Heating a vivarium or Terrarium with bulbs at first sounds strange but bulbs are a good source of heating both the animal and Air by radiant heat. The first bulb I’ll mention are the Infra Red bulbs, ValueAquatics offer the Exo Terra Heat Glo Lamps which come in four sizes 50w, 75w, 100w and 150w. These bulbs work by emitting infra red heat waves, they also have a built in reflector to send the heat where it is needed. The red light that is emitted is not seen by the reptiles so can be used 24:7 as a heater.
Incandescent bulbs also radiate heat and light so can only be used for daylight hours. They only give out a small amount of UVA (Ultraviolet A) but no UVB (Ultraviolet B) which most reptiles require. So should not be used as the sole source of lighting except for most snakes and a few lizards. These tend to be used to create a basking spot in the vivarium. At ValueAquatics we offer the Exo Terra Sun glo tight beam heating spot lamp. The tight beam on these means that the heat can be directed exactly onto a rock giving a basking area. They can be combined with a heatmat, ceramic heat emitter or Infra red bulb to give 24 hour heating.
The Neodymium day basking lights give out a white light that simulates the full spectrum of daylight and can be used as the incandescent bulbs. At valueaquatics we offer the Komodo range of bulbs (50w,75w & 100w), Also the Exo Terra Sun Glo Neodymium daylight lamps, these are available in different bulb types the long torpedo shape 15w, 25w, 40w & 100w and the ordinary bulb type 60w, 100w & 150w. They also come as a spotlight type as in the Exo Terra Neodymium Daylight Basking Spot Lamp available as 50w, 75w, 100w and 150w.
Features:
Broad spectrum of daylight light
Creates hot spots for thermoregulation
Increases ambient temperature of the air
Can be combined wit other heat sources to give a 24 hours cycle
These bulbs do not give out any light in the UVB range.
Fitting these is easy with the ADCH Arcadia ceramic fitting and bracket or the Komodo Ceramic lamp fixture. These bulbs also need a bulb cage to stop the animal from climbing onto them and getting burnt. All these bulbs should be used with a Dimming thermostat similar to the Habistat Dimming or the Habistat Dimming day night model.
Finally the Mercury Vapour Lamps, more and more people are starting to use these as they give out UVA and UVB light and also heat so there is no need to supplement them with UVA/B bulbs or tubes. Most tortoise owners now use these, they can also be used for Bearded Dragons, Monitors and other large lizards.
ValueAquatics sell the Exo Terra Solar Glo which is available in 125w & 160w. The Solar Glo is a full spectrum light with carefully tuned peaks to ensure appetite, activity, brilliant colours, and calcium absorption through Vitamin D3 production, and above all to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Features:
Optimal levels of UVA and UVB, visible light and heat in one bulb.
Self ballasted
Helps prevent metabolic bone disease
Increased UVB penetration distance (+30 cm) As these are self ballasted bulbs they do not work with a thermostat so you have to raise or lower the bulb in order to obtain the required basking temperatures.
These are best used with a reflector with a fitting cage.
Ceramic fittings like the Arcadia ADCH and Komodo ceramic lamp fitting should be used.
John
