Complete Bearded Dragon Lighting Guide (Proper Light Setup) (2023)

FAQs

What is the proper light set up for a bearded dragon? ›

Ideally, the UVB bulb should span 2/3 to 3/4 the length of your tank. This allows your bearded dragon to absorb beneficial UVB rays no matter where is chooses to rest/sit. What is this? When placing your UVB light, mount it all the way to one side of your tank (preferably the side with the basking light).

Lighting is pretty simple; the main two lights you need are the heat lamp and the UVB fluorescent tube fixture. The heat lamp is the easier one to set up; you can buy the reptile heat lamp fixtures at pretty much any pet store. You need a fixture with decent coverage for your tank, a "sun dome" type fixture works well.

Turtles, tortoises, bearded dragons, iguanas, and chameleons are some common examples of reptiles that need UVB light. This helps prevent animals from developing hypocalcemia (or lack of calcium). UVB lights should be kept on during the day and turned off at night and should be used along with calcium supplements.

Your vivarium should mimic the natural heat and light pattern of your bearded dragon's natural environment, and since the temperature in the outback drops after dark, your bearded dragon needs a cooler temperature at night. This means you can turn off your heat lamp at night.

Allow at least a 30 cm / 12″ distance between the lamp and basking surface to prevent direct contact with the Bearded dragon.

Both bulbs emit heat and white light, the difference is a subtle one in the color of light that your animals are displayed under. ZooMed Basking Bulbs emit a very yellowish hued light, but are one of the most preferred methods for heating animals that have requirements for high basking temperatures.

A 50-watt light will need to be placed around 5-7 inches away from the basking area. A 75 watt light will need to be placed around 7-9 inches away. A 100 watt light will need to be placed 10 to 12 inches away.

Place hand warmers or heat packs in a sock and place the sock near your dragon (make sure they don't touch your dragon though, or they could burn her). Keep your dragon wrapped in blankets and use your body heat to keep him warm. If you are able, take your dragon into your car with the heat on high until she warms up.

When mounting the UVB bulb, aim for a distance of around 12 inches away from the basking spot.

The body language of these individuals can also be used to tell if they are receiving insufficient UV rays. A bearded dragon's eyes become sensitive to light as it grows. As a result, if the bearded dragon is exposed to too much UVB, its eyes swell, its red and cloudy appearance worsens, and its skin becomes thinner.

What temps should a bearded dragon be kept at? ›

During the day, the optimum basking area temperature for a Bearded dragon is 40-42°C (104-107°F) with the cool end sitting at around 22-25°C (71-77°F). A heat source placed in one end of the enclosure is usually enough to keep the temperatures within the required range across the entire thermogradient.

Bearded dragons can survive 24 hours without a heat lamp, so long as their habitat remains above 65°F. They need warmth to survive and remain healthy so any longer than 24 hours without a heat lamp poses a significant risk.

(Outdoors, make sure it's designed to be used outside, and that it's safe from wind and weather.) Out of Sight: Try to avoid using the lamp overnight or when you can't monitor it, and make sure there is a working smoke detector nearby.

What's the real truth? A: While beardies can withstand a wide variety of temperatures, here is what I always tell owners. The focal basking hot spot should be between 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. If your beardie is not sitting in the hot spot, gaping with its mouth open, then it probably isn't hot enough.

Here's one final piece of advice from Molesey Vets' team – it's not normal or healthy for bearded dragons to sleep all day in the summer as they can miss vital basking time. If your pet has become lazy, lethargic, and isn't eating, this could be a sign of being too hot (or something else).

Use a heat lamp to create basking areas for the bearded dragon. Basking areas are where the bearded dragon will lay, or perch, during daytime hours in order to receive heat and ultraviolet rays just as it does in the wild. The higher the wattage of the heat lamp, the greater amount of heat it produces.

Your beardie's UVB lighting schedule is more or less the same as their basking bulb schedule each day. Turn the UVB light on in the morning, and leave it on for around 10-12 hours each day before turning it off at night, right around when the sun sets.

Ideal Night Temperature At Night

At night, you don't have to worry about a temperature gradient. However, ambient temperatures within your bearded dragon's enclosure should be between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. That's about 21 to 24 degrees Celsius.

