Lighting Your Reptiles and Amphibians

Light is an important aspect of keeping your pet reptile or amphibian healthy. In nature, reptiles and amphibians have evolved to take advantage of sunlight in many different ways, primarily as a source of heat and UVB radiation, both of which aid metabolic processes. In captivity, lighting is primarily used with three different goals in mind: to provide heat, to provide UVB radiation, or as lighting for a vivarium.

Many commonly kept pet reptiles, such as this bearded dragon, require specialized lighting to remain healthy in captivity.

Lighting to Provide Heat Heat is an important aspect to keeping reptiles in captivity. Reptiles are ectothermic (aka cold-blooded), which means they are dependent on their environment for their heating and cooling needs. A basking spot, an area of elevated temperature in your pet's enclosure, will allow the reptile to raise it's body temperature, which facilitates digestion and activity levels. There are many different lighting products sold by Josh's Frogs that will provide both light and heat to your pet reptile or amphibian:

Nighttime Basking Bulbs, also known as moonlight basking bulbs, are incandescent bulbs perfect for increasing the ambient temperature of a terrarium, vivarium, or enclosure to ensure your pet reptile or amphibian receives the correct overnight temperature. These special low- visibility heat bulbs eliminate the chance that your pet reptile or amphibian are kept awake by excess light, while enjoying the economic price of an incandescent bulb. Nighttime basking bulbs are perfect for those reptiles or amphibians that prefer above room temperature nocturnal temps, including but not limited to leopard geckos, ball pythons, hermit crabs, and some invertebrates.

Red Heat Lamps emit infrared heat waves that provide much needed warmth for your pet reptile. The red glass transmits Infrared waves produced by the special filament of the bulb. The reddish light will not disrupt normal activity during night or day, which makes it an excellent 24 hour heat source. Red heat lamps increase the overall air temperature in the terrarium and provide heat, which is essential for activity and digestion. Red heat lamps are ideal for nocturnal viewing. Basking Bulbs provide a source of heat for your pet reptile or amphibian via a radiant heat source (in this case, an incandescent or halogen bulb). Simulating the warming rays of the sun, basking bulbs provide your ectothermic pets with the warmth they need to digest food and maintain optimal activity levels. There are a variety of different basking bulbs available, suitable for use with a diverse selection of pet reptiles or amphibians:

Daylight Heat Bulbs are an inexpensive way to raise the ambient temperature in a vivarium while adding a bit of ambient lighting. Daylight heat bulbs are not great for creating a specific basking spot. Daylight heat bulbs do produce UVA, which promotes breeding and natural behaviors in reptiles and amphibians. The higher the wattage of the daylight heat bulb, the more heat it will produce.

Spotlight Basking Bulbs are great at providing a broad, moderately intense basking spot for your pet reptile. Spotlight basking bulbs have a reflector built in to direct the majority of the heat and light produced downward. Spotlight basking bulbs also produce UVA, which promotes breeding and natural behaviors in reptiles. Spotlight basking bulbs are ideal for most species of diurnal basking reptiles, including blue tongue skinks and bearded dragons.

Tight Beam Basking Bulbs are ideal for producing a high temperature basking spot necessary for keeping many desert species of pet reptiles. Tight beam basking bulbs contain an internal reflector that focuses most of the heat and light output from the bulb into a small area, resulting in a very high basking temperature. Tight beam basking bulbs also produce UVA, which promotes breeding and natural behaviors in reptiles. Tight beam basking bulbs are ideal for reptile species that demand a high temperature basking area, such as monitors, or for use with other reptile species in taller enclosures.

Halogen Basking Bulbs are an economic, durable way to provide the proper basking temperature for your pet reptile. Halogen basking bulbs are more efficient at producing heat than incandescent bulbs, thus more energy efficient. Halogen basking bulbs also have an expected lifespan that is more than double the length of the leading incandescent reptile basking bulbs on the market today, resulting in savings. Halogen basking bulbs contain an internal reflector, which focuses the majority of heat and light produced down into your reptile's enclosure. Halogen basking bulbs produce a cleaner, whiter light than incandescent basking bulbs, resulting in brighter colors and a better viewing experience of your pet reptiles.

