Best Reptile Lights Rated & Reviewed for Quality
WilM 
Dan Novak Owning any kind of pet can be tough, but it is with reptiles that there are so many more factors that you need to consider. They often need special habitats and cages. Another thing that you need to consider when you are considering a cold-blooded critter is what kind of lights you are going to use with them. They need reptile lights that will both keep them warm, like they are sitting under the sun, and fit with their natural habitats. Those natural habitats don't have very much in common with your bedroom, sadly.
Lucky for prospective pet owners, there is a huge and varied market with all kinds of lights that you can choose from. They make it incredibly simple to give your little buddy the light that they want and need. This list has some of the best that you can currently find on the market.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 12 hrs of research
Lasts for around 2500 hours
Very warming for critters
Designed for wet environments
Great price and value
10 Best Reptile Lights
1. Zoo Med Heavy Duty
Lasts for around 2500 hours
Very warming for critters
Designed for wet environments
Great price and value
Only UVA, no UVB
This option is a great place to start if you have any critters that spend any of their time in the water. It is designed to get a little bit of water on it with no problems.
Heavy Duty Light
This halogen lamp is a great place to start if you want something that will do a good job of keeping reptiles that spend time in the water warm. It is firmly in the category of reptile heating lamps, and will do a great job of keeping them toasty with its powerful UVA rays.
Other Features
The halogen lamp from Zoo Med is designed for aquatic terrariums due to the fact that it can stand getting wet. This means you don't need to worry about where you put it in the cage. It will keep your pet warm with no complaints.
Cost and Value
This is up at the top because it does such a great job at keeping your pet warm without much in the way of intervention on your part. It is a durable and long-lasting option that is great for making sure that your turtle or other reptile has a comfortable time in their cage. It gives you great value, too.
2. Fluker's Repta-Clamp
Extremely easy to install
Ceramic cover makes it easy to warm
Great value and price
Intuitive and unique design
Have to buy your own bulbs
This is an easy to prepare light that does a great job of illuminating and warming your terrarium. It warms your little guy through the use of its ceramic dish, which is also useful.
Easy to Implement
The great thing about this option from Fluker's is that it makes it easy to set up your lights. The clamp is very easily placed on the side of the terrarium, and it should only take you seconds to get the whole thing installed and ready to warm your pet up.
Other Features
There are some other clever features about the Fluker that makes it a good idea for anyone needing lights for their terrarium. It creates its heat through the use of the ceramic dish that will surround the bulb. That means that you can use all kinds of bulbs in the light, without needing to buy specialized warming bulbs like with many of the other options on the list.
Cost and Value
The Fluker is a great choice for people who want to keep it simple. All the pieces of its design are there to make it easy to keep your pet warm. The clamp makes it easy to install, and the hood makes it easy to keep your pet warm. It is another option that is incredibly cheap, which is also great.
3. Exo Terra Basking Spot
Very durable design
Nice and warm for your pet
Lasts for a long time
Excellent value
Doesn't cover a lot of space
This is another very durable light, but just from another of the big terrarium brands. Exo Terra's basking light is great for any wetter habitats that you might need lighting for.
Basking Light
The Exo Terra is designed so you can have a nice spot for your reptile to warm themselves in the sun. Place it like a spotlight over your pet's favorite spot to rest, and watch them find their new favorite place to be. It makes it a real treat when you know that you have given them something that they enjoy so much.
Other Features
The Exo Terra has some features that mean that it has really earned its spot on the list. It is a really durable light, which means you don't need to worry about it malfunctioning. It is okay to drop because it is made of a hard material that won't get damaged. It is also a good option if you are looking for something waterproof, too.
Cost and Value
The Exo Terra is a cool option if you are looking for something reliable and durable to keep your pets warm. It has a smaller range of illumination than some of the other options on this list, but it is perfect as a place for your reptile to spend all of its time lounging. They will love it, and it doesn't cost you much at all.
4. Evergreen Mercury Vapor
Has UVA and UVB
Lasts for an extra long time
Fits in all terrariums
Has good durability
Costs more than other options
This is an interesting option to think about getting. It also gives off UVA rays to go along with the UVB. That makes this one really good for your reptile, as well as heating them up.
UVA Bulb
This bulb is like a replacement for your pet's need for daylight. It means that you don't need to feel guilty about leaving them away from an open window. The UVA rays make sure that they are getting all those essential nutritional effects of different kinds of light.
Other Features
The Evergreen has some other good features to go along with its multifaceted bulb. It is designed to have longevity, too. It should last for thousands of hours before you need to go and find yourself a replacement. It also fits into any kind of enclosure and has been designed to fit with all popular terrariums.
