Get Visible Light for Reptiles in Canton

Reptiles make fantastic pets, but  they aren't always 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 ideal reptile heating and lighting. And to do that, you will need the reptile heating and lighting equipment from a ... Read More

Reptiles make fantastic pets, but  they aren't always 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 ideal reptile heating and lighting. And to do that, you will need the reptile heating and lighting equipment from a store you can rely on.

There is a fundamental reason reptiles require supplementary heat: Reptiles are cold-blooded. They can not manage their body temperature. In nature, reptiles manage their body heat 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 require you to supply heat for them. Some reptiles, like geckos and ball pythons, need additional heat 24/7.

Reptile heating isn't quite as simple as putting a heater in a cage. Many heating systems emit light. Using them to keep a pet reptile warm can be like producing 24-hour daylight, so your pet would 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, as opposed to from a heat lamp. On the other hand, reptiles you keep indoors also require extra lighting. They need the same wavelengths of light given by sunshine so their bodies can make vitamin D. They require a daytime source of light along with a supplementary heat source constantly. And different reptiles need different reptile heating and lighting. Here is a rundown of reptile heating and lighting demands by species.

Ball python heating and lighting: Ball pythons need 8 to 12 hours of light each day, with a number of breaks of 1 to 2 hours during the day. They like a nocturnal light source 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 bask 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 absolutely must 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 need 8 to 12 hours of light everyday 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 a normal 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 & healthy at Premier Pet Supply in Canton, MI. We can help you keep your pet reptile well-fed, warm, and healthy for many years to come.