Buy Light Fixtures for Reptiles in Carbondale

Reptiles make excellent pets, but  they aren't necessarily easy to look after. You won't need to take your reptile for a walk every day, but you will need to provide it with a healthy environment with the appropriate reptile heating and lighting. And to do that, you will need the reptile heating and lighting tools from a store you can rely on.

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

Reptile heating isn't quite as simple as placing a heating unit in a cage. Many heaters emit light. Using them to keep a pet reptile warm can be like creating 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 additional lighting. They require the same wavelengths of light given by sunshine so their bodies can make vitamin D. They require a daytime light in addition to a additional heat source constantly. 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 need 8 to 12 hours of light each day, with several breaks of 1 to 2 hours during the day. They favor a nocturnal source of light 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 must 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 need 8 to 12 hours of light daily with a "night light" or infrared light at night. Do not provide too much white light.

Gecko heating and lighting: Geckos are nocturnal, so they do not need lights that provide UV-B. A regular 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 RJ Paddywacks Pet Outfitter in Carbondale, CO. We can help you keep your pet reptile well-fed, cozy, and healthy for many years to come.