Reptiles make fantastic pets, but they aren't necessarily easy to take care of. You will not need to take your reptile for a walk every day, but you will need to supply it with a healthy environment with the appropriate reptile heating and lighting. And to do that, you will need the reptile heating and lighting tools from a store you can rely on.
There is a basic reason reptiles need supplemental heat: Reptiles are cold-blooded. They can not regulate their body temperature. In nature, reptiles control 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, require extra heat 24/7.
Reptile heating isn't quite as straightforward as placing 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 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 require additional lighting. They need the same wavelengths of light offered by sunlight so their bodies can make vitamin D. They need a daytime source of light along with a additional heat source regularly. 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 on a daily basis, with several breaks of 1 to 2 hours during the day. They prefer a nocturnal source of light 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 continuous heat, preferably from a ceramic heat source 24 hours a day. They also like to be able to indulge in the "sun light" you give with an incandescent bulb, but make sure it's only turned on during the day.
Chameleon heating and lighting: Chameleons absolutely needs to 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 require 8 to 12 hours of light every day with a "night light" or infrared light at night. Do not provide too much white light.
Gecko heating and lighting: Geckos are nocturnal, so they do not 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 Pet Supply Warehouse in Mission Viejo, CA. We can help you keep your pet reptile well-fed, warm, and healthy for many years to come.