Are you planning to get a bearded dragon as a pet and are planning on buying the right equipment, which includes getting the right heat lamp for the tank enclosure? Well, we have a list of some of the best heat lamps for bearded dragons with Pros and Cons to help you make the right decision.
For good quality heat lamps for your bearded dragon, you need to take into account certain factors like wattage, lifespan, overall quality, and cost-effectiveness of the heating lamp. DGE Reptile Heat Lamp Bulb, Exo Terra Heat-Glo Infrared Spot Lamp, Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Lamp, Fluker’s Basking Spotlight, and Tekizoo UVA UVB Sun Lamp are some of the heat lamps that we will review in this article.
Need For a Heat Lamp for Bearded Dragon
Bearded dragons are semi-arboreal creatures belonging to the reptilia class in the animal kingdom.
Like all reptiles, bearded dragons are cold-blooded, which means they depend on their environment to regulate their body temperature. This is why a bearded dragon’s enclosure needs to have spaces for both hotter and cooler temperatures as per their needs.
Along with this, bearded dragons are originally from hot and arid desert regions. In a natural environment, bearded dragons bask in the sunlight to get UVB exposure for absorbing calcium and vitamin D3. This ensures that they do not get any critical illnesses like metabolic bone disease.
Providing a heat lamp also ensures that there is no excess build-up of moisture in the terrarium and that your bearded dragon does not get any fungal or bacterial infections.
You need to ensure that in a pet enclosure, your bearded dragon gets sufficient heat and light which imitates their natural environment.
It is therefore crucial that you invest in a good quality heat lamp so that your bearded dragon stays healthy and all its basking requirements are met.
Key Factors to be Considered While Buying a Heat Lamp
While buying a heat lamp for your bearded dragon you should take into account the following factors:
Does the Heat Lamp Provide Both Heat and Light?
Bearded dragons need UVA and UVB lighting, and heat in the pet enclosure.
UVA light is crucial for your pet’s good eye health whereas UVB light helps in the absorption of vital nutrients like calcium and vitamin D3.
This will help keep your pet bearded dragon in optimum health and have a longer lifespan.
What is the Wattage of the Heat Lamp?
As a general rule of thumb, the higher the wattage of the bulb, the more heat it will emit. Remember, you need to buy a bulb with a wattage within a range of 50-150 watts depending on how large the pet enclosure is.
The overall temperature of the pet enclosure should be around 90-93 degrees Fahrenheit (32-34 degrees Celsius).
Along with this, you must also take into account the general distance of the heat lamp from your bearded dragon.
It is always safe to begin with a heat lamp of 50-80 watts if you are a complete newbie. You can then monitor the ambient temperature of the pet enclosure and change the bulb having a higher wattage accordingly.
Is the Heat Lamp a Right Fit?
Heat lamps for bearded dragons come in various shapes and sizes. While investing in a heat lamp, you should check for the size and shape of the heat lamp and whether it will fit the dome or pet enclosure you have set up for your bearded dragon.
What is the Lifespan of the Heat Lamp?
Since you will have to keep the heat lamp on for approximately 12 hours every day, you might want to look into the lifespan of the heat lamp. It will be tedious for you to change the heat lamp time and again if its life is short.
Some heat bulbs can last up to as long as 3500 hours. It is wise to invest in a heat lamp that suits all other needs and also has a longer lifespan.
How Much Does the Heat Lamp Cost?
Finally, you might want to take into account the price of the bulb. Since heat lamps are a necessity and they have to be installed in the pet enclosure at all times, you should take into consideration buying a heat lamp that meets all other requirements and is economical.
5 Best Recommendations For Heat Lamps For Your Bearded Dragon
- DGE Reptile Heat Lamp Bulb
The DGE Reptile Heat Lamp Bulb is a 100-watt-hours infrared bulb that fits easily in a suitable dome or pet enclosure. Along with this, it provides UVA light which will ensure that your pet bearded dragon gets sufficient UVA exposure.