Your bearded dragon should sleep at night, and there shouldn't be any source of light left on for them. As long as the enclosure is warm enough, the basking light should be turned off at night as well.

Incandescent light bulbs burn much hotter than compact fluorescent light bulbs do. They possess very different properties—incandescent bulbs rely upon metals, gas and heat, while CFL's rely more upon a reaction between the internal and outside materials.

What is the best watt bulb for a bearded dragon? ›

A halogen floodlight is a great choice for the hot basking side and will raise temps in the enclosure to 100-105°F. A 100-watt bulb is appropriate for a 40-gallon tank. Bearded dragon owners must also be conscious of nighttime temps.

Ceramic Heat Emitters (also called ceramic bulbs, or just ceramics) are a good option for animals which don't require light, but which are too heavy to use a heat mat due to the issue of thermal blocking, or because they need a higher ambient temperature than a heat mat can provide.

These lights should be placed at one end of the tank and should be bright enough to allow your bearded dragon to absorb the warmth. The lights should be kept on for 10-12 hours a day, allowing your bearded dragon to bask for an hour or two before turning them off.

As a general rule “standard” T8 UVB tubes need to be closer than 12 inches to the animal, and T5 bulbs need to be at least 12-18 inches away. HOWEVER this can vary by manufacturer, so always check their recommendations!

Crafted to last up to 2,000 hours, so you don't have to change often.

If they get too cold, they will go into hibernation. In captivity, bearded dragons rely on their owners to provide them with a warm environment. If they get too cold, their metabolism will slow down and they will become lethargic. Eventually, their vital organs will shut down and they will die.

A ceramic heater is another alternative. These units screw into a light socket and provide warmth. Once again, make sure you have a protective cover over the enclosure, such as a screen. Under-tank heating pads and heat strips are yet another option to provide heat.

You can also heat up rocks on a gas grill, wrap them in towels and place them in the reptile's enclosure. Hot water bottles work well if filled with warm, not boiling, water. And one of the best ways to keep your reptiles warm is by sharing your own body heat. “Just put them next to your body,” Cierie said.

Bearded dragons also require a basking area, which should be kept between 90-115 degrees Fahrenheit (32-46 degrees Celsius).

UV rays do not penetrate window glass so bearded dragons placed in a sunny window are not receiving UV light. When a bearded dragon does not have access to bright sunlight, special lights are used to provide the UVB light. You need a light which emits light in the 290-320 nanometer range.

Is T8 or T5 UVB better for bearded dragons? ›

UVB Tubes come in two fittings, T5 and T8, but what's the difference between T5 and T8 tubes and which one should you buy for your reptiles? T5 or T8 refers to the thickness of the fluorescent tube. T5 Tubes have a circumference of 5cm, whilst T8 tubes have a circumference of 8cm.

If their terrarium is too cold, bearded dragons may attempt to regulate their body temperature by flattening out in order to absorb as much heat as possible. If you notice your dragon pancaking a lot in his tank, this is likely the cause.

In short: The UVB lamp should be replaced after a total exposure time of approx. 3500 hours. This does not mean immediate disposal - you can still use a used lamp with a lower UV intensity for young animals or a less sun-loving reptile species. High-quality UVB lamps are available in this web shop.

Since bearded dragons don't need light at night, enclosures should be dark for around 12 hours at night. Furthermore, these reptiles should receive no UVB light during those 12 hours.

Bearded dragons typically prefer temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything below 75 degrees Fahrenheit is considered too cold for bearded dragons and can lead to health issues such as metabolic bone disease and respiratory infections.

Bearded Dragon Tank Setup: Supplies

Heating element, thermometer, and hygrometer. Basking rock or log. Flooring. Some shallow dishes for water and food.

Ideally, the water should be about 85 to 92 degrees. Use a thermometer to check. If it starts to cool too quickly, add more hot water.

Leaving a light tube on at night in your beardie's habitat is a bad idea. Bearded dragons need a completely dark room to get a good night's rest. Leaving a UV light for beardie on for heat at night will also raise the enclosure's temperature too much, making it difficult for your beardie to sleep.

