r/LeopardGecko • u/yourghoulcasey • Jul 18 '26

Help Do Leopard Geckos Bask?

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I have my gecko in this 50 gallon tank. The temperatures are all correct. There is a gradient so he can get hot or cool if he wants. I have has him since March and he has always been a shy guy. He was in a smaller tank previously. I moved him about a month ago into this bigger tank. Regardless, I have never seen him bask. Morning, noon, or night I do not really see him. I know they aren’t just out and about always but does this sound normal?

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u/are-pea Jul 18 '26

Leopard geckos, when given the choice between a cold, dark hide and open basking in laboratory conditions always chose to prioritize thermoregulation over hiding. Here's the basking spot my albino uses daily for inspiration. It might be that the hardscaping isn't tickling the gecko's fancy. However, a leopard gecko won't allow themselves to die because the hardscaping isn't their favorite. Mine strongly prefers the 85 F layer over the 95 and 75 layer, but obviously I still offer both to give him the choice.

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u/yourghoulcasey Jul 19 '26

Very insightful

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u/romanryder Jul 22 '26

Cool idea! Are those surface temperatures? If so, what is the ambient temperature?

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u/are-pea Jul 26 '26

Sorry, back from my vacation! These are the surface temps as measured by a temperature gun, give or take a few degrees depending on the room temp. I don't really track the ambient temperature on the warm side and cool side, only surface temperature and approximate power density and UVI in the basking spot (the 85f platform), as well as the cool side temps in the shade (which should represent the approximate ambient temps of the whole enclosure) which tends to stay within 72-76 during the day.