Switching to ceramic heat for crested geckos

Good news — you've read correctly, and you're making the right call. Crested geckos can detect red light, and running a red bulb at night genuinely does disrupt their sleep and stress them over time. Switching to a ceramic heat emitter is the proper solution. Before I point you to the right wattage, tell me: what size is the enclosure, what temperatures are you currently hitting at night, and do you already have a thermostat?

Right, so a few things. Crested geckos are actually fine down to about 16°C and thrive between 18–24°C, so your 18°C winter nights are on the acceptable edge — you don't need a huge amount of heat. The bigger issue is running any heat source without a thermostat, which is genuinely risky. A ceramic emitter without a thermostat can overheat the enclosure fast, especially in a smaller vivarium like yours. You'll need both together. What's your budget looking like — are you happy to pick up a pulse thermostat at the same time?

Perfect. For the heat emitter itself, go with the Exo Terra Ceramic Heater 40W — it's the right wattage for your enclosure size, it produces zero light so it won't affect your gecko's day/night cycle at all, and it fits a standard ES/E27 lamp holder. Pair it with a Habistat Pulse Proportional Thermostat. It's the most reliable entry-level thermostat in the UK reptile hobby, handles ceramic emitters correctly, and lets you set a precise night temperature. Set the probe mid-enclosure, dial your night target to around 20°C, and you're done. That combination will give you safe, stable, light-free night heating.

Yes, as long as the dome is rated for the wattage — check the label on yours. Ceramic emitters run very hot and need a ceramic-lined dome, not a cheap plastic-lined one. The Exo Terra Wire Light or a Komodo ceramic reflector dome are both safe choices if your current one isn't rated for it. One other thing: position the emitter on the side or back of the mesh lid rather than dead centre above the gecko's favourite sleeping spot. Cresties like to sleep high up, and you don't want a heat source blasting directly onto them.

Good move. Once it's set up, give it 24 hours to stabilise and check both the warm and cool ends with a digital thermometer before you're confident in the readings. Your gecko will be noticeably more active and better settled within a week or two once the light disruption stops.