Your vivarium should mimic the natural heat and light pattern of your bearded dragon's natural environment, and since the temperature in the outback drops after dark, your bearded dragon needs a cooler temperature at night. This means you can turn off your heat lamp at night.

Bearded dragons are cold-blooded, so it's important to use lukewarm or warm water (between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit is a good rule of thumb). Cold water will make your dragon sick. If you let your dragon swim outside in a lake, pond, or a kiddie pool, it's still important to monitor the temperature.

What do bearded dragons like to sleep on? ›

You should turn off whatever lights are usually on in their enclosure at nighttime to simulate light changes during the day. Some bearded dragons enjoy sleeping in hammocks, on blankets or rolled up t-shirts, or in their very own bed. Others will use a log, a hide, or a layer of sand to burrow in and feel safe.

Use lukewarm water that's between 85 and 100 F (29.4 and 37.7 C). Water that's too hot could burn your dragon, but because he is cold blooded and relies on his surroundings for warmth, a bath that's too cold could also cause your dragon's body to shut down. Fill the tub with one to three inches of water.

Stay Away From Combustible Fuels

Seeing as a heat lamp bulb's temperature can reach over 480ºF, both of these are a concern. A 24-inch minimum distance is a desirable rule of thumb for bedding, walls, and ceilings.

As a general rule, never use extension cords with heating devices. Wall outlets are rated to handle the higher continuous wattage requirement of a heat source, while most power strips and extension cords are not, resulting in overheating the cord.

Yes it can be plugged into, timers, power strips (surge protectors), or an extension cord.

Bearded dragons do not need a night light. Using a light at night will disrupt their sleep cycle as they are diurnal reptiles. They need 8-12 hours of sleep at night which any light will disturb. Also, they do not need heating at night except in cases of temperature drops.

A 50-watt light will need to be placed around 5-7 inches away from the basking area. A 75 watt light will need to be placed around 7-9 inches away. A 100 watt light will need to be placed 10 to 12 inches away.

A one hundred watt mercury vapor bulb can produce enough UVB and heat for a 55-75 gallon tank if the temperature of your home is around 70 degrees. UVB fluorescent tubes such as the Zoo Med Reptisun 10.0 can also be used.

It is true that a bearded dragon can develop too much UVB in captivity. It requires a certain amount of UVB rays per day to survive. Exposure to UVB rays can cause serious side effects to beardies. If you produce too much UVB, you may develop hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, and metabolic bone disease.

What is the best UV light for my bearded dragon? One of the best lighting products on the market today is the Arcadia T5 lighting range. These high output linear tubes will provide a bright, natural and safe level of ultraviolet and visible light for your bearded Dragon.

What happens if bearded dragons dont get enough UVB? ›

Metabolic bone disease is a serious ailment that can affect bearded dragons. This disorder is triggered by inadequate levels of calcium in the body, which inadequate UVB lighting can cause. Metabolic bone disease is characterized by lizards' bones becoming extremely feeble.

A halogen floodlight is a great choice for the hot basking side and will raise temps in the enclosure to 100-105°F. A 100-watt bulb is appropriate for a 40-gallon tank. Bearded dragon owners must also be conscious of nighttime temps.

For small flocks, the most common source of heat is a heat lamp. These lamps accommodate a 250-watt red or clear bulb. When suspended 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24") off the floor, they provide enough heat to brood up to 100 chicks for a single-light, or 300 to 500 for a four-light model.

Since bearded dragons can grow to 24″ long, you'll want a larger tank for an adult bearded dragon, at least 48”L x 24”W x 24”H, or roughly 120 gallons.

A 48x18x18″ is the smallest enclosure we will sell a bearded dragon into and is the very bare minimum you can keep a single adult in. We don't think there's much point in a starter kit that you have to replace very quickly, it's not good value for you, and not good for your dragon.

Your bearded dragon's tank should be at least 50 gallons, but a 75-gallon tank is ideal. The larger the tank, the better, as it will provide your bearded dragon with more space to explore and exercise. Bearded dragons are native to Australia and live in arid, dry environments.