Reptile Supplies

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Updated 10-24-11

This is one of the most important things your reptile needs. Although some don't need as much as others. For example nocturnal species don't need as much as desert diurnal species. The closer they get to the equator the more light they'll need in their enclosure. There are two different types of lights for your reptile. Heat lights provide both visible light and heat unless it is a red or night light. This type of light should be placed on one side of the cage on top of the screen lid. This is so your pet can bask which is something they do in the wild to absorb heat from the sun.

Another benefit a reptile receives from the sun is UVB rays which are ultra violet rays that the reptiles metabolism uses to produce vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is used to process calcium out of the reptiles blood and bind it with its bones. Without either of these things your reptile won't be able to use the calcium in its blood and it could cause several different medical problems that could be very expensive to treat. There are several different kinds of UV bulbs you can use to give your pet reptile the light it needs. Most lights have UVA but only only special lights have UVB. There are several different types of UVB lights you can choose from. Some are better than others and some will produce too much UVB for your reptile which can cause blindness.

Fluorescent lights are the most common UVB lights and are easy to find in pet stores. They aren't as expensive as other kinds. You'll need to replace them every 6 months or so as they loose the amount of UVB they produce. If you use a strip light with a plastic cover over the light you'll need to remove the plastic as it will filter the UVB out of the light.

Another type of light is the mercury vapor light. They are expensive but produce high levels of UVB and heat. The UVB output usually lasts longer in these.

The third is the high efficiency coil bulbs. These tend to focus the UVB rays directly under the bulb and are the ones most likely to cause blindness if they are placed to close to your reptile. It would be better to stay clear of these unless you can put them at least eight inches away from your pet and monitor it for any signs of eye problems.

I use the ESU slimline reptile fixtures. It comes with an 18' bulb that has sufficient UVB for most species of reptiles. It is small and portable which makes it easy to place above your reptile's basking spot next to the heat lamp. There is a reflective backing that helps to direct the UVB down toward your pet. I've used these for years with my bearded dragons and have had no problems with calcium deficiency.

The two most used are heat lamps and under tank heaters. Heat lamps that use white light are for day time and should be set on a timer to regulate your pets day cycle. Some lizards have a light sensing "third eye" called the parietal eye, on top of their head that tells them the when the seasons are changing by the length of the days. This will tell your lizard when to go into brumation if that is what it would do in the wild. Others that can be used all the time are red lights and ceramic heat emitters that fit in heat lamp sockets. There are also night lights the simulate the color of moonlight. These are good for nocturnal species. This type of heat source radiates from the top an simulates the sun. Reptiles like to bask in the sun to thermoregulate their body temperatures. Put a heat lamp on one side of the cage above a log or rock so your pet can get close enough to warm up. Adjust the height from the basking point and the wattage of the lamp to get the desired temperature for your pet. It is best to measure this spot with a temp gun.

Under tank heaters are good for snakes and terrestrial reptiles to absorb heat from the bottom of the cage. They are better then heat rocks because your pet can't come into direct contact with the heat source which can cause burns. They should be hooked up with a thermostat to regulate the temperature. It is ideal to keep one side of the terrarium warmer than the other so your pet can warm up or cool down, what ever it needs to do. Do this by placing the heaters on one side.

Depending on where your pet would be found in the wild it might need any of a number of substrates. There are a few that you should stay clear of. Most reptile don't do well on sand unless it is a desert animal like the kenyan sand boa or the sand fish. Bearded dragons are found on hard clay or dirt in the wild so sand isn't the best choice. It is hard to keep clean and they can ingest it and it may cause impaction. Even the calci sand that is said to reduce the risk of impaction can still cause it. It is better to use newspaper for babies and slate tile or outdoor carpet for adults. Never use cedar chips for reptiles as cedar has an oil that is harmful to reptile skin. I also use newspaper for snakes like ball pythons. it is easy to clean and very cheap. You can use shredded coconut bark for jungle type reptiles. It will help hold the humidity and be soft for your pet to climb around on. Gravel is another to watch for. Make sure it is big enough so your pet can't swallow it.