Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. This means that they cannot regulate their own body temperatures and depend on the heat and light from the sun to keep warm. But how do you help your pet reptile, snake, bearded dragon, gecko, or tortoise keep its body temperature in check when it’s kept inside a terrarium?
Heat lamps are your best friend when it comes to providing heat and light for your pet reptile. They allow you to imitate the sun’s energy and regulate your reptile’s body temperature.
This article will cover the 7 best heat lamps for your pet reptiles or snakes that you can buy in 2022.
Check Amazon- Ceramic light socket designed to last under high heat.
- Available in 8.5- and 5.5-inch sizes.
- 6-foot power cord.
Check Amazon- 10-inch aluminum reflector allows for focused light.
- Accommodates up to a 150-watt bulb.
- Clamp easily attaches to terraria or shelves.
Check Amazon- Domed diameter is 5.5 inches.
- Designed specifically for larger or longer bulbs.
- Accommodates a max of 100 watts.
Check Amazon- Supports bulbs up to 50 watts.
- Flexible neck can be adjusted for easy placement.
- Included switch adjusts the brightness.
Check Amazon- Accommodates up to 200 watts.
- Unique design provides reptiles and amphibians protection from direct contact with heat.
- Can be hung in terrarium or aquarium.
Check Amazon- Supports two lamps at once.
- Each lamp cap can handle up to 150 watts.
- Independent switch power lines allow for controlling each lamp separately.
Best Overall: Zilla Premium Reflector Dome
- Ceramic light socket designed to last under high heat.
- Available in 8.5- and 5.5-inch sizes.
- 6-foot power cord.
Why it is a standout heat lamp
The Zilla Premium Reflector Dome comes from Zilla. This company is a well-known supplier of reptile products. The dome comes in 2 sizes depending on the amount of power you need, 5.5 and 8.5 inches. The larger size can house a wide range of incandescent, fluorescent, and ceramic heat-emitting bulbs. There is a spring attached to it that you might use to hook it to your snake or reptile’s terrarium, but it might fall off. So you might need an additional clamp to keep it in place. With about 5000 reviews on Amazon, this lamp does an excellent job of keeping pets warm!
You can get this reflector lamp for $16.59 in 5.5-inch and $23 in 8.5-inch varieties.
Pros and Cons of Zilla Premium Reflector Dome
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Heat resistant ceramic socket | No clamp or hanger with it |
| Suitable for the normal 150-watt bulbs | Doesn’t work well for long bulbs |
| Comes in 2 sizes | White inside that doesn’t reflect light as well as metal |
Best Clamp Lamp: Woods Clamp Lamp
- 10-inch aluminum reflector allows for focused light.
- Accommodates up to a 150-watt bulb.
- Clamp easily attaches to terraria or shelves.
Why it is a standout heat lamp
The Woods Clamp Lamp is a lamp with a 10-inch reflector and a 6-inch clamp connected to it. While this lamp is not designed specifically for heating reptiles, it is set up perfectly for this use. What makes this lamp stand out is that it can easily clip onto anything, so it works perfectly as an extra heating lamp if your terrarium needs a bit more power.
You will likely need another heat lamp to get enough energy to heat your reptile’s terrarium unless you have a small terrarium. This lamp meets all the required safety standards for reptiles and is fire and heat safe. So, you can rest assured that it is a reliable heat lamp to use in keeping your pet reptile warm.
You can purchase this lamp on Amazon for just $16.6.
Pros and Cons of Wood Clamp Lamp
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Versatile design that can easily be attached to any part of your terrarium | Might need to purchase 2 lamps to effectively heat a larger terrarium |
| Lamp meets all safety standards and is fire/heat safe | Short power cable |
| Lightweight lamp with a strong clamp that will not easily fall off | Only available in one size |
Best Basking Spot Lamp: Fluker’s Sun Dome
- Domed diameter is 5.5 inches.
- Designed specifically for larger or longer bulbs.
- Accommodates a max of 100 watts.
Why it is a standout heat lamp
The Fluker’s Sun Dome is explicitly designed for setting up a sun-basking spot for lizards and reptiles. It can also be used as a general heating lamp, but it may not have enough power to heat up the entire terrarium. This is because the blub helps focus light on a specific spot instead of spreading it all over a vivarium, owing to the shape of the lamp and the bulb.
The only other drawback would be that it doesn’t come with a clamp to attach it anywhere. Nevertheless, if you’re looking to make a basking spot for your reptile, this should be the lamp of choice for you.
The price of this lamp is $23, which seems reasonable for a 10-inch dome.
Pros and Cons of Fluker’s Sun Dome
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Suitable for high voltage 100-watt lamps | Clamp is sold separately |
| Perfect basking lamp for lizards and snakes | Dome might not fit in small aquariums or vivariums |
| Safe to use in terrariums | Easily tips over on flat surfaces |
| Easy to assemble | Not suitable to heat an entire terrarium |
Best Adjustable Heat Lamp: TSLIVE Reptile Heat Lamp
- Supports bulbs up to 50 watts.
- Flexible neck can be adjusted for easy placement.
- Included switch adjusts the brightness.
Why it is a standout heat lamp
The TSLIVE Reptile Heat Lamp is a unique reptile heating light with many useful features. It comes with an 11-inch stand, a clip, and a high heat-resistant bulb housing. It can be used as a heating solution in almost every kind of habitat.
