Order Ultraviolet Light for Reptiles in Albert Lea

Reptiles make excellent pets, but  they aren't necessarily easy to take care of. You will not 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 devices from a store you can rely on.

There is a fundamental reason reptiles require extra heat: Reptiles are cold-blooded. They can not regulate their body temperature. In nature, reptiles manage their body temperature by switching their environment. They get sun on a rock. They burrow into the ground. But reptiles in a cage do not have that choice. They need you to provide heat for them. Some reptiles, like geckos and ball pythons, need supplementary heat 24/7.

Reptile heating isn't quite as easy as putting a heating system in a cage. Many heating units emit light. Using them to keep a pet reptile warm can be like creating 24-hour daylight, so your pet would certainly not have a normal cycle of activity and rest. Heating for reptiles during the 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 require additional lighting. They require the same wavelengths of light offered by sunlight 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 need different reptile heating and lighting. Here is a rundown of reptile heating and lighting needs by species.

Ball python heating and lighting: Ball pythons require 8 to 12 hours of light daily, with several breaks of 1 to 2 hours during the day. They prefer 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 constant heat, preferably from a ceramic heat source 24 hours a day. They also like to be able to indulge in the "sunlight" you offer with an incandescent bulb, but make sure 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 prefer lower temperatures at night from an infrared bulb.

Corn snake heating and lighting: Corn snakes require 8 to 12 hours of light everyday 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 and healthy at The Pet Authority in Albert Lea, MN. We can help you keep your pet reptile well-fed, warm, and healthy for many years to come.