FAQ: Heating & Lighting for reptiles

The basking spot must be large enough to warm the reptile’s whole body at once, not just part of it. If several animals share the terrarium, either a wider zone or several basking spots are needed so they do not have to share one.

Hatchling turtles need a steady water temperature, an easily reached basking platform with a lamp, and a UVB lamp. Because hatchlings are small, the heater must be guarded, and the water level must let them climb out easily.

The heater is best placed where the water flow is strong, for example near the filter outlet, so warm water spreads evenly. It must be submerged to the level the manufacturer specifies and protected from the turtles.

Yes, switch the heater off and let it cool before draining the water, as glass heated in air can crack. After refilling with water of a similar temperature, switch it back on only once it is fully submerged.

The lamp usually shines straight down onto the basking spot, though it is sometimes angled so the heat does not hit the terrarium walls or decorations. What matters is a clear basking spot while the rest of the terrarium stays cooler.

UVB tubes get slightly warm but hardly heat the terrarium, so they cannot be counted on for heating. The exception is mercury vapour lamps, which give off a lot of heat along with UVB.

Many halogen and incandescent basking bulbs give off visible light and some UVA, which helps reptiles see colours and affects their behaviour. They do not provide UVB, though, so a separate UVB lamp is needed.

A thermostat adjusts to the room temperature on its own, but in summer and winter it is worth checking that the terrarium still reaches the right temperatures. If you mimic seasons, the night or day setting can be changed slightly to suit the species.

Fixtures can only be mounted on wooden surfaces if they are designed for it and enough distance remains between the bulb and the wood. Heat can darken or dry the wood over time, so choose fixtures with brackets and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

It can, especially in large terrariums or ones in cool rooms where one lamp is not enough. In that case both devices are run through separate thermostats and the warm zone is watched so it does not overheat.

Swings are often caused by changes in room temperature, sun through a window, a poorly fixed thermostat probe or a heater that is too weak. Check the probe position, the thermostat type and where the terrarium stands in the room.

Yes, every fixture and socket has a stated maximum wattage that must not be exceeded, or they may overheat. Before buying a stronger bulb, check that your fixture can handle it.

No, zoogidas.lt sells nothing; it is a price comparison site showing prices from Lithuanian online pet shops. Once you choose a product, you buy it directly on the shop’s website.

Zookainos.lt collects prices from Lithuanian online pet shops, so you can see in one place what the same lamp, heater or thermostat costs at different shops. Purchases are made on the shop’s own website.

Prices are collected about daily, and each product shows when its price was last checked. Always confirm the final price and availability on the shop’s website.

Yes, product pages show price history, so you can see how the price of a lamp or other terrarium equipment has changed. This helps judge whether the current price is typical.

Plant live plants on the cooler side or away from the basking lamp, as direct heat dries them out quickly. Overhead heating is best combined with bright light suited to plants and regular misting.

A bioactive terrarium is usually heated from above with lamps, as a mat under a thick living substrate dries it out and can harm the clean-up crew and plants. Thermostat-controlled heating and a cooler, damper side help keep the substrate alive.

Glass fogs when warm, humid terrarium air meets cooler glass, especially at night or in a cool room. Slight fogging after misting is normal, but constant fogging points to poor ventilation, which can encourage mould.

Bright room lights or a television late in the evening can disturb a reptile’s rest, especially if the terrarium stands in a living room. If so, the terrarium can be partly covered at night while leaving the vents open.