Exo Terra Swamp Glo Basking Bulbs are a shatter-resistant basking bulb that is ideal for use over water. Exo Terra Swamp Glo basking bulbs will not shatter like most reptile basking bulbs if they are sprayed or splashed. Exo Terra Swamp Glo basking bulbs are ideal for use with turtles, water dragons, caiman lizards, and other aquatic reptiles that require a basking spot.Remember that it's always a good idea to use a thermostat with a basking bulb to ensure your animal stays at the proper temperature. Thermostats not only make sure your pet is getting the right amount of heat - they're a safety measure to ensure it doesn't get too hot for your critter!Here is a chart of more commonly available basking reptiles, and their preferred basking spots and temperature ranges:

Animal	Basking Temp F	Daytime Temp F	Nighttime Temp minimum F
Bearded Dragon	110	78-82	65
Savannah Monitor	100	85	75
Green Iguana	100	85	75
Day Gecko	100	80	75
Tokay Gecko	85	75	70
Veiled Chameleon	90	75	70
Jackson's Chameleon	85	75	70
Panther Chameleon	90	75	70
Chinese Water Dragon	95	80	75
Slider Turtles	90	76	76
Russian Tortoise	90	75	65
Red Foot Tortoise	90	75	70
Sulcata Tortoise	90	75	60
Box Turtles	90	75	60

Lighting to Provide UVB RadiationSunlight does not only provide a source of heat for many reptiles. It also provides an intense source of ultraviolet radiation in the 290 to 320nm range, commonly called UVB. Exposure to UVB, even for a short amount of time, allows reptiles, amphibians, and many other vertebrates to produce Vitamin D, which is vital for proper calcium absorption in the intestines. In a captive environment, UVB lighting is often provided by artificial means.Not all reptiles and amphibians require the same amount of UVB to be healthy. Exposure to sunlight will vary greatly depending on species, their natural environment, and their habits in the wild. Many species of reptiles and amphibians are nocturnal or live in burrows or on the floor of the rainforest, such as crested geckos, leopard geckos, or poison dart frogs, and are not exposed to significant levels of UVB in the wild. For these species, low levels of UVB, such as 2.0 bulbs, (or none at all!) are sufficient. Some species, such as many chameleons, live in forests, where much of the sunlight is absorbed by foliage. For these species, a moderate level of UVB, such as a 5.0 bulb, is appropriate. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there are reptiles that thrive in full sun environments, such as deserts. Common pet lizards such as bearded dragons and uromastyx thrive under intense UVB expose from 10.0 or Mercury Vapor Bulbs.There are several different varieties of bulbs designed to produce UVB light. They are:

Fluorescent UVB Bulbs fit into most standard T8 orT12 sockets, allowing them to be used in most standard aquarium light hoods or shop lights . The length of the bulb allows it to provide light and UV over a wide area. These bulbs produce both UVA and UVB, which greatly improve the well being and health of captive animals. Bulbs come in 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 models, with the higher numbers emitting more UV. Fluorescent UVB Bulbs should be changed every 6 months. HOT5 bulbs are a step above, providing higher amounts of UVB and having a longer life.

Compact Fluorescent UVB Bulbs are self-ballasted and fit in Exo Terra Compact Tops or Exo Terra Mirror Dome Lamps. The spiral shape of the bulb enables vertical or horizontal mounting without compromising performance. These bulbs produce both UVA and UVB, which greatly improve the well being and health of captive animals. Bulbs come in 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 models, with the higher numbers emitting more UV. Compact Fluorescent UVB Bulbs produce usable UVB at a greater distance than Fluorescent UVB Bulbs and should be changed every 6 months.

Mercury Vapor Bulbs have the benefit of providing both heat and intense UVB, and are perfect for desert animals such as bearded dragons or most monitor lizards. Mercury Vapor Bulbs are most effective when housed in a Wire Clamp Lamp Fixture, which provides air movement around the bulb and lengthens it's life. Mercury Vapor Bulbs provide the highest quality UVB radiation available on the market today, and should be changed once a year.

