Buy Light Fixtures for Reptiles in Lakewood

Reptiles make fantastic pets, but  they aren't necessarily easy to take care of. You won't need to take your reptile for a walk on a daily basis, but you will need to provide it with a healthy environment with the best reptile heating and lighting. And to do that, you will need the reptile heating and lighting equipment from a store you can trust.

There is a fundamental reason reptiles need supplementary 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 option. They require you to supply heat for them. Some reptiles, like geckos and ball pythons, require additional heat 24/7.

Reptile heating isn't quite as easy as putting a heating system in a cage. Many heaters 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 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 need extra lighting. They need the same wavelengths of light offered by sunshine so their bodies can make vitamin D. They need a daytime light along with a supplemental 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 require 8 to 12 hours of light everyday, with several breaks of 1 to 2 hours during the day. They favor 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 need constant heat, preferably from a ceramic heat source 24 hours a day. They also like to be able to indulge in the "sunlight" you provide with an incandescent bulb, but ensure it's only turned 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 reduced temperatures at night from an infrared bulb.

Corn snake heating and lighting: Corn snakes need 8 to 12 hours of light daily with a "night light" or infrared light at night. Do not give them too much white light.

Gecko heating and lighting: Geckos are nocturnal, so they don't 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 Pet's General Store in Lakewood, OH. We can help you keep your pet reptile well-fed, cozy, and healthy for many years to come.