Bearded Dragon Heat Lamps – Top Heating Lamp for Bearded Dragons in 2020
Gone are the days when only cats, dogs, cows, and horses were considered as good options as pets. In this modern era, you will find more and more people opting for rats, rabbits, geckos, and bearded dragons as their pets. Talking about bearded dragons, these originate from the desert regions of Australia. This is why it is important to install proper heating sources inside their habitats to mimic the natural desert conditions and to ensure that they remain healthy and happy.
The natural homeland of bearded dragons is rather dry and hot with very little humidity. This is exactly how their habitat should be. It is needless to say that correct amounts of heat is rather important for the overall well-being and health of the animal.
Top 5 Heating Lamps for Bearded Dragons
Items Necessary to Heat the Habitat of a Bearded Dragon
When it comes to heating the habitat of your bearded dragon, you will find several items that can fulfill the need. However, it is important that you choose the right one so that proper temperature is maintained inside the habitat and your pet leads a happy and healthy life. Some of these items have been described below.
- Heat Lamps: These are normally incandescent light bulbs which produce both heat and light. Heat lamps are available in various wattage, shapes, and applications. You will also find ceramic heat emitters and mercury vapor bulbs which can also be used to produce radiant heat. The primary job of heat lamps is to create special basking areas for your bearded dragon. These are the areas where the animal will love to lay for a long time and also perch, especially during the daytime to get the UV rays and heat just like out in the wild. The higher the wattage of a heat lamp, the greater will be the amount of heat that it produces. The size of the habitat is the primary factor that determines the exact wattage of the heat lamp that will be needed. For example, if you have a 125 gallon habitat, then you will need to install a higher wattage heat lamp as compared to a 55 gallon terrarium. These types of lamps are also needed to ensure that the nighttime temperature does not fall below 65 degrees F.
- Ceramic Heat Emitters: These also produce heat just like heat lamps. However, the ceramic heat emitters do not produce light. It is normally a ceramic heating element that is shaped just like a bulb and emits just infrared heat. These types of heat generators also come in various wattages that usually range from 60 watts to 150 watts. Since these do not produce any light, ceramic heat emitters are normally used as a primary supply of nighttime heat.
- Undertank Heat Pads: These are great to produce heat from underneath the terrarium. Heat pads come with an adhesive side that you stick to the bottom of the habitat and plug it in an electrical outlet. These types of pads are great to use during the cold winter days to warm the substrate and as a supplemental source of heat. The proper size of the heat pad is entirely dependent upon the size of the habitat. These are normally available for tank sizes ranging from 5 gallon to 50 gallon. If you have a bigger terrarium, you will obviously require more than one heat pad.
- Mercury Vapor Bulbs: These can be used both as a source of UV light and heat. Mercury vapor bulbs come with 2 different filaments. The first one is an incandescent filament that produces heat and the second is a mercury vapor arc tube that produces UV rays. These types of bulbs are best suited for supplying heat to a large sized habitat since they produce a large amount of heat. Using a mercury vapor bulb in a small terrarium is not recommended as the heat can easily burn your bearded dragon.
- Heat Tapes: These are also known as heat cables and are normally used to heat some specific areas inside a habitat. You can wrap various décor pieces with the tapes to provide some extra amount of heat. You can wrap the perch of your pet with the tape so that your pet can get some more heat while basking. It is good to use heat tapes only when there is a need for additional heat. Do not use it a lot inside the habitat as it can also lead to burns and overheating.
Best Heating Lamps for Bearded Dragons List
You must have guessed by now that there are several types of heat lamps available in the market. These are available in different shapes and wattages. Choosing the right one is rather crucial for the overall health and well-being of your pet. Here are some of the best heating lamps that you may use for your bearded dragon.
① Zoo Med Desert UVB and Heat Reptile Lighting Kit
This kit is probably one of the best in the market that you can use in your bearded dragon’s habitat. The product comes with a Mini Combo Deep Dome Lamp Fixture, ReptiSun Mini Compact Fluorescent, and Repti Basking Spot Lamp. Both the ceramic sockets can support lamps with a maximum wattage of 100 that makes it ideal for basking reptiles and small sized habitats.
The double reflector design also helps to focus more than 35% heat and UVA rays than any other regular spot lamp. It can also last to a maximum of 2000 hours.
Pros
Pros
- Comes with a Repti Basking Spot Lamp, ReptiSun Mini Compact Fluorescent, and a Mini Combo Deep Dome Lamp Fixture.
- Comes with dual on/off switch for your convenience.
- Each socket can support up to a maximum of 100 watts.
Cons
Cons
- UVB bulb produces light up to 8 inches from the source.
- Produces a lot of heat.
② Omaykey 2 Pack 100W Ceramic Heat Lamp
Made of solid ceramic elements, this product produces perfect heat radiation without any production of light. It is best suited for lizards, turtles, chickens, and other animals. It is very simple to install these bulbs and comes with an E27 screw socket. The input voltage of the heat lamps is AC 90-120V and it produces 100 watts of heat.