Metal Halide Bulbs are the absolute best UV source for your pet reptile on the market. Combining optimal levels of UVA, UVB, visible light, and heat, Metal Halide Bulbs are simply the best. A Metal Halide Bulb will bring out natural behaviors in your pet reptile, as well as increase it's coloration and overall health. Metal Halide Bulbs are perfectly safe to use as the sole source of light for your pet reptile, and is available at a great value at Josh's Frogs.Here's a chart with some popular pet reptiles and recommended UV levels:

Animal	UV % Bulb
Bearded Dragon	10.0 / Mercury Vapor
Savannah Monitor	10.0 / Mercury Vapor
Green Iguana	5.0
Day Gecko	5.0
Veiled Chameleon	10.0
Jackson's Chameleon	5.0
Panther Chameleon	5.0
Chinese Water Dragon	5.0
Slider Turtles	5.0
Russian Tortoise	5.0
Red Foot Tortoise	5.0
Sulcata Tortoise	10.0 / Mercury Vapor
Box Turtles	5.0

Lighting for Vivaria Vivaria, enclosures that contain both living animals and plants, are quickly growing in popularity. One of the more difficult aspects of keeping a vivarium is lighting. Lighting for vivaria is typically necessary just to keep the plants happy. There are 2 popular forms of vivarium lighting currently offered by Josh's Frogs:

T5 lighting is an upgrade to T8 bulbs. T5s are narrower, but they produce considerably more light and heat, and consume more energy. I use T5 bulbs in my frog room, which can take advantage of the extra byproduct heat (it’s a basement in Michigan). Popular in the hydroponics industry, there are many different brands available – most of which are appropriate for use with the home vivarium.

LEDs are the new kids on the block when it comes to vivarium lighting. This technology is still growing, but there are LED lighting solutions on the market that are appropriate for vivarium use. LEDs use remarkably little energy and produce very little heat for their light output. On top of that, the lifespan of an LED is typically 10 years or more! They have been utilized in the hydroponics industry longer than the dart frog hobby has taken advantage of them, and there are several brands available. They can sometimes be a little difficult to find, but are well worth the effort. LED lighting also tends to remain more intense at a distance, allowing the lower reaches of a vivarium to be lit.For more information on vivarium lighting, be sure to check out the Josh's Frogs blog on vivarium lighting entitled ' Let There Be Light'. Lighting Fixtures With the wide variety of lighting fixtures on the market, choosing the right one for your specific application can be difficult. Different fixtures are suitable for different types and wattages of bulbs. Josh's Frogs offers the following types of light fixtures:

Exo Terra Lamp Controllers are designed to be used with either T8 or T12 fluorescent bulbs. Each unit will function with 2 bulbs of the appropriate length.

The Exo Terra Compact Top is a compact fluorescent terrarium canopy for use with Exo Terra Glass Terrariums, Zoo Med Terrariums, or similarly sized aquariums or enclosures. This easy- to-install canopy accommodates 13w or 26w compact fluorescent bulbs or 25w or lower incandescent bulbs, as well as LED Bulbs. A combination of different compact fluorescent bulbs can be used to create the ideal ultraviolet/visual light ratio or a combination with an incandescent light source to increase the ambient air temperature. These are a great way to light and/or heat your vivarium or terrarium!

The Exo Terra Dual Top Canopy is a fluorescent and halogen combination terrarium canopy designed for use with the Exo Terra Glass Terrarium, Zoo Med Terrarium, or any similarly sized aquarium or enclosure. This durable aluminum canopy has fixtures for two linear 15W fluorescent bulbs and one or two ceramic GU-10 fittings for the 35W Exo Terra Sun Glo Halogen Spot. The halogen light increases the ambient air-temperature in the terrarium. A combination of two fluorescent bulbs can be used in order to create the ideal ultraviolet, visual light and heat combination for any specific reptile, amphibian, or other animal.

Clamp Lamps reflect the heat produced by the basking bulb back into the vivarium, terrarium, or enclosure, increasing the ambient temperature and efficiency of the heating equipment. Clamp Lamps are rated for different wattage bulbs, so pay close attention to your bulb's wattage when selecting which clamp lamp is right for you.

Wire Clamp Lamps are ideal for use with any bulb that has a built in reflector, such as mercury vapor bulbs and many basking bulbs. It's open cage design allows air to flow around the bulb, resulting in the bulb running cooler and more efficiently. The use of a Wire Clamp Lamp will also extend the life of your basking bulb or mercury vapor bulb.

Conclusion

Lighting is an often overlooked, but vital, aspect to the captive husbandry of most pet reptiles and amphibians. Lighting can provide heat, UVB radiation, and function as the powerhouse for proper plant growth in a vivarium. A wide variety of lighting products are available at Josh's Frogs, so don't forget to visit us when looking for quality lighting products for your pet reptile or amphibian.

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