How to Set Up Reptile Lighting & Heating

Reptiles are fragile animals, primarily because of their ectothermic nature. They cannot produce their own body heat and thus rely on outside sources, like heat lamps. Certain reptiles also require varying amounts of UVB light, which helps them produce calcium, resulting in stronger bones and proper growth. Setting up the proper heating for a reptile depends on what kind of reptile it is and how much heat it requires. For example, a bearded dragon will need warmer temperatures and higher UVB because of its desert-like environment than a ball python that spends most of its time in the jungle shade. However, you can easily set up the proper heating and lighting provided you have the right materials and know your reptile's specific requirements.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 dome lamps
  • Adhesive heat pad (under tank heater)
  • Heat bulb (size varies)
  • UVB bulb (output varies)
  • UVA bulb
  • Fluorescent light fixture
  • Thermometer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a thermometer under the basking spot in your reptile's tank. The basking spot should be on one side of the enclosure, while the other side should be considered the "cool" area.

    • 2

      Screw a heat bulb into a dome lamp and place it over the basking area. Lay the dome lamp directly on the tank's screen lid. Power on the lamp and wait 10 minutes.

    • 3

      Check the thermometer. Use a lower wattage bulb if the temperature of the basking area is too high and a higher wattage bulb if it is too low. The temperature of the basking area will depend on your reptile. Remove the thermometer when you've reached the appropriate temperature.

    • 4

      Screw a UVB full spectrum bulb into another dome lamp and place it on the "cool" side of the tank, away from the heat bulb. The appropriate rating of the bulb's UVB output (1.0, 5.0, 10.0, etc) will depend on the reptile. Bearded dragons, for example, require 10.0 while Chinese water dragons only require 5.0.

    • 5

      Place a fluorescent light fixture with UVA bulb across the top of the tank, either behind or in front of the two dome lamps. UVA light helps your reptile's vision and promotes healthy behavior.

    • 6

      Stick an adhesive heating pad (under tank heater) to the bottom of the tank on the cool side. The size of the pad will depend on the size of the tank. You will need to keep the tank lifted so the heat can vent out if you do so. Put checkers underneath each corner of the tank to lift it up a bit. You can also place the heaters on the back or side of the tank.

    • 7

      Stick a thermometer on each side of the tank so you can constantly keep track of the temperatures and make any needed adjustments.