How To: Set Up Your Reptile Lighting
23 Mar 2010
Have you ever thought of having a reptile as a pet? Having an exotic pet would be so cool. But you should keep in mind that it is not easy to raise reptiles as pets because they need special attention that should not be disregarded. Reptiles need a home that is very similar to its natural habitat. The temperature, the light, the day and night cycle should also be the same as the environment. A reptile kept in a good vivarium is most likely to grow healthy.
Reptiles love to bask under the sun. In order to provide them a sun replica when inside a vivarium, you should provide them an overhead heat source. The heat source can be a basking lamp, infrared lamp, or a ceramic heater.
Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. Meaning, they do not make heat for themselves. They rely on the external environment to regulate their temperature for them. When reptiles want to cool down, they move from a hot area to a cooler one, and they move to a hot area when they feel cold. To be able to do this in your reptile vivarium, create a spot on one side of the vivarium wherein the reptile will bask. Under the basking light the temperature must reach around 95 to 105 degrees. On the other side of the reptile vivarium, the temperature should be around 80 to 90 degrees, so they can cool down whenever they want to. But always be cautious, with the heat sources around, a thermostat is very important to avoid overheating your reptile vivarium.
In the wild, the sun provides the heat and certain wavelengths of light. These wavelengths of light are the ultraviolet light that is really needed by the reptiles. Ultraviolet light given by the sun is very essential to all reptiles. UV lighting is needed to produce vitamin D3 which is very important for the absorption of calcium. Without this, your reptile can be vulnerable to illness.
Reptiles that are kept in a vivarium need a light that replicates the sun. In order to ensure optimal health for your reptile, make sure you have installed appropriate lighting system in your reptile vivarium.
Certain lights that resemble the sun provide UVA and UVB wavelengths which are very beneficial to your reptile’s health as they can increase your reptile’s appetite and activity. They can also prevent certain illnesses such as Metabolic Bone Disease.
When installing a UV light, always remember not to use Blacklight Blue (BLB) tube as it can harm your reptile’s eyes. The UV tubes should be properly put in a secured place. UV tubes should be turned on during day time only.
These lighting and heating systems are very vital for your reptile’s health. If you want to keep your reptile healthy and stressed free, you should know the basics of keeping a reptile. You should know where to keep it, and how to maintain it. You should know what’s not safe and what benefits them. A properly installed and appropriate lighting system will ensure your reptile’s optimum health. And watching your healthy pet rest in your beautiful reptile vivarium is truly worthwhile.
