Shop Infrared Light & Heat for Reptiles in West Milford

Reptiles make terrific pets, but  they aren't always easy to look after. You won't need to take your reptile for a walk everyday, but you will need to provide it with a healthy environment with the appropriate 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 require extra heat: Reptiles are cold-blooded. They can not regulate their body temperature. In nature, reptiles control their body heat by changing their environment. They get sun on a rock. They burrow into the ground. But reptiles in a cage do not have that option. They need you to provide heat for them. Some reptiles, like geckos and ball pythons, need extra heat 24/7.

Reptile heating isn't quite as easy as placing a heater in a cage. Many heating systems emit light. Using them to keep a pet reptile warm can be like creating 24-hour daylight, so your pet would certainly not have a regular 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 need supplemental lighting. They need the same wavelengths of light offered by sunlight so their bodies can make vitamin D. They require a daytime light in addition to a supplemental heat source all the time. And different reptiles require different reptile heating and lighting. Here is a rundown of reptile heating and lighting requirements by species.

Ball python heating and lighting: Ball pythons need 8 to 12 hours of light daily, with numerous breaks of 1 to 2 hours during the day. They favor 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 need continuous heat, ideally from a ceramic heat source 24 hours a day. They also like to be able to bask in the "sun light" you provide with an incandescent bulb, but make sure it's only switched 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 like lower temperatures at night from an infrared bulb.

Corn snake heating and lighting: Corn snakes require 8 to 12 hours of light daily with a "night light" or infrared light at night. Don't 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 Pequannock Feed & Pet Supply in West Milford, NJ. We can help you keep your pet reptile well-fed, cozy, and healthy for many years to come.