Keeping a bearded dragon as a pet requires specialized lighting, heaters, filters and other equipment to meet its needs.
Although adult bearded dragons may be able to adapt to slightly different conditions than they would find in the wild, it is important to provide them with an environment that mimics their natural habitat as closely as possible.
The general rule when setting up a vivarium for your bearded dragon is 100 watts for lighting up any tank size.
This article will help you understand how much light your bearded dragon will need based on its size and the type of tank you are using.
Read on to learn more about the lighting needs of this species.
The Importance of Lighting for Bearded Dragons
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of bearded dragon care. They need to have a full spectrum light in order to stay healthy.
Most reptiles are cold-blooded, and they need to bask in the light to warm up.
This helps them digest their food. It also helps them to process vitamins and minerals.
Bearded dragons also need a UV light in order to synthesize vitamin D3. Without this essential nutrient, they can develop metabolic bone disease.
The light will also help them to regulate their circadian rhythm. This is the 24-hour cycle that controls their sleep schedule and feeding patterns.
During the day, they will be awake and active. At night, they will sleep and rest. The light helps them to know when it’s time to sleep or eat. It also helps them to know when it’s too bright or dark outside.
How Much Light Does a Bearded Dragon Need?
Bearded dragons need lots of light regardless of whether they are healthy or sick. They are diurnal (active during the day) and need 12 hours of light per day for optimal health.
This means that you should keep them in an area that gets plenty of natural light during the day.
Do not keep them in an area that gets no natural light at all or only gets dim sunlight early in the morning or late in the evening.
If you are going to keep your bearded dragon indoors, make sure that you provide them with a high-quality UVB light that mimics the sun as closely as possible.
40 Gallon Tank Lighting Requirements
Like all reptiles, bearded dragons need a temperature gradient in their tank so they can regulate their body temperature.
When they’re cold, they move toward the heat source.
And when they’re too warm, they move to a cooler area of the tank.
A 40-gallon bearded dragon’s tank should be kept at a range of 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit on the warm side and 70 to 75 degrees on the cool side.
The basking area should be 85 to 90 degrees.
It’s important to maintain these temperatures day and night so your dragon can thermoregulate properly.
A UVB light should be placed over the entire length of the tank so that your dragon can access it from anywhere in the enclosure.
Bottom line
Bearded dragons are cold-blooded year-round. They need to bask in the light in order to warm up, and this is how they process their vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
Most bearded dragons have an internal temperature of around 99 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and around 86 degrees at night.
When you set up your bearded dragon’s tank, make sure that it is large enough so that your dragon has plenty of room to move around and to bask in the heat of the basking light.
100 watts are usually enough to heat up most bearded dragons tanks.
My name is Brad and I am the main editor of BeardieZilla.com.
The only goal of this site is quite simply to be able to help you. To help you by the means of my experiment, of the relation which I maintain with my bearded dragon as well as some of my knowledge about beardies.
I hope that you will find answers to some of your most pressing questions here.
Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the blog!
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