Order Ultraviolet Light for Reptiles in Waconia

Reptiles make fantastic pets, but  they aren't always easy to care for. You won't need to take your reptile for a walk on a daily basis, 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 tools from a store you can rely on.

There is a fundamental reason reptiles need supplemental heat: Reptiles are cold-blooded. They can not control their body temperature. In nature, reptiles control 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 supply heat for them. Some reptiles, like geckos and ball pythons, need supplementary heat 24/7.

Reptile heating isn't quite as simple as putting a heating unit in a cage. Many heating units 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, rather than from a heat lamp. On the other hand, reptiles you keep indoors also need additional lighting. They need the same wavelengths of light given by sunlight so their bodies can make vitamin D. They require a daytime source of light along with a supplementary heat source at all times. And different reptiles need different reptile heating and lighting. Here is a rundown of reptile heating and lighting requirements by species.

Ball python heating and lighting: Ball pythons need 8 to 12 hours of light on a daily basis, with a number of breaks of 1 to 2 hours during the day. They favor a nocturnal 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 require continuous heat, ideally from a ceramic heat source 24 hours a day. They also like to be able to bask in the "sun light" you give with an incandescent bulb, but ensure it's only turned on during the day.

Chameleon heating and lighting: Chameleons definitely 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 every day 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 don't 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 & healthy at Paws Inn Pet Essentials in Waconia, MN. We can help you keep your pet reptile well-fed, cozy, and healthy for many years to come.