feeding time

Question
im planing on geting a leopard gecho very soon and i was thinking, if they r nocturnal should they eat at night? and if so should i keep heat pad on 24/7 and onley turn red light at night? so...can u plz give me a sheet on heat time for a leo. thx =)

Answer
Hello Nick,

Leopard geckos are documented as nocturnal, but are partially diunrnal which means they are out during the daytime some.  However, their preference in eating is usually around dusk or after.  
A heatpad or an undertank heater should be left on 24/7.  A substrate should be on the bottom to cover the heater.  Most use either non adhesive shelf liner, felt or paper towels.  Undertank heaters are nice because they stick onto the underneath side of the tank which is safer than putting it inside of the tank.
I would also use a low wattage lightbulb during the daytime along with the undertank heater to provide a hot spot of around 88-90.  You can turn the lightbulb off during the night, but leave the undertank heater on.  You can use a black or blue light at night.  A red light sometimes bothers their eyes from that spectrum.    
Let me know if you have any other questions.

Tracie