WATCH THIS BEFORE YOU GET LIGHTING FOR REPTILE ENCLOSURES - The Ultimate Reptile Lighting Guide

By far the hardest part of setting up an enclosure for a reptile or amphibian is choosing and installing the right heating and lighting. In today's video, the third part of a vivarium build series, I share the thoughts and considerations that went into the lighting rig for my new day gecko vivarium.

In this reptile lighting guide, I aim to illustrate how replicating sunlight (both in form and composition) should be our primary concern when we are selecting lamps for herps. Traditionally, people have seen lamps as a means for keeping things warm, as is reflected in the very name "heat lamp". However, this line of reasoning causes us to disregard the closeness of our lighting to sunlight: we should be using lamps to simulate the light found in nature, not control temperatures! To do so requires a knowledge of what sunlight is, the lamp technologies which allow us to offer each part of the spectrum, and how to go about measuring the intensity of radiation offered by a certain lamp at a particular distance away from it. All of these things are considered in this video.

Wondering what UV indices your herp requires? Find out here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/...

NOTE: Solarmeter 6.5 usage (06:52)
One of the comments received during the peer review stage of this video's production noted how in the video, I use a Solarmeter 6.5 to measure the UV indices around the vivarium. In so doing, I have the Solarmeter measuring the indices in mid air, which at first glance would appear to be an irrelevant measurement as far as the geckos - which bask sat on branches, not hovering - are concerned. However, I would like to point out why the measurements I was taking were suitable. Notice that when using the Solarmeter, I keep the button pressed in and move my hand in a horizontal line. Now notice that at all times, the sensor (on the top of the Solarmeter) is the same distance from the UV lamp as the top of the basking branch in the enclosure, ie the same distance from the lamp as the geckos will be when basking. You will now understand why what I was doing was appropriate. (I will likely make a video about Solarmeter 6.5 usage at some point in the future - if that would be of use to you, then let me know!)


Below you can find some of the different lamps used and discussed in this video. As an Amazon associate, I earn a commission when you purchase through these links, but you don't pay any extra by using them.

UK:
Metal Halides & Equipment - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/metal-hal...
Linear Fluorescent UV Lamps & Tech - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/linear-fl...
LED Lighting - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/led-light...
Tungsten Halogen Lamps & Fittings - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/tungsten-...

US:
Zoo Med PowerSun Metal Halide Kit - https://amzn.to/3suYrwm
Linear Fluorescent UV Lamps & Tech - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/linear-fl...
LED Lighting - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/led-light...
Tungsten Halogen Lamps - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/tungsten-...

Ca:
Zoo Med PowerSun Metal Halide Kit - https://amzn.to/3igD7Gq
Linear Fluorescent UV Lamps & Tech - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/linear-fl...
LED Lighting - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/led-light...
Tungsten Halogen Lamps - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles/tungsten-...

New to the channel? You might want to start here -    • Ceramic Heater & Heat Mat Vs. Heat La...  

Follow nature’s example - https://www.youtube.com/c/JTBReptiles...
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jtb_reptile...
Facebook -   / jtb-reptiles-472487643238124  
The supplies I use - https://kit.co/JTB_Reptiles
Advancing Herpetological Husbandry -   / advancingherphusbandry  
Reptile Lighting Group -   / reptilelighting  
The Reptile Networks - https://reptilenetworks.co.uk