whats the proper way to use your lamps on iguanas?

Question

how many hours a day and what about the night?? plz help me

Answer 1

UV lighting needs to on 12-14 hours perday and the UV tube should be replaced every six months.
Heating lamps should be fixed to a thermostat so that they go off when the tank or vivarium is warm enough about 85F.
Heat mats also need to put through a thermostat set at 85F
Red lights are not needed except to provide heat at night and should be conected through a thermostat.

Answer 2

Iguanas are arborreal. Which means they are active in the day time. They require at least 12 hours of light a day. I recommend getting a timer and having it turn on around 7am and turning off around 7pm. Also, your iguana needs to be able to get about 1 1/2 to 2 feet from the lamp, depending on how powerful the lamp is. I recommend a UVB lamp which can be purchase at any major pet or reptile store. They provide the proper rays to help them digest their food properly. You might also check on proper diets, all iguanas are different when it comes to what they like. Good luck.

Owner of an 4 year old, 6 foot long, male iguana.

Answer 3

Iguanas are equatorial. They require 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. If need be you can cover their cage at night to make it dark even though external lights ar still on. UVB bulbs should follow the same pattern. Be sure to get a UVB bulb that is rated for Iguanas. a Reptisun 5 or Reptisun 10 is best. The lizard needs to be able to get within 8 inches of these bulbs.

If heat is required at night heat only bulbs can be used. These will not disturb the Iguana's sleep.

For more information on your iguana please try the following sources, especially the first one - Melissa Kaplin.

NEVER use heat rocks, they will injure your iguana.

Answer 4

I'm assuming this is for a juv. iguana.
A heat rock is the worst thing for an iguana as they are arboreal and thus receive their light/heat from above not below.
You should get:
a reptile orientated UV light (1),
a glow light fixture (2) and
bulbs (3) to go with the fixture.
The sources I have listed should point you in the right direction product-wise.
Make sure the UV light is approx. 30cm/11" away from the iguana at all times and that he/she cannot jump onto and lie on it as he/she will burn.
The basking light (2 & 3) is what will keep the iguana warm and his/her body in homeostasis. The basking light should be approx. 15cm/6" away from the iguana at all times and he shouldn't be able to jump on it either.
You should put a branch underneath the basking lamp - 15cm away from basking lamp - but put it diagonaly so the iguana has the option of moving closer to or further from the light and thus allowing him to get warmer or cooler. And make sure the basking spot is approx. 30cm from the UV bulb as well so when he basks (which is what they like to do for about 90% of the day) he gets optimum homeostasis going.
The iguana should also have the option of moving to cooler spots as it chooses (in other words cover, e.g. some leafy branches).

For the average adult iguana an outdoor/indoor enclosure is best You should have a "greenhouse" type of enclosure outside (I say greenhouse because your average greenhouse is perfect for an iguana: they are humid, allow just enough UV and sunlight through and of course are full of plants!) and a nighthouse inside which is similar to his juv. enclosure (just bigger) and will allow him to escape cold nights if he so feels.

Night is a slightly diff. story. You have two options:
1) You can turn all the lights off at a set time and leave a heating pad (4) on for the night, turning it off again in the morning, or
2) You could use a night light (5) instead of the heating pad.
I personally reccomend the heating pad option.

As for times: judge it according to your normal day, e.g. if the sun rises at 7am and sets at 8pm turn on/off your lights accordingly. Iguanas are diurnal (they are day-time active) so adjust your lights accordingly. You could also purchase some autoamted time switches at your local hardware store to save yourself the effort of having to turn on/off your lights and heating pad all the time! Hope this helps!

Answer 5

All iguanas require ultraviolet lighting to maintain good health. Ultraviolet lighting is recommended for 12-14 hours per day. The use of a timer will help maintain an accurate lighting schedule.

Answer 6

My son has an iguana and when he gets up the morn.around 7 he turns it on then around 10 he turns it off and "Iggy" is growing like crazy..he will be a year this Dec..we have a heat lamp and another light on the other side in case he does not want to sun himself and at night he has a heated cave he can go under just in case he gets cold..but he has a 55gal. tank also..hope this helps..did u also know ur supposed to feed them in the morn. because it takes all day for them to digest their food..and not to feed them in the afternoon..we put Romain out in the morn. alot and dry food under the Romain in case he is still hungry..They should not have a heat rock it can cook their insides.you should get a heat cave so they can go under it..they need their lamp to grow.and you should mist their cave with a spray bottle for moisture they like that..just go on the net and it will tell you all kinds of stuff or go buy or rent books on them..ask a vet if ur still unsure..hope this helps..

Answer 7

You should leave the light on for it all day and at night use a red light. My cousin uses a red light all the time. He use to use both but now just the red and it's still alive.

Answer 8

THEY ACTUALLY NEDD A HEAT ROCK THAT PLUGS IN THEN THE LIIGHT WONT HAVE TO BE ON AS MUCH THEY JUST NEED HEAT AND THE ROCK IS BEST