Reptile heat lamps
For most reptiles, including nocturnal species like leopard geckos and ball pythons, the best daytime heat is a halogen flood bulb over the basking spot, run on a dimming thermostat with a separate UVB light. Use a ceramic heat emitter, deep heat projector or radiant heat panel only when you need heat without light, such as at night in a cold room.
Basking targets by species
Pick the bulb that makes this number at the basking spot, then let a thermostat hold it there.
Which heat lamp does what
- Basking Halogen Flood LightInfrared-A/B with visible bright lightUse as the primary daytime heat source to create a basking spot. It suits nocturnal and crepuscular species too, since they still bask in the day.Amazon ↗
- Deep Heat Projector (DHP)Infrared-A/B with almost no visible lightUse to add heat when you need it without light, such as at night in a cold room. A halogen bulb is the better basking source. Run it on a dimming thermostat.Amazon ↗
- Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE)Mostly infrared-C, warms air, no lightUse only to raise air temperature or give lightless night heat in cold rooms. It does not make a good basking spot.Amazon ↗
- Radiant Heat Panel (RHP)Broad, gentle, lightless warmthUse inside large, closed PVC or wood enclosures to keep air temperature even.Amazon ↗
- Heat Mat / Under-Tank HeaterLocalized gentle conductive contact warmthUse on the outside bottom or side of small glass setups for extra belly heat, always on a thermostat.Amazon ↗
- Heat RockavoidUncontrolled localized surface hot spotsDo not use. Heat rocks develop hot spots and cause serious burns.
Sizing: As a rough rule for 18 to 24 inch tall enclosures, a 50W to 75W halogen often reaches a 90°F to 100°F basking spot, while taller enclosures, hotter-basking species or rooms below 68°F may need 100W or more. Always confirm the surface temperature with an infrared temperature gun rather than relying on wattage alone.
What each animal's guide calls for
From the checklists on each care guide, so this table and those pages always agree.
- Bearded dragonHalogen Heat Basking Lamp & Dome105–115°F basking$25–$45
- Ball pythonHalogen Heat Lamp Fixture & Bulb88–92°F basking$25–$45
- Leopard geckoHalogen Basking Flood Light 50W94–97°F basking$12–$20
- Corn snakeHalogen Basking Lamp Fixture · Halogen Flood Bulb 75W88–92°F basking$23–$45
- Red-eared sliderBasking Heat Lamp Fixture · Halogen Basking Spot Bulb88–95°F basking$35–$70
- Hermit crabHeat Mat (back-wall mounted)78–85°F warm side$15–$25
- Veiled chameleonBasking Lamp Fixture & Bulb85–90°F basking$20–$40
- Russian tortoiseHeat Lamp Fixture with Dome95–105°F basking$15–$30
- HedgehogCeramic Heat Emitter Bulb (100W)76–80°F warm side$12–$25
- Blue-tongue skinkHalogen Basking Lamp Fixture · Halogen Flood Bulbs (75W)100–115°F basking$36–$70
- Sulcata tortoiseHalogen Basking Flood Lamp · Heat Lamp Dome Fixture · Radiant Heat Panel95–105°F basking$124–$230
- Box turtleBasking Heat Lamp & Bulb84–88°F basking$20–$40
- Pacman frogHeat Lamp Dome Fixture · Incandescent Basking Bulb 50W82–85°F basking$23–$40
- Green iguanaHalogen Flood Bulbs and Dome Fixtures · Radiant Heat Panel110–120°F basking$180–$340
- Emperor scorpionSide-mount heat mat78–82°F warm side$12–$25
- Boa constrictorHalogen Flood Bulbs and Dome Fixtures · Ceramic Heat Emitter 100W86–90°F warm side$65–$120
- Argentine teguHalogen Flood Heat Lamps (100W)125–135°F basking$48–$100
- Hognose snake50-75W Halogen Heat Bulb90–95°F basking$10–$18
- KingsnakeBasking Heat Lamp Fixture & Bulb85–90°F basking$20–$40
- Milk snakeHalogen Basking Bulb and Dome Fixture85–90°F basking$25–$45
- African fat-tailed geckoHalogen Basking Bulb and Dome Fixture90–94°F basking$20–$40
- UromastyxDual Halogen Dome Fixtures · Halogen Flood Heat Bulbs (75W-100W)120–130°F basking$45–$85
How to choose
- 01Plan a bright basking lamp for the day and decide whether you also need heat at nightBasking reptiles warm best under the near-infrared and light from a halogen bulb. Lightless heaters are only for nights in rooms that drop below your animal's safe night temperature.
- 02Measure enclosure height and distance to the basking area to determine bulb wattageTaller enclosures (over 24 inches) need higher wattage bulbs or narrower beam angles to reach the target basking temperature.
- 03Check that the fixture is rated for at least your bulb's wattageRunning a bulb above the fixture's rating is a fire hazard.
- 04Select the correct thermostat type for your specific heating elementHalogen bulbs and deep heat projectors need a dimming thermostat. Ceramic heat emitters, heat mats and radiant panels can run on an on/off or pulse-proportional thermostat.
- 05Install protective mesh lamp guards if heating elements are mounted inside the vivariumAnimals that touch an unguarded bulb or emitter can be badly burned.
Common mistakes
- Using red, blue or purple 'night' bulbs. Reptiles can see this light, and it disrupts their sleep.
- Running a halogen bulb on an on/off thermostat as its main control, so the light switches on and off all day, which stresses the animal and shortens bulb life.
- Placing a heat mat inside the enclosure, where the animal can dig down to it or soak it.
- Relying on stick-on dial thermometers, which can't read the basking surface and are often off by several degrees. Use a digital probe thermometer and an infrared gun.
- Installing a heat rock inside the setup, which can overheat and cause severe belly burns.
Questions people ask
Can I leave a ceramic heat emitter or deep heat projector on 24/7?
Yes, if your animal needs night heat. A CHE gives off no light and a DHP only a faint glow, so neither disrupts sleep. Both must be on a thermostat so the enclosure doesn't overheat. Many species do fine with a natural night drop and need no night heat at all.
Why are heat rocks unsafe for reptiles?
Heat rocks have no reliable temperature control and can develop hot spots far hotter than their surface feels. Reptiles often stay on a too-hot surface instead of moving away, so they can get deep burns before anyone notices.
What fixture socket do I need for high-wattage heat bulbs?
Use a dome fixture with a ceramic socket rated for at least your bulb's wattage. Plastic sockets can warp or melt under hot bulbs.
Do heat mats work through thick layers of substrate?
Not well. Soil, coconut fiber and bark insulate, so little heat reaches the surface, and heat can build up under the substrate where it can crack glass or burn a digging animal. Use mats under thin substrate, always with a thermostat probe, and check the surface with an infrared gun.