The adjustable stand comes in handy if you wish to change the spot you’re directing the heat towards. This lamp heats a specific spot rather than the entire terrarium, so your pet reptile or snake can move into the heat when they wish to get warm and out if they want to cool down. The bulbs use a mixture of UVA and UVB light. The most stand-out feature of the TSLIVE Reptile Heat Lamp is that the heat can be adjusted using a dial on the lamp.
And you can get it for just $17 on Amazon.
Pros and Cons of TSLIVE Reptile Heat Lamp
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Adjustable stand | Material is not very durable |
| Heat is directed in a specific spot so the reptile can move out of the heat to cool down | Can only take 25- and 50-watt bulbs |
| Adjustable brightness and temperature | Localized heating only means that you may also need another heating source such as a heating pad or larger heat lamp |
Best Safe Design: Reptile Heat Lamp with Guard
- Accommodates up to 200 watts.
- Unique design provides reptiles and amphibians protection from direct contact with heat.
- Can be hung in terrarium or aquarium.
Why it is a standout heat lamp
The Reptile Heat Lamp with Guard is a very handy lamp that suits almost any kind of reptile or snake. It comes with a metal guard that encloses the lamp so your pet reptile or snake can’t accidentally touch the bulb and potentially burn itself. The cables are also coated in iron, which makes them resistant to being bitten.
The main problem that most users have with the product is that the guard may get very hot, so you might have to turn it off occasionally.
You can get this guard lamp for $26 on Amazon.
Pros and Cons of Reptile Heat Lamp with Guard
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Insulated socket | Doesn’t get as hot as aluminum dome bulbs, but still gets very hot |
| The protective cage around the bulb allows you to put the heat lamp in the reptile’s cage | Installing the lamp and bulb is a bit more complex than other models |
| Can use up to 200-watt bulb | Heat bulbs are not included |
| Iron coated wires to prevent biting |
Best Dual Lamp: REPTI ZOO Dual Reptile Light Fixture
- Supports two lamps at once.
- Each lamp cap can handle up to 150 watts.
- Independent switch power lines allow for controlling each lamp separately.
Why it is a standout heat lamp
The REPTI ZOO Dual Reptile Light Fixture is a relatively new but popular heat lamp with two bulbs in one. It has ventilating holes all around to dissipate excess heat and prevent it from overheating, which makes it a very durable option. The lamp can be used for a few different types of heating bulbs, such as ceramic heat bulbs, UVB UVA basking spot bulbs, UVB bulbs, daylight and nightlight, and infrared.
It costs $34.62 on Amazon.
Pros and Cons of REPTI ZOO Dual Reptile Light Fixture
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ETL certified | Too big for smaller tanks |
| Dual lamp | Hook isn’t very sturdy |
| Heat resistant lamp | Delicate switch that may short out after a year of use |
| Can handle up to 150-watt bulbs |
Criteria: What to Look for in Heat Lamps
Here are some things you must consider when looking for the right heat lamp for a pet snake or reptile:
- Material: The lamp should preferably be made of ceramic, which makes it less likely to overheat, unlike aluminum ones.
- Ventilation: Holes in the casing make for good ventilation to dissipate any heat and make the lamp last longer.
- Type: Decide whether you’re looking to heat a spot or an entire vivarium, and choose a dome or adjustable lamp accordingly.
- Size: Based on how big your reptile and its terrarium are, find an appropriately sized lamp.
- Price: Your budget will also play a big role in deciding what kind of heat lamp to get. You want to ensure you get a product with good value – something that will last and not cost you an arm and a leg.
- Credibility: To ensure your heat lamp is safe and lasts, consider purchasing a product from a well-known company with plenty of reviews to back the quality and durability of the product.
The 4 Different Types of Reptile Heat Lamps
There are many different types of reptile heat lamps, each with its different pros, cons, and use cases. Some of the most common include:
- Incandescent bulb lamp – This type of lamp emits white light and provides heat and light simultaneously.
- Mercury vapor bulb lamp – This lamp emits both UVA and UVB light. Snakes don’t need UVB light, so consider this for other reptiles, such as lizards instead.
- Infrared reptile light – This lamp is designed to be used at night and is a good source of light and heat.
- Ceramic heat emitter – This type of lamp provides heat and not light. They are less likely to overheat and can be used at night as well as during the day.
Up Next…
- The Best Daylight Bulbs for Your Pet Reptile
- The Best Heat Lamp for Bearded Dragons in 2022
- The Best Heat Lamp For Your Chickens for 2022
- The 5 Top Snake Terrariums for Your Pet
The 6 Best Heat Lamps for Your Pet Reptile FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the price range for a reptile heat lamp?
A reptile heat lamp can cost anywhere between $15-40.
What is the best overall heat lamp
The best overall heat lamp for reptiles or pet snakes is the Zilla Premium Reflector Dome.
Why do snakes need heat lamps?
Snakes, like all other reptiles, are cold-blooded animals. This means they can’t regulate their body temperature. Hence, they require an external heat source, such as heat lamps, to do that for them.
How can I keep my reptile warm at night?
Besides using a heat lamp, you can also use a heating pad on one end of the terrarium so that one side stays warm for when your cold-blooded pet needs to warm up.
How long can reptiles go without a heat lamp?
Reptiles need warmth to survive. Try to keep the heat lamp on all day and night, but if the lamp must be turned off for whatever reason, ensure it’s no longer than 24 hours. 24 hours without a heat lamp can harm these cold-blooded animals.
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