It can safely be used for 24 hours at a stretch and comes with a minimum life span of 9000 to 15000 hours. Due to the high surface temperature, you need to wait for an hour after turning it off in order to touch it safely.
Pros
Pros
- Made of solid ceramics element.
- Produces just heat and no light.
- Comes with a minimum life span of 9000 to 15000 hours.
Cons
Cons
- There are several reviews of the bulbs not working after a few months of use.
- Some pet owners say that it gets too hot for their pets.
③ Zoo Med Deluxe Porcelain Clamp Lamp
This heat lamp is made of heavy gauge painted aluminum along with a polished aluminum dome to boost the UV and light output. It also comes with an on/off switch for your convenience. These lamps are also designed in such a way that it can easily clamp onto tanks for simple positioning.
Pros
Pros
- Comes with on/off switch.
- Includes a polished aluminum dome that boosts the output of light and UV.
- Made of heavy gauge painted aluminum.
Cons
Cons
- Cannot be used with ceramic heat emitters.
- Switch malfunctions after a few uses.
④ Zilla Reptile Habitat Lighting
This product comes with a mini dome that acts as a perfect alternative to large sized domes. Due to its small size, it also takes up less amount of space. Nonetheless, it produces great amount of light and heat. Every unit comes with a reflective interior made of aluminum that is rather useful in focusing daytime visible light and heat in order to create an ideal basking spot.
The product also comes with an enclosed mounting spring clip that is basically used to secure the dome on any screen top. This automatically removes any need of moving the fixture while maintenance and cleaning of the habitat.
Pros
Pros
- Good quality reflector dome made of aluminum that provides focused light and heat.
- Uses mini halogen bulbs that are energy saving.
- Compact and low profile design.
Cons
Cons
- The heat from the bulb can easily melt plastic.
- Switch stops working after a few months.
⑤ Exo Terra Solar-Glo High Intensity Self-Ballasted UV/Heat Mercury Vapor Lamp
This heat lamp has been designed in such a way that it provides the benefits of natural sunlight, which is rather important when it comes to maintaining the good health of reptiles. It also happens to be one of the primary choices of professional breeders due to its proper balance of visual light, UVA and UVB lights, as well as, infrared light or heat.
Installation of the bulb is very simple and is a 160 watts lamp. It also happens to be a full spectrum light and features carefully tuned peaks in order to ensure activity, appetite, calcium absorption through vitamin D3 production, brilliant colors, and to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Pros
Pros
- Produces optimal levels of visual light, heat, UVB and UVA lights in a single bulb.
- Provides all the benefits of natural sunlight.
- Helps to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Cons
Cons
- Tends to stop working after a few months of use.
- Tends to make a whining sound.
Conclusion & What is the Best Heating Lamp for Bearded Dragons
If you decide to have a bearded dragon as a pet, you have to take proper measures to ensure that the reptile does not feel unhappy in any way in its new habitat. It needs proper heat, light, a specific basking area, and such small things in order to remain healthy and happy. The heat and light are 2 of the most important factors that can affect the health and mood of a bearded dragon.
Out of all the products discussed above, the best of the lot was the Zoo Med Desert UVB and Heat Reptile Lighting Kit (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE). The product comes with a ReptiSun Mini Compact Fluorescent, Mini Combo Deep Dome Lamp Fixture, and Repti Basking Spot Lamp. You will also find an on/off switch with the lamp and each of the 2 sockets can support up to 100 watts.
Bearded dragons have a normal life span of 10 to 13 years. Thus, it will be a good idea to invest in a good habitat with proper accessories so that your pet leads a happy and healthy life.
Normal Price Range of Heat Lamps
When it comes to buying a proper heat lamp for your bearded dragon, it will be a good idea not to cut any costs in this matter. These animals are cold blooded animals. Thus, they depend largely on external heat and light to maintain a normal body temperature of 85 degrees F. this is why heat lamps are so crucial for them.
It is important for you to remember that one side of the bearded dragon habitat should be between a temperature ranges of 105 degrees F to 110 degrees F. heat lamps are completely different from ordinary light bulbs and should always be purchased from pet stores. Depending largely on their size and wattage, the price of heat lamps may usually vary between $15 and $30.
Average Price of UV Light Bulbs
The overall health of a bearded dragon is largely dependent upon UV light. This is why you will also require a UV light source to be installed in the habitat. This is another matter where cost cutting is not at all recommended. It will be a good idea to opt for a long fluorescent bulb that will span the entire length of the tank so that not a single dark spot remains inside the habitat. Although just UVB bulbs are sufficient, both UVB and UVA bulbs are better for bearded dragons.
The normal price of UV bulbs will range from $20 to $50. The size and capacity of the bulb will naturally depend upon the size of the tank. It is also a good idea to buy such types of lamps from the local pet store in town.
