Most reptiles benefit from having heat, UVB, and bright white visible light as part of their setup to help ensure good health.
Reptiles are ectothermic, which means that instead of producing their own body heat, they depend on external sources like the sun for warmth. This heat energy is used to digest their food, maintain bodily function, and stay generally healthy. Since reptiles don't produce their own heat, we must provide the heat they need with heat lamps.
All reptiles benefit from UVB, which is an essential wavelength found in sunlight. UVB is critical to helping your pet’s bones stay healthy and strong, and plays a role in a variety of other essential functions.
The Zoo Med Heat + UVB Combo Pack offers both heat and UVB to help create a healthy basking area for your pet reptile. This kit includes one Repti Basking Spot Lamp and one 5.0 UVB Compact Fluorescent suitable for use in small enclosures with reptiles with low UVB needs.
Instructions for Use:
Install bulbs in appropriate lamp fixtures above the basking area on the extreme right or left of the enclosure to create a healthy temperature gradient. For best results, use the Zoo Med ReptiTemp Digital Infrared Thermometer to measure the temperature at your pet's basking area to make sure they are getting the right temps for their needs.
UV Index for ReptiSun 5.0 Compact:
3" below lamp — UVI 2.6 - 3.5+
4" below lamp — UVI 2.6 - 3.5+
5" below lamp — UVI 1.0 - 2.6
6" below lamp — UVI 1.0 - 2.6
7" below lamp — UVI 1.0 - 2.6
8" below lamp — UVI 1.0 - 2.6
10" below lamp — UVI 0.7 - 1.0
12" below lamp — UVI 0.7 - 1.0
14" below lamp — UVI 0.4 - 0.7
16" below lamp — UVI 0.4 - 0.7
Different reptiles have different UVB requirements. Research your particular species to determine what UVI it needs in its basking area.
Distance is measured from the tip of the bulb to the basking area or reptile. UVI estimations are approximate. Note that UVI is reduced by 30-40% when the UVB bulb is placed over mesh screen.
