Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have an informed opinion in regard to the use of infrared heat lamps? Specifically, is there any difference between the infrared heat lamp you can buy at a local pet shop /reptile shop or the type you can pick up at a home improvement store or even Wal-Mart? I understand that reptiles cannot see into the red light spectrum thereby I would assume that there would be no difference. However, the reptile specific bulbs seem to have a more muted light quality. Judging by comparing a 100 Watt bulb, and even a 150, to a 250 infrared bulb I picked up from Wal-Mart for night heating. The 250 puts out a lot more red light, I understand that it's of a much higher wattage and thereby would, it seems out of proportion though and I don't want to stress my monitor out with use of an improper light source. He/she sure liked it though when I put it in the enclosure. He/she came out of one of his/her hides almost immediately and soaked up the newly found heat.

I have used the 250 watt home depot infrared lamps in my 8'x4'x4' black throat cage for the past year. I have a 4' flourescent fixture in the cage on a 12 hour timer for night/day and the infrared runs 24/7. I am thinking of adding a timer to the infrared and shutting it down for a few hours at night as the ambient room temperature is sufficient for a night time temp drop.

I've no stock in any thermostat companies, but stuff like Helix allows you to precisely regulate the cage temp, and with the night drop option, you don't cut if oof completely, in case your room temp drops or raises.(of course if its electric heating in your place you're sunk, or if its gas but you lose furnace and electric.

Theres no usable difference between them. Outdoor flood lamps of 1/3 the wattage do the same thing with even higher basking temps. A friend of mine used a 250 watt infared heat light for over a year and a half before switching to an outdoor flood of 120 watts to produce more heat yet. Its up to you if you want to spend the extra on those bulbs. Try your own comparison as someone here recently did and found out how good all types of those bulbs worked.

Thanks for your response; however, if you or your friend are using outdoor flood lights then the monitors aren't getting the normal day-night cycle and I would think that's stressful for them and bound to screw them up. I know a lot of people use regular lighting round the clock. I, for one, think that the savings are inconsequential versus the well being of the animal. I know 250 watts is high power consumption, especially if you're running more than one all of the time. That and I'm sure the neighbors wonder just what that red glow is emanating from my garage al night long. I'm expecting a raid by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) any time now. Hopefully it won't turn into another Waco.

You cannot say whether the monitors are seeing a day/night schedule. I use 24/7 lights in some enclosures and the monitors most definitely have day/night cycles, they just decide them, not me.

The hides and burrows provide total darkness all the time.

--Robert

Of their own choosing. 24 hour lights do not harm them at all. Everyone who actually breeds them gives them 24 hour lights. The infared lights look to them as any other light does, they can see the light. They arent like a dog which is color blind. Besides infared heat lamps spread the light outward and do not create a good basking spot unless placed within almost inches. Someone on here tested the lights and posted results recently, but find out for yourself, as you will do as you want anyways. Im just trying to help.

SHvar,
I'm uncertain here- are you saying that in addition to providing a higher temp basking spot farther away,(to which i'd concur) the outdoor floods make for higher ambient temp in the cage as well, vs. a IF 250w bulb? seems unlikely

Its been tried a million times by those who wanted to learn for themselves. Try an incandescent spot/ or flood light (similar to those junk reptile heat lights), an infared heat light of 250 watts, an outdoor flood of much smaller wattage, and a mercury vapr light, compare the results in a cage of basking temps at different distances, ambient high temps, ambient low end temps, etc. The best way to learn is to try it.

SHvar,
I'm uncertain here- are you saying that in addition to providing a higher temp basking spot farther away,(to which i'd concur) the outdoor floods make for higher ambient temp in the cage as well, vs. a IF 250w bulb? seems unlikely