Do i keep the UV light for my bearded dragon on 24/7??

Question

Hello, i am the new owner of a bearded dragon. I have his cage all set up with the proper lighting and everything. I was just wondering if I am supposed to turn off the UV light at night or keep it on. I have been turning it off just in case.

Answer 1

the uv light need to be on 9/10 hours aday. think daylight hours and you wont be far out.

Answer 2

treat the UV light as if it were the sun. When the sun comes up, turn the light on. When it goes down, turn it off. Simple as that.

Answer 3

"Proper lighting is also very important to the well-being of a Bearded Dragon. A good split of day/night is 14/10. This can easily be regulated by a timer, which can be found at almost any hardware store. ((not only is it better for the Dragon... its much easier on the caregiver. :)) A basking spot is also a must for a Beardie. The Dragons body temperatures are important for digestion and fighting off illness.

A low watt bulb, placed in a reflector dome at one end of the cage, will concentrate the bulbs heat to that one side of the cage. The top basking area on one side of the cage (closest to the light) should peek between 100 - 105 degrees for adults and 100 - 110 for babies - with the ambient cage temperature on the other side of the cage being significantly cooler - approximately 80-85 degrees. This basking temperature may seem high, but these temperatures are common of the ground surface when air temperatures are over 85 degrees. Remember though, this is a peek temperature and not a constant temperature. The trick is to slowly bring the temperature of the basking area up, allow it to level off for a short period of time and then drop slowly once again. (Yes, this can be tricky... but that is where cage accessories come in handy.)

The nighttime temperature of your cage can drop into the 60's without worry. If your house gets cooler than that, you may need to invest in a red bulb for nighttime temperature maintenance. This will emit the heat needed to keep the temperature up, but not the light that will interrupt the dragons sleep pattern. WARNING - Do not use an electrical reptile heat rock or heating pad as a heat source for your Bearded Dragons. These products have the potential to fatally burn the dragon's belly, as many lizards do not feel a 'localized' temperature... but an overall body temperature. (See Thermal Burns below)

The need for a full spectrum florescent reptile light is among those topics being disputed between Hobbyists at the moment. Dragons DO need a source of UVB light to naturally produce vitamin D3, (which helps to absorb calcium) and without a steady supply of it, are more subject to complications. This can be obtained by a bulb or by subjecting your Dragon to natural sunlight for a period of time each day. Many people think that by placing the vivarium near a window and allowing the reptile to bask in the sun will help. This is not so. Normal plate glass as used in windows and vivariums will actually filter out the ultra-violet rays that are required to synthesize natural vitamin D3.

If choosing to use a full spectrum light, the bulb should be within 6-10 inches of the basking area, so they can absorb the UV-A and UV-B to manufacture their vitamin D3 for bone formation. These bulbs need to be replaced after 6 months time. Once again, it is not vital AS LONG AS there is proper supplementation in their diet and enough light intensity.

We feel UVB indoor lights are not needed if dragons are fed a proper diet; and supplemented with Vitamin D3. A calcium/D3 supplement, like RepCal can be used in place of the UVB bulb. The dragon still received its needed Vitamin D3, but instead of producing it itself, it is given dietarily."

Answer 4

No you only need to have the uv light on for 14-16 hours a day.  The basking lamp is the same as long as your house never goes below 70 degrees Farenheight.  If it does get a ceramic heat emmiter.

Also, this site is very helpful!

www.beardeddragon.org

Answer 5

No you do not need to have it on all day.  In fact if you live in an area where you can allow you little buddy the luxury of going out side for 30-45 minutes a day to bask in the real sun, then you do not need the special light at all.  All you would have to worry about is it heat.  The hot side of his tank should be close to 100 degrees, and the cool side of the tank should be no lower than 85 degrees.  and he still needs a place to bask.  If you can not take him out regularly and you need to use the UV bulb, then by all means turn it off at night.  Constant light can seriously stress you friend.  He needs a day cycle of night and day like we do.  Just make sure he has a good heat source at night.  Also make sure his rock is in direct line of the heat source.  You see bearded dragons do not need a basking rock to stay warm on, they need it to digest their food.

Answer 6

You must keep the light on at all times.  Yeah if uses electricity, but you have to keep it on otherwise it wont live.  The light keeps them warmer and without the light their body will freeze.