Cost and Value
The Evergreen is a good option for those who want something with the complete package. It does a great job at making your reptile feel right at home. It does cost quite a bit more than a lot of the other options, but it does such a good job at keeping your pet healthy and happy that it earns that higher price point.
5. Zoo Med Reptisun
Larger light illuminates entire enclosure
A good level of UVB to keep your pet healthy
Lasts for a long time
Doesn't provide too much heat
Might have to adjust height if it is too much UVB
This is a larger light that should emit some good UVB light into your terrarium. The larger size means that you can be sure that your critter is getting all the juice that it needs.
Large Light
A lot of the previous lights have had a smaller area that they warm up. The Reptisun is more designed as a general purpose light for your entire enclosure. It makes it much easier for you to be sure that your pet is getting all the light that they need with this light that illuminates everything.
Other Features
The Reptisun is great for all the other features that it features, too. It is designed to be less hot than some of the other options on the list. This means that you can be sure that you aren't going to be giving them too much light, either. This is something to be aware of, but can be fixed by hanging this light above your screen, which stops some of the light.
Cost and Value
For a light that will illuminate your entire enclosure, the Reptisun is a really great deal. It is quite a powerful light that is perfect if you are worried that your little guy isn't getting as much light as they should. The larger size also means that you won't need to buy tons of lights, and can just rely on one.
6. Exo Terra Repti-Glo
Perfect if you need a lot of heat
Lasts for a long time
Huge amount of UVB light
Great value
Can have too much UVB for the first year
This is a powerful reptile light that makes it perfect for anyone who has a reptile that is made to live in drier climates. It does a great job at emitting high levels of UVB.
Desert Habitat
Lizards and other reptiles that live in the desert are used to a high level of UVB radiation to stay healthy. This option from Exo Terra emits a high level of powerful rays to make sure that your lizard is chock full of healthy light so that they can perform all their important metabolic functions.
Other Features
The Exo Terra is a good option to think about if you want something that will last for a long time and for making sure that your reptile is extremely healthy. Its durability makes it a good choice for any reptile owner.
Cost and Value
The Exo Terra bulb is perfect for those who want something nice and hot for their reptile. If they like the water, then this one isn't for them. They still last for a long time with your pet. Try to find something that you can place the light behind so that the UVB isn't too powerful.
7. Zilla Fluorescent Bulb
Wide coverage of terrarium
Good amount of heat emitted
Perfect for desert reptiles
Lasts for a long while
Too hot for wetter creatures
This is a great option if you are looking for reptile fluorescent lights. This is the right option if you are looking for something that you can use for your more desert-oriented pets.
Large Desert Tube
This option is perfect for those who are looking for something that will work really well with their especially cold-blooded pets. It emits a quite powerful heat that is great for desert animals. It also emits a lot of UVB rays that will ensure that your pet is as healthy as you could hope for.
Other Features
There are other things that make this a good choice for anyone who wants to get some good lighting for their pet. It is designed with something called spectrum lighting, which is designed to get all the best colors out of your reptile, and its environment. This light will also last for a very long time.
Cost and Value
There are lots of things to love about this option from Zilla. It does a great job of keeping your pets nice and warm in their sandier habitats. They will appreciate the wide coverage of light that this option provides, as well as the healthy rays it emits, too.
8. Zoo Med Reptisun Mini
Perfect for smaller desert terrariums
Lasts for a long time
Very durable design
Can fit into anywhere
Only for smaller terrariums
This is just like the Reptisun from Zoo Med, but now in a smaller size. That makes it perfect for any of your smaller terrariums that still need some potent heat.
Small and Hot
The Reptisun Mini is a great option if you are looking for something that you can rely on as a desert habitat. It makes it easy for you to keep it warm for your pets, no matter how little space you have to keep them in. It is incredibly useful for any smaller spaces.
Other Features
This option is designed so that you get a lot of heat out of this small package. Despite that, this option should last for an incredibly long time. It has a lot going for it in terms of how durable it is, too. It really packs a lot of quality into a smaller package.
Cost and Value
This option is great for anyone who wants a good light for their desert habitat but doesn't have as much space to put in something as large as the original Reptisun. It can be bought for an incredibly good price, too. This is a great little deal right here.
9. NOMOYPET Clamp Lamp
Can be moved anywhere
Accepts all kinds of lights
Easy to install on a terrarium
Easy to use switch, too
Doesn't come with a bulb
This is an incredibly mobile clamp lamp that is perfect for any terrariums that doesn't have any space for you to hang any of the more classic styles of light.
