Why Your Reptile Needs a Heat Lamp
As you have likely heard, reptiles are ectothermic. This means that they warm up through external factors in their environment. Namely, the sun or various warm objects. Reptiles need this heat to be able to stimulate their nervous system, muscles, and metabolism. It is also needed for them to reproduce and circulate their blood properly. In fact, reptiles are so sensitive to the temperature of their environment that it can impact the sex of certain species’ hatchlings. As you can imagine, this is not an optional aspect of your animal husbandry.
If you have accidentally set your reptile heat lamp at an inappropriate level, some negative side effects may present themselves. Your reptile may appear dried out, underweight, or lethargic. It may not be eating as much, start shedding improperly, and become more susceptible to infections. If you notice your reptile’s condition deteriorating in this manor, adjust your levels as soon as possible. If you need guidance on what might be going wrong or what to fix, consult a vet or reptile expert. Remember, it is important to provide any sick pet with help as soon as possible. The longer things go unresolved, the worse your reptile’s condition can get.
Reptile Heat Bulb Best Practices
When placing your reptile heat bulbs, it’s important to remember that there are right and wrong ways of handling them. These are electronic devices that can fail, after all. An improperly installed and operating reptile heat lamp can cause serious injury to your pet. By following a few best practices, you can make sure that your reptilian friends are staying safe while getting what they need out of their heating bulbs.
- Simulate the night and day cycle by turning your devices off at night. This can be done with a timer.
- Make sure your tank has a “basking” spot that your reptile can enter and exit as it pleases.
- Keep a thermostat or two handy to make sure that the temperature is consistent.
- Don’t use more or less bulbs than you need.
- Keep lamps plugged into a power surge protector.
- Mist your enclosure to make sure your reptile doesn’t dry out.
- Purchase a spare bulb in the event your first one fails.
Overall, make sure you are following common sense, sticking to your manufacturer’s recommendations, and keeping safeguards. Especially when setting up and using your reptile heat lamp. By monitoring your lamps with digital thermometers and other devices, you can catch any potential issues before they get out of control. You can also reduce the potential of any unexpected problems by purchasing your reptile heat lamp from reputable brands and facilities.
Automation
Automating your setup is an excellent way to make sure that your reptile is getting the optimal amount of heat and UVB exposure every day. When trying to automate your setup, it’s important to remember that different parts of your reptile’s environment will need specified adjustments. In other words your humidity levels, temperature, and UVB lamps shouldn’t all be controlled by the same device. You will need to purchase different components, such as timers and shut off switches. After this, you will have to calibrate them individually to ensure that everything is optimal.
Species Appropriate Reptile Heat Lamp Bulbs
When choosing your reptile heat lamp bulbs, it’s important to remember that reptiles can be rather different from each other. Temperature, wattage, and the level of exposure will vary between species. For instance, while a ball python will want its basking spot to remain at around 85-92 degrees, some tortoises will enjoy a toastier range of 95-105. Reptiles are particular animals that have evolved to live in their specific geographic area. It’s important to review your potential pet’s exact needs before going through with its purchase. Even a slight variation on optimal temperatures can cause issues. Fortunately, a wide variety of reptile heat lamps are available on the market. If you have any questions on the specific needs of your pet, we would recommend contacting a person that is knowledgeable in that species of reptile.
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December 10, 2020