Get Light Fixtures for Reptiles in Salt Lake City

Reptiles make terrific pets, but  they aren't necessarily easy to take care of. You will not need to take your reptile for a walk every day, but you will need to supply it with a healthy environment with the ideal reptile heating and lighting. And to do that, you will need the reptile heating and lighting equipment from a store you can rely on.

There is a fundamental reason reptiles need supplemental heat: Reptiles are cold-blooded. They can not regulate their body temperature. In nature, reptiles manage their body heat by changing their environment. They get sun on a rock. They burrow into the ground. But reptiles in a cage do not have that option. They require you to provide heat for them. Some reptiles, like geckos and ball pythons, require supplementary heat 24/7.

Reptile heating isn't quite as easy as placing a heating system in a cage. Many heaters emit light. Using them to keep a pet reptile warm can be like producing 24-hour daylight, so your pet would not have a typical cycle of activity and rest. Heating for reptiles at night needs to come from an infrared source, like a heated ceramic, as opposed to from a heat lamp. On the other hand, reptiles you keep indoors also need supplemental lighting. They require the same wavelengths of light provided by sunlight so their bodies can make vitamin D. They require a daytime light along with a extra heat source all the time. And different reptiles require different reptile heating and lighting. Here is a rundown of reptile heating and lighting demands by species.

Ball python heating and lighting: Ball pythons require 8 to 12 hours of light daily, with several breaks of 1 to 2 hours during the day. They favor a nocturnal light source to imitate conditions in the wild; infrared light is great at night (just not a glowing light bulb).

Bearded dragon heating and lighting: Bearded dragons need constant heat, ideally from a ceramic heat source 24 hours a day. They also like to be able to indulge in the "sunlight" you provide with an incandescent bulb, but ensure it's only switched on during the day.

Chameleon heating and lighting: Chameleons absolutely should have UV-B light during the day so their bodies can make vitamin D. They like lower temperatures at night from an infrared bulb.

Corn snake heating and lighting: Corn snakes require 8 to 12 hours of light everyday with a "night light" or infrared light at night. Don't provide too much white light.

Gecko heating and lighting: Geckos are nocturnal, so they do not need lights that provide UV-B. A a normal incandescent bulb for daytime lighting works great, but they need ceramic heat or a nocturnal heat bulb at all hours.

You will find everything you need for keeping your reptile happy and healthy at NextPaw in Salt Lake City, UT. We can help you keep your pet reptile well-fed, cozy, and healthy for many years to come.