Best Full Spectrum Lights

Without the sun’s energy, all life on earth would cease to exist. It is by the sun’s energy that all life forces are driven. Although the sun and its light are very complex, there are only three elements of light that are important and easily reproducible for reptile husbandry: ultraviolet light, visible light and infrared light. In order to create these three biological aspects of sunlight artificially, Exo Terra has developed several specialized lights to be used in the natural terrarium or aqua-terrarium setting. It is important to know that it is almost impossible to accommodate all of these needs in a single light source, a combination of different light sources is necessary in most cases. The table below will help you make the right lighting choice. Exo Terra Compact Fluorescent Bulbs The most important feature of a Repti-Glo fluorescent bulb is its ability to emit UVB light (ultraviolet B), a component of sunlight. Not all reptiles or terrarium animals need the same amount of UVB radiation. A rainforest animal may require less UVB than a desert animal, nocturnal activity versus daylight activity also is a factor. The distance from the bulb to the animal is equally important. The further the animal is away from the bulb the lower the UVB radiation, the closer the animals are to the bulb the higher the levels of UVB. Exo Terra’s fluorescent bulbs are classified according to their percentage of UVB output. The Repti Glo 2.0 emits very little UVB light (2%), in most cases not sufficient for vitamin D3 synthesis. For tropical and sub-tropical reptiles, 5% bulbs (Repti Glo 5.0) are perfectly adequate, provided they are correctly positioned on the terrarium, the bulb is changed regularly, and the number of hours of exposure is sufficient. 10-12 hours daily has proven to be a satisfactory exposure level for most species. Animals living in deserts, which are areas with high UVB levels, should be exposed to 10% UVB bulbs (Repti Glo 10.0). It is equally importa... [Read More]