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Full Spectrum Lighting for a Bearded Dragon
Providing adequate full spectrum lighting for a bearded dragon is very crucial for its overall health and well-being, especially a captive-raised bearded dragon. In the wild, a bearded dragon will receive natural UVA and UVB rays while basking out in the desert sun.
When kept indoors, those rays must be replicated using special full spectrum UV fluorescent bulbs. Full spectrum lighting for reptiles offer high UV outputs similar to those found in desert environments.
Here are some guidelines for choosing the correct full spectrum lighting for a bearded dragon.
Choosing the Correct Full Spectrum Lighting for a Bearded Dragon
The UV fluorescent bulb should stretch the length of the bearded dragon’s enclosure and be seated in a hood or ballast that is especially designed for reptiles.
Most UV fluorescent bulbs come in sizes ranging from 18″ to 48″ so choose one that best fits the length of the terrarium. Bearded dragon lighting should cover at least 80% of the length of the terrarium. You can use multiple bulbs if needed for a long terrarium. This ensures that the bearded dragon receives beneficial UV rays no matter where it is in the enclosure.
It is important that your pet receives at least 10 to 12 hours of exposure to the lighting each day. Failure to provide UVA and UVB rays can lead to many health issues including mental problems, loss of appetite, and Metabolic Bone Disease.
Make sure the bulb you choose offers at least five to seven percent UVA and UVB radiation.
UVA radiation helps the bearded dragon to remain healthy, stimulated, and maintain a healthy appetite
UVB radiation aids in the bearded dragon’s ability to metabolize vitamin D3 and calcium
Linear Fluorescent Bulbs
Do not use ordinary household fluorescent bulbs. Household fluorescent bulbs provide good visible light, but do not produce enough UV radiation to sustain a bearded dragon. We recommend using fluorescent bulbs with high UV radiation output for a bearded dragon.
For linear fluorescent tube bulbs, we recommend the Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Bulb. It is an excellent choice to supply the proper amount of UVB radiation for your bearded dragon.
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are another great choice for full spectrum lighting for a bearded dragon.
These bulbs provide UV radiation in a small, compact format. CFL bulbs take up less space and tend to be more energy efficient than linear fluorescent bulbs.
Mercury Vapor Bulbs
A very popular method of supplying the proper amount of UV radiation and heat is by using a Mercury Vapor bulb.
Mercury Vapor bulbs are more expensive, but last somewhat longer than fluorescent tubes. A nice bonus is Mercury Vapor bulbs provide good UV lighting, and also deliver basking heat. So, this bulb can do the same work as two separate bulbs!
As mentioned earlier, it is important to supply the best full spectrum lighting for a bearded dragon across the entire enclosure as much as possible. It is also important to place the bulb as close as possible to the bearded dragon so that it can take full advantage of the radiation emitted from the bulb.
Keeping the bulb twelve inches or less from the reptile is ideal for good radiation exposure. Keeping the bulb farther away lessens the effects of the bulb and drastically reduces its intensity. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for proper radiation exposure and placement.
Never place the bulb above a glass top because the glass will filter out the UVB and UVA rays rendering it virtually useless. Use a screen top for best results.
Full Spectrum Lighting Fixtures
We recommend to always house fluorescent bulbs in a fixture specifically designed for use with reptile lighting.
One of the best fixture options is the Exo Terra Dual Linear Canopy Top. The Dual Linear Canopy Top can house two separate bulbs – a high output UV bulb and a visible light bulb.
Using both bulbs in this fixture provides good UV exposure and enhanced lighting for good color-rendering. The highly polished aluminum reflector increases light, UVA, and UVB output by up to 100%.
Full Spectrum Lighting for a Bearded Dragon
As you can see, choosing the correct full spectrum lighting for a bearded dragon is extremely important for its health and well-being. Providing full spectrum lighting for a bearded dragon isn’t difficult if you follow this guide.
Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for bulb placement and use.
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Bearded dragon cages says
Very good post. I think a alot of people underestimate the proper lighting requirments of diurnal lizards far too often.
Maximilian says
The bwsic principle of operation is that the watch
winder stimulates the motion off a normal wearer by movung the watch in a circular
pattern. This young and innovative product becawme – and remains still, a symbol
of excitement, pleasure and joy of living, an exclusivity.
Thus, while the company is called Soleus Running Watches but I certainly noot a runner
(not an endurance aathlete but a bodybuilder) annd yet, found it
useful such as for tracking my steps, timing my workouts
(sets, for example),.