Get Infrared Light & Heat for Reptiles in Albert Lea

Reptiles make excellent pets, but  they aren't necessarily easy to look after. You will not need to take your reptile for a walk every day, but you will need to provide 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 rely on.

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

Reptile heating isn't quite as easy as placing a heating unit in a cage. Many heating systems emit light. Using them to keep a pet reptile warm can be like producing 24-hour daylight, so your pet would certainly not have a normal 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 require the same wavelengths of light offered by sunshine so their bodies can make vitamin D. They need a daytime source of light in addition to a supplementary heat source constantly. And different reptiles require 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 everyday, with a number of breaks of 1 to 2 hours during the day. They prefer a nocturnal source of 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 constant heat, ideally from a ceramic heat source 24 hours a day. They also like to be able to indulge in the "sunlight" you give with an incandescent bulb, but ensure it's only switched on during the day.

Chameleon heating and lighting: Chameleons absolutely needs to 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 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 The Pet Authority in Albert Lea, MN. We can help you keep your pet reptile well-fed, cozy, and healthy for many years to come.