The DGE reptile heat lamp is known to heat quickly and effectively. It also has a compact size of around 4.3 inches high, and 3.1 inches in diameter. This heat lamp also gives off a halogen white light.
Pros
- Compact in size
- Long lifespan
- Pocket friendly
Cons
- The surface temperature of the bulb is very high and can cause burns if touched.
- Exo Terra Heat-Glo Infrared Spot Lamp
Going for another higher wattage and hence heat range is the Exo terra heat-glo infrared spot lamp. It has a higher wattage at 150 watts-hour and hence is suitable for larger pet enclosures for your pet bearded dragon.
The Exo terra heat-glo infrared lamp comes in a smooth reflector shape and provides incandescent light in the terrarium. The reflector shape ensures that the heat is properly directed in order to create an ideal basking spot for your bearded dragon.
With a bulb shape size of R25 specification, this lamp has compact dimensions of 3.5 inches in height, 3.5 inches in width, and 3.5 inches in length.
Pros
- Easy on the pocket
- Built-in reflector to redirect the heat
- The red light will not affect the sleep cycle of your bearded dragon
Cons
- Does not provide UVA or UVB light
- Short lifespan
- Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Lamp
If you are looking for a higher-wattage heat lamp, then- Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Lamp is your ideal pick. It comes with double reflectors which means there will be ample heat and light in a large pet enclosure.
This heat lamp provides an incandescent white or yellow light. Along with this, the Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Lamp comes with a longer lifespan and can last up to 2000 hours.
With an R16 bulb shape and fitting, it is a tiny bulb with 0.54 inches in height, 0.4 inches in length, and width.
Pros
- Provides more heat and light
- Longer lifespan
- Small and compact bulb size
- Economical
Cons
- Does not provide UVA or UVB light
- Fluker’s Basking Spotlight
If you want a longer-lasting heat lamp, then you can consider using Fluker’s Basking Spotlight. Along with the longer lifespan of 3500 hours, this heat lamp also is pocket-friendly.
With a height of 5.5 inches, length of 2.5 inches, and width of 2.5 inches, this bulb is slightly larger in size.
However, the heat that it generates is not sufficient enough for juvenile bearded dragons who need temperatures within the range of 95 – 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pros
- Pocket friendly
- Longer lifespan of 3500 hours
- Provides both heat and light
Cons
- Does not provide UVA and UVB light
- Insufficient heat
- TEKIZOO UVA UVB Sun Lamp
The TEKIZOO UVA UVB Sun Lamp is a one-stop choice for you if you want to provide your bearded dragon with UVA light, UVB light, heat, and light all of which come in one package.
With 125 Watts-hour of wattage, the Tekizoo UVA UVB Sun Lamp is compatible with most pet enclosures. With product dimensions of 6.3 inches in height, 4.5 inches in length, and 0.01 inches in width, this is slightly a bigger heat lamp bulb.
This lamp comes in a reflector shape which ensures that your bearded dragon will have a nice basking spot with yellow light.
This lamp has an average lifespan.
Pros
- Provides both UVA and UVB light
- Even the distribution of heat due to larger bulb size
- High wattage and hence high heat for a bigger pet enclosure
Cons
- High price
- Cannot be used with a dimmer
Conclusion
Ensuring that you understand the difference between the pros and cons of the various heat lamps and choosing the right one will ensure that your pet bearded dragon gets a good habitat and heat and light conditions.
Compromising on any factor that is directly linked to your bearded dragon’s health will impact the overall length and longevity of your pet.
FAQS
Should I Keep the Heat Lamp on For the Whole Day?
No, keeping the heat lamp on for 24 hours will disrupt the natural sleep cycle of your bearded dragon. It is advisable to keep the heat lamp on for 12 hours to avoid disturbing the photocycle of your bearded dragon.
It is also crucial to maintain the terrarium temperature above 75 degrees Fahrenheit when the heat lamp is turned off. If the temperature drops too low, it can even lead to the death of your pet. To avoid this, you should use supplemental heating options like a heating mat under the tank.
