hi I'm looking to get a leopard tortoise iv done a lot a research but still a little confused with the heating set up. I was thinking of getting a U V light with a timer. would it then be ok to just get a ceramic heater that gives off no light but can stay on all the time or would I need some other kind of lighting.

The Leopard is a very large species, make sure you can provide the huge amount of space one will require.

As a sub-Saharan species they do not hibernate. One will require a good size room constantly heated throughout the daytime in winter and most of the spring and autumn. It will also require a mercury vapour lamp to be on for 12 - 14 hours a day. This is going to be expensive and with ever increasing energy costs can only get even more expensive. A ceramic bulb will be of no use.

Night-time temperatures of no less than 17deg C must also be maintained.

Since they do not hibernate, you will have the task of providing food year round.

I would strongly recommend against keeping a Leopard in the UK.

Read this: http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/files/Leopard%20care%20sheet%20January%202014New.pdf