Mobile Light
The truly great thing about the NOMOYPET is that it can be easily shifted around as you need. That makes it really easy to use option. It can be switched around if you think that it is a little bit too warm, or too cold for your lizard. It is designed so that it can move in every direction if you want it to.
Other Features
This option has a socket that can accept any kind of bulb that you want. It is even compatible with LED reptile lights. It uses a ceramic socket that does a great job of emitting the heat that you need to make sure that your little guy has the warmth that they love.
Cost and Value
The NOMOYPET gives you a convenient way to keep your little buddy warm. It can be moved in so many ways that it will work with all kinds of powerful lights. The ceramic socket is also great for amplifying the warmth of any other options that you use.
10. Zoo Med Tropical Lighting
Lights for day and night
Easy to set up
Simplifies enclosure
Comes with two bulbs
Bulbs burn out very quickly
This is a unique option that is incredibly useful. It puts both a day and night light in one place for you. It makes the entire lighting set up for your terrarium much simpler.
Day and Night
Desert's get quite cold at night, but if you want a terrarium that is designed for more tropically inclined critters, then it might be a good idea to get a set up that comes with warm lighting for night, as well as for days. By using colored lights, you can better emulate nighttime, while still keeping your pet warm.
Other Features
This option has lots of cool features that you can use. It uses red and blue film to turn the bulbs into colors that work better for being used at night. It also affects the warmth, so it better emulates the nighttime conditions in a jungle. The other cool thing is that it makes it very easy to set up lighting in your cage.
Cost and Value
This is a little more expensive than some of the other options on this list, but it makes life so much easier. The Zoo Med Tropical Lighting is a pretty good option for making it easier on yourself as it makes setting up the lighting for your habitat so much simpler.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Comfort
These lights are so important to make sure that your favorite friend is living in the most comfort possible. Reptiles lights are designed in a specific way that makes them incredibly useful for making sure that your pet is as healthy and happy as is possible.
The lights keep them warm, which is most important in reptiles. They rely on the sun to stay warm because it is not achieved by their own body. Due to the way that they are being kept somewhere other than their natural habitat, the light that you choose needs to take on the task of the sun. It is quite a thing to have to live up to.
The best lights are going to be able to keep your pet warm all day long. Tropical forests and deserts are both very warm places, which means you need something that will attempt to match that. Think about what you are trying to do with your lights before you by them, as there are different kinds that have different levels of heat, too.
Durability
These lights will have to do quite a job, so it is important that you buy ones that are considered the best. They need to be on for around eight to twelve hours a day, which means that you need to consider how strong and powerful they are. Any electronic that is on for that long is going to be put through the ringer. This category lets you know how long your lights should last.
There are other things that need to be considered, too. The lights need to be able to survive other issues, too. These habitats are often not designed for electric light to survive in them. Specifically, the wetter your habitat is going ot be, the more you should look at this category. It is important that you find one that will survive getting wet, or living in moisture for long periods of time.
Battery Life
How long your light is going to last is another important element that you are going to buy. The average light should last you for a few thousand hours without you needing to worry about anything going wrong. This is a useful metric to go by when you are shopping around on the product's store pages. The best ones should last for about that long, but many lights will not last for that long. This category is here to let you know how long your light should last for.
There are other things to keep in mind when thinking about the battery life of your light. They are designed to emit UVA and UVB rays. It is important to consider how strong those rays are going to be. They will often fade over time when they are being used. This is an important thing to consider when you have set your lights up. After around a year, they will have lost about half of their potency. Placing the light differently can often make up for this reduction in rays, though.
Features
There are tons of extra features that you should probably consider too when you are shopping around for your very own light, too. There are tons of things that they can do that will make your life easier, and your pet's life more comfortable.
One thing that you should think about is how much it takes for the light to be placed in the cage. It really changes how much trouble it is going to be if you can just set up a clamp light that will attach to the side of the terrarium. This is especially useful if you can have a terrarium that doesn't have somewhere to put more traditional lights.
Another thing that you could consider is what color of light that you are using. It really changes how much you are going to be able to use the light. Colored lights are useful when you want to keep a bit of warmth for your critter, but also realize they need sleep. Blue lights for reptile cages are always a great way to make sure that they get just enough heat for the evening time.
Value
There are a few different prices that you can think about getting for your lights, and the price is often going to depend on a few different variables. This category is here to let you know just how much you are getting for your spent dollar. That is the most important thing of all, after all.
There are a few things that will quickly affect the price of your reptile lights. The first to consider is the size of the light. There are basking lights, and then there are also tube lights. One is for a spotlight that you can use to keep one area warm, while the tube lights are best for covering a wide area. The tube lights are always a bit more expensive due to their expansiveness.
