Reptiles make excellent pets, but they aren't necessarily easy to care for. You will not need to take your reptile for a walk everyday, but you will need to supply it with a healthy environment with the right reptile heating and lighting. And to do that, you will need the reptile heating and lighting devices from a store you can trust.
There is a basic reason reptiles require supplementary heat: Reptiles are cold-blooded. They can not control their body heat. In nature, reptiles control their body heat by switching 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, need extra heat 24/7.
Reptile heating isn't quite as straightforward as putting a heating system in a cage. Many heating units emit light. Using them to keep a pet reptile warm can be like creating 24-hour daylight, so your pet would certainly not have a regular 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 need the same wavelengths of light offered by sunshine so their bodies can make vitamin D. They need a daytime source of light along with a additional heat source regularly. And different reptiles need different reptile heating and lighting. Here is a rundown of reptile heating and lighting needs by species.
Ball python heating and lighting: Ball pythons need 8 to 12 hours of light daily, with numerous 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 bask in the "sunlight" you give with an incandescent bulb, but make sure it's only turned on during the day.
Chameleon heating and lighting: Chameleons definitely needs to have UV-B light during the day so their bodies can make vitamin D. They prefer lower temperatures at night from an infrared bulb.
Corn snake heating and lighting: Corn snakes need 8 to 12 hours of light every day with a "night light" or infrared light at night. Don't give them 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 & 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.