankyou, i feel more clear on the heat mat now.

However, how would i use the household lightbulb?

What do i need to do with it?


Thanks again

Jordan

Answer
Hello Jordan,

You can go to Home Depot or Lowes & get a round dome fixture that you can screw in a regular lightbulb to, A& you can sit it on top of the screen top for the basking light.  It works very well.  They are not very expensive, either.
When do you plan on getting the gecko?  

Tracie