Another thing that will often change how much the bulb costs is how much heat and UVA/UVB they give off. This changes the amount of power it takes, which will also affect how the light is going to be designed.
Expert Interviews & Opinions
A big portion of making a place to live for your favorite reptile is making sure that you get the habitat that you are used to. Creating something that reminds them of home is one of the most important things about owning a reptile as a pet. This includes the lights, which need to have the same intensity and UVB/UVA levels as the places that they are used to.
Finding somewhere to put your light is another important thing to consider when you are buying reptile lights. A lot of these options will only provide a bulb, while you are going to need some fixtures to put them. This will often be part of the terrarium itself, but you might need to find something to attach the bulbs to. This is much easier than it sounds, so don't worry too much.
Other Factors to Consider
Size
There are a few different sizes of lights that you need to consider when you are about to finally buy yourself some lights for your pet. There are a few different sizes that do slightly different things. This includes the smaller lights that are designed as a sort of spotlight for your pet. This is a perfect choice to put above their favorite rock, or favorite spot that they like to lay down on when they are napping.
The other size of light that you should consider are the long fluorescent tubes. These are a bit less intense when it comes to keeping the terrarium hot, but it is still really important for when you are looking for something that you can use for the entire cage. It will do a good job of keeping a better ambient temperature in the enclosure that will keep your buddy feeling like they are staying at home.
Color
Another important thing to consider is the style of bulb that you are choosing for your pet. There are lots of different bulbs on the market, and they all do things that are slightly different, as well. Reptile lights are unique in that they are designed specifically for reptiles. In this way, they have been designed so they emit a specific kind of light that reptiles need to stay healthy. The warmth and UVB rays makes sure that your pet is getting the best kind of treatment that they can get.
Some options will emit both UVA and UVB rays. This makes for a more authentic tinge to the habitat, and might even be better for your reptile than the other options. There are lots of different levels of radiation given off by each light, and it can be possible to give your reptile too much. Think about positioning the light in such a way that your turtle won't be getting overheated, or over saturated with rays.
Style
One more thing to consider is the type of light that you are choosing. There are options on this list that are designed in one way or another. This includes the options that are designed as hanging lights, and also the clamp lights. The option that you should get is going to depend a lot on how much it is going to take for you to install it in your enclosure.
Clamp lights are very useful if you have no easy way to hang any other lights. Their installation is incredibly simple, and they are quite effective for other reasons, too. They use ceramic dishes that are useful at helping generate a little extra heat that you might lose by the light being a further away or smaller.
The hanging lights are better if you have space to put them in. They are designed so that you have something that covers the entire cage. You will feel more confident with this option. A lot of cages will have space for lights to be installed. This is the best case scenario, but they can also be hung over the cage with kits that you can find online.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: Why do reptiles need UVB rays?
Reptiles are cold-blooded creatures, which means that they need warmth to stay alive. That is the major reason that lights are so important for an enclosure. They are just the simplest and easiest way to make sure that they stay as hot as they need to. The other thing that these lights do is emit UVB, which is a subset of the ultraviolet spectrum.
It is important because this is the range of light that affects the biology of creatures, human and reptile alike. It is just more important for coldblooded creatures. It is important to help them with things like creating calcium in the body, and for helping out with the body's metabolism.
q: Why are colored lights useful?
Colored lights can be useful for keeping your critter warm in the nighttime if you live somewhere a little colder. The colored bulbs can then be helpful because they will affect your reptile a little less than a brighter bulb. It can also dampen the heat by a little bit. Reptiles do have vision that it quite different from ours, so it might be useful to think about getting something that is not visible to your reptile's eyes.
For example, iguanas can see color in the dark, but their eyes are not capable of seeing red. This means that if you are worried about them getting cold, then it might be a good idea to get a bulb that has been tinted with red.
q: How should you position lights for a reptile cage?
There are lots of different ways to set up the lights for your reptile's cage. There are as many optins for setting this up as there are species of reptile in the world. An important thing to remember is that it is quite important to find all the different ways that you can set it up, but you should choose the right one for your creature.
It is important to really research the ideal setting for the little guy you are going to be bringing into your world. All reptiles have slightly different needs, and they all have their own set of foibles. This is a big reasons for why they are such great pets. Remember to get things like a thermometer so you know how successful your rig is once you have set it up. There are special thermometers for checking a habitat for reptiles. These are the most useful.
Sources
- , Reptile Lighting Information, Article
- , UVA VS UVB, Article
- , Interactive UV Index Lighting Guide , Article
