Reptile Habitat Heating & Lighting

UVB light bulbs mimic the light reptiles receive in their natural habitat and can often help them produce vitamin D3 necessary for absorbing calcium. The amount of reptile UVB light varies depending on the species, and some nocturnal reptiles may not need UVB light at all.

No, UVB lights generally do not give off heat. That’s why placing a heat lamp near the UV light bulb may allow your reptile to benefit from UVB exposure while basking in the heat needed for regulating their bodily functions. Your pet will often be attracted to the UVB reptile light and may spend most of their waking hours near it. If the heat source is separate, they might not be able to get enough heat. Check out our Reptile UVB Lighting Guide – The Importance of Reptile UVB Lights for helpful tips.

It can often be important for many reptile species to have a reptile heat lamp turned on throughout the day. Make sure to place it near the UVB light source so that your pet might benefit from both UVB rays and heat simultaneously, and they can move to another part of the tank to cool off when needed.

To help mimic your reptile’s natural environment, it’s vital to have temperature control for both day and night. You’ll generally need to provide less heat at night, so a reptile thermostat with a timer will come in handy.

Most reptiles need some sort of heat source or basking light to help mimic their natural habitat. Though, some snakes and other pets may not require heat. Consult your veterinarian and read our Pet Reptile Habitat Guide for help determining the heating and lighting needs of your pet.

There are various types of heat lamps for reptiles. Most basking lights use incandescent heat lamp bulbs, which come in different wattages and heat levels. The filaments used in these bulbs can be heated to very high temperatures, but they don’t emit UVB light. Some ceramic reptile lamps produce infrared heat that can help limit any disruption to your pet’s nocturnal activity.