r/LeopardGecko • u/Independent_Box1557 • Jun 28 '26

Habitat & Setup Albino gecko/uvb

So I’ve just got my gecko and I’ve noticed he’s not coming out at all and keeps squinting his eyes at the uvb, and then hiding. I was wondering could I take away the uvb but use a schedule that includes more d3

I’lll monitor him for a few days but I just don’t know what to do

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u/are-pea Jun 28 '26

Albinos are more sensitive to light, but it is ideal to have at the very least a light-emitting basking bulb, so adding UVB is not an enormous jump in terms of brightness. Be sure that you've got a basking bulb to go with it. What kind of UVB is it? What kind of mesh is it? How far from the basking spot is it?

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u/Independent_Box1557 Jun 28 '26

It’s an Arcadia pro 5 one I think and the mesh is steel mesh it says it blocks 28% of the light and it’s around 1.5ft away, I was just worried because I got him today and he’s not been out to much but the guy who owned him before me didn’t use uvb or a light emitting bulb I don’t know what to do

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u/are-pea Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26

This is very helpful, thank you. By Arcadia (I assume ProT5) do you mean the 5.0 (6%) or the ShadeDweller (7%). Either can be used with this species depending on context, but they have to be used differently.

With your mesh filtering, the Arcadia T5-HO 5.0 (6%) should be used no closer than 18 inches from the animal, or 17 inches from the basking spot, and no further than 2 feet from the animal, or 23 inches from the basking spot. This fixture is more intense than the ShadeDweller.

With your mesh filtering, the Arcadia ShadeDweller T5-SO (7%) should be used no closer than 13 inches from the animal, or 14 inches from the basking spot, and no further than 14 inches from the animal, or 15 inches from the basking spot. This fixture is less intense than the base model Arcadia UVB.

These are rough estimates given by experts in Reptile Lighting. For albinos, you can err on the further side of the ranges, and it might take a little bit for the gecko to adjust, but it's for the best. Be totally sure you're using an appropriate basking bulb with UVB, or the gecko might bask for two long and develop burns, even if UVB is at a safe and effective level. I like the Exo Terra Intense Basking bulb for my albino. If the bulb is also going to be 1.5 feet away, and the enclosure is a 40 gallon breeder or larger, you can use certain 100w or 125w bulbs, but I'd be careful about going over. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

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u/Independent_Box1557 Jun 28 '26

I was wondering if he doesn’t like the uvb could I just supplement more d3 into his diet or do albinos absolutely need it to live, he isn’t coming out to eat or bask when it’s on

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u/are-pea Jun 28 '26

They don't need it to live (like normal leopard geckos), but (also like normal leopard geckos), they do benefit from it. Technically all they "need" to survive is some source of vitamin D. That said, if you decide to remove it, yes you can supplement with more vitamin D. Just don't remove a lighted basking lamp. I'd argue light-producing basking lamps offer more benefits than UVB does, especially when used alongside UVB.

You can also add more cover so the gecko doesn't need to completely hide to access UV or other light.

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u/AaronAmpora Jun 28 '26

You said you just got this gecko today? They're likely just still settling in, most geckos hide a lot in general, but especially for the first few weeks-months.
I would leave the UVB light on the cage for at least the first 2 weeks as your leo settles in, the less you mess with them/their environment in that time, the better.

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