Reptiles are wonderful pets, but the notion that they are “simple” to care for is incorrect. And When it comes to their habitats, it is important to have the right sources of heat. It is one of the most crucial components of providing a comfortable environment.There are several methods for providing heat to your reptile. The most significant are heat lamps.
Why do reptiles need heat lamps?
Reptiles are Ectothermic. They need their surroundings to control their body temperature. The heat and light of their surroundings govern every aspect of their behavior. It is why they need some form of heat source or heat lamps to assist imitate their native home.
Heat Lamps
These are also known as basking lamps or full-spectrum lights, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are two types of heat lamps: those that emit light and those that do not.
Those that produce full-spectrum basking light are best. Since it provides UVA light as well as heat, it is as near to natural sunlight as possible (when coupled with a UVB light).
Types of Reptile heat lamps:
There are different types of heat lamps. The most common are as follows.
Ceramic heat lamps:
Ceramic heat lamps emit just heat and no light. They are inexpensive, do not require frequent replacement, and endure a long period. The major benefit is that they may give extra heat at night. Ceramic heat lamps come in two forms black and white. But In terms of performance, there is no difference between them. The more the wattage, the greater the heat production.
If you need to heat a big open space, go with a larger wattage.Some ceramic reptile lamps emit infrared heat. Which can help keep your pet’s night activities as calm as possible.
Mercury vapor lamps:
Mercury vapor heat lamps give out heat as well as UVB light. These are also known as mercury vapor ballast lamps. They are available in various wattages and are a wonderful source of UVB and heat for reptiles. The key benefits are that high-quality ones will last for a year. There is no need to replace it in less than 12 months. The main issue is that they are not suitable for night. You may need ceramic heat source at night.
Colored heat lamps:
There are various colored artificial-looking heat lamps available. They are in a different colors, including red, blue, and black. But they are less effective as compared to (Ceramic& Mercury) because the colors serve no use for the reptile.
Incandescent heat lamp bulbs:
Many reptile heat lamps work on the same principles as standard incandescent bulbs, which come in a variety of wattages and heat intensities. The fibers in these bulbs can be heated to extremely high temperatures, and they do not produce UVB light.
Is it safe to leave a reptile heat lamp turned on all-day?
Many species of reptiles require reptile heat lamps throughout the day. In such cases, be sure to keep it close to the UVB light source. So that your pet can enjoy both UVB rays and heat at the same time, and move to another part of the tank to cool as needed.
Final Discussion:
Using the above material as a reference, you can help identify what type of hat lamp is needed to keep your particular reptile healthy and happy. Different watt lights should be chosen depending on the size of the space you are heating, and for maximum control of the heat in your pet’s cage, your chosen heat source should always be from the thermostat. It must be attached.
