How to choose a lamp for your terrarium?

How to choose a lamp for your terrarium?

Are you a pet reptile enthusiast and do you want to adopt a snake, chameleon, or turtle? For the well-being of your pet, do not skip an essential step: choosing the right lamp for its terrarium. The lamp regulates the light and temperature necessary for the reptile's survival. So, let's see how to choose a lamp for its terrarium.

What type of lamp for your terrarium?

A terrarium must provide all the conditions favorable to maintaining your pet's good health. The size, humidity, temperature, and light of the enclosure must therefore vary according to the animal's needs. But, regardless of the species housed, you will need to artificially reproduce the sun's effect on its body. A variety of lamps allows you to offer the best lighting and heating conditions in a terrarium:

• Incandescent;
• Compact fluorescent;
• Halogen... 

Incandescent lamps are the most common and easiest to find in pet stores. They create a localized hot spot and can even be dimmed during the night. Halogen lamps are very expensive and are only suitable for large terrariums. Thus, it is crucial to know what light intensity and terrarium size your pet needs before buying a lamp.

The duration of exposure to the lamp's UVB rays provides the reptile's body with vitamin D. To preserve its biological balance, the lighting must therefore vary between day and night. Finally, note that the location of the vivarium (shade or sun) also determines the choice of lamp. 

Which lamp model to choose for my terrarium?

1. The most efficient lamp model

Incandescent lamps provide intense lighting for your reptile. Their light warms the entire terrarium. However, these lamps do not provide UVB: for species that need it, add a dedicated UVB lamp. You will also find tinted incandescent bulbs on the market, suitable for its nocturnal life. This lamp model maintains a low light and moderate heat during the night.  

2. The intense lighting lamp model

Compact fluorescent lamps emit intense light, but their heat and UVB ray output is very low. This type of lamp emits light that is very different from sunlight. Therefore, it is advisable to supplement them with infrared radiation bulbs. This maintains an ideal temperature for the reptile's metabolism, day and night. This type of lighting is suitable for tropical reptile species.

3. The lamp model suitable for large terrariums

Halogen lamps are mainly used as a heat source and do not replace a UVB lamp. They must be fixed at the right height relative to the vivarium. Otherwise, the concentration of their radiation can be problematic. In fact, the tungsten filament of the halogen emits intense heat when it overheats. This can cause burns to the reptile. This type of lamp is perfectly suited for spacious terrariums containing cool hides at the bottom. It is the ideal biotope for species of desert origin.

How to fix a lamp on a terrarium?

To fix a lamp to your vivarium, you must take its structure into account.  Indeed, a terrarium can be open or closed, made of wood or glass. Its ceiling can be covered with a panel or mesh. Regardless of the type of terrarium, the light source must come from above. The lamp is simply hung on one of the walls of the open vivarium. In addition, the light is always directed towards the bottom. 

For closed habitats, a fluorescent light can be suspended under the lid using hooks. The electrical power cords pass through a hole drilled in the lid. The length of the fluorescent tube must not exceed ¾ of the length of the lid. Its fixtures are arranged along the axis of the  wall. The remaining quarter on one of the two ends corresponds, on the ground, to a cool hide or a water point. A tinted lamp that emits a soft light can be fixed at this end. 

Choosing a lamp for your terrarium: what to remember!

Terrarium enthusiasts will have understood the importance of lighting for the well-being of their faithful companions. Indeed, the judicious choice of the lamp for the terrarium guarantees the good health and fulfillment of the reptile. The chameleon, lizard, snake, and turtle enjoy living in a bright and heated biotope. In addition, the right lighting highlights the decoration of your terrarium.

Want to beautify your terrarium to please your best companion? Browse our blog in search of ingenious ideas!