Coil vs T5s | What UV Lamp Should I Use With My Leopard Gecko?
I recently received an important question from a reader regarding UV lighting for their leopard gecko:
“I know that it is better to have a tube UVB and we are working towards that, but for now we are using the coil UVB. My leopard gecko has been on a 13W UVB for the last 10 months or so, and we were recently given a 26W UVB. I was just wondering if a 26W is okay for her?”
This is an excellent question that highlights a common dilemma for reptile keepers, so let’s talk about it.
Why is it important to know the lamp’s output?
The first thing you need to know about any UV lamp is its exact percentage of UVB and UVA that it emits. This is why I use the ShadeDweller by Arcadia for all my leopard geckos—you can use either the fixed voltage unit or the LumenIZE unit.
Arcadia provides clear lamp guides on their website, showing exactly which lamp to use and at what distance to achieve the ideal UV Index (UVI) of 1-2 for leopard geckos.
While I'm not sure which brand the keeper is using for their 13W and 26W coil lamps, I've researched similar bulbs on the market and often find it difficult to determine their precise UVB output. This lack of transparency makes it challenging to know exactly what level of UV exposure a gecko is receiving.
There is a real risk is, if you’re unaware of exactly what you lamp is producing, it could lead to over- or underexposing your leopard gecko. A lamp that’s too weak could lead to metabolic bone disease (MBD). Excessive UV output can lead to severe health issues, including eye burns, skin burns, and even Hypervitaminosis D.
Tube vs. Coil
Tube/linear lamps (T5s) are generally preferred over coil lamps for several key reasons. Coil lamps can often be inefficient, failing to provide adequate UV levels required by a reptile, which can eventually lead to metabolic bone disease (MBD). Furthermore, coil lamps typically provide UV over a much smaller, concentrated area. This is not ideal for a leopard gecko.
So what can we take from this?
Linear/T5/tube lamps are generally favoured over coil lamps.
Pick a lamp that displays important information, such as its UVB and UVA %.
Under- or over-supply UV can be dangerous.
Leopard Geckos require a UV index of 1-2.
Here’s a helpful video.
Here’s a video on my UV lighting and supplement schedule.
