Set up your Dragonstone kit in four steps, then use the included meters to confirm everything is in range before your animal moves in.
1. Lay the foundation
Clean the enclosure. Bearded dragon kit: lay the liner flat across the floor, trimming it if needed. Leopard gecko kit: add the substrate of your choice. Place the basking surface (the rock terrace's ledge for geckos, the raised platform for dragons) at one end. This becomes the warm side.
2. Mount lighting and heat
Mount the T5 UVB fixture so it covers the warm side and basking spot. Leopard gecko kit: rest the UVB hood on the mesh top rather than inside the enclosure; its high-output tube is strong up close, and the mesh helps bring the reading into a gecko's range. Bearded dragon kit: mount the fixture inside the enclosure or rest it on the mesh top. Put the heat lamp's dome directly above the basking surface so heat and UVB land in the same place.
3. Wire up the controls
Bearded dragon kit
- Plug the halogen lamps into the dimming thermostat. Secure the probe at the basking spot so it reads the temperature your animal actually feels.
- Plug the UVB fixture into the timer and set your day length (12–14 hours is typical).
- Use the thermostat's day/night setting to let temperatures drop at night when the lights go off.
Leopard gecko kit
- The dome's built-in dimming thermostat controls the heat lamp. Secure its probe at the basking spot and set your target temperature.
- Turn the UVB on in the morning and off at night (12–14 hours is typical), or plug it into a plug-in timer of your own.
- At night, turn the heat lamp off or lower the thermostat so temperatures can drop.
4. Measure before move-in
Run the setup for at least 24 hours. Use the temp gun to check the basking surface, the thermo-hygrometers to check each side (and the humid hide in the gecko kit), and the UV meter at the basking spot. Adjust the thermostat or basking height until readings are in range.
Target ranges
| Leopard gecko | Bearded dragon | |
|---|---|---|
| Basking surface | 94–97°F | 105–113°F |
| Cool side | 70–77°F | 75–85°F |
| Night | Can drop to the 60s °F | Can drop to the 60s °F |
| Humidity | 30–40%, humid hide higher | 30–40% |
| UV index at basking spot | About 1–2 | About 4–6 |
| Day length | 12–14 hours | 12–14 hours |
These ranges are general guidance drawn from widely used care guides. Every animal is different. Watch your reptile's behavior and check with an exotics veterinarian if you have concerns.
Ongoing care
- Check temperatures daily with the thermo-hygrometers, and spot-check the basking surface weekly with the temp gun.
- Keep the humid hide's water basin filled and the moss damp (leopard gecko kit).
- Measure UV monthly and replace the T5 bulb when readings drop noticeably, or per the manufacturer's schedule.
- Bearded dragon kit: shake out or wipe the liner as needed, and rinse it fully during deep cleans. Leopard gecko kit: spot-clean the substrate and clean hides and dishes with the included disinfectant spray.