If you get an iguana, does a heat light have to stay on all the time, including night?

Question

I have an iguana, and he is a tropical lizard, so I keep his heat light on all night for warmth, does it need to be on ALL night because it drives me nuts!

Answer 1

No. It disturbs the iguana's sleep pattern by not giving him a photo period (Day/night cycle). It also disturbs you, so its in both your interests that it goes off.



If your house gets under 80-75F at night, purchase a heating element that does [not] emmit visible light to the iguana. You can use Heat-tape, flex-watt or cable under one or two of his basking shelves; a black or red bulb or a ceramic element. Make sure you control it with a thermostat to maintain a warmer spot at night.



Just add an extra fixture if it is a bulb or ceramic heater, and soon as it it night time, turn off the heat lamp and turn on the other heating item (or place a timer to control the hour they go on and off).



Your iguana will also thank you for the sleep hours.



~Iguana Links:

http://www.iguanaden.org

http://www.greenigsociety.org

Answer 2

I own a 6 ft male green iguana, I rescued him from the humane society and he wouldn't hurt a fly. Every iguana's different but they are known to whip their tails, bite and scratch. My iguana has done none of the above and I've had him for 4 years now. I'm not much of a snake person but I would bet that they were more docile than even a baby iguana. I'm glad I got my iguana as an adult so I wouldn't have to keep upgrading his cage. I would recommend an iguana if you knew what you were doing. Both reptiles require a big cage/ terrarium as they grow. Currently my iguana lives in a plexiglass cage over 2000$ and is 5ft long X 3ft wide X 7ft high (a queen size bed basically) Also, iguanas are herbivores and don't require live or dead meat to feed on. My iguana eats a fresh salad every morning made of kale, zucchini, yellow squash, strawberries, apples and cranberries. He loves it!

Answer 3

NO

heat lights only stay on for daylight.

If you need heat for night get a ceramic heat bulb. All the heat with no light.

This will allow for proper day and night cycle.

If the light is on all night and drives YOU nuts, just think how NUTS your lizard must be feeling about now.

Please for both your sakes, get a ceramic heat lamp NOW.

With a thermostat..

Answer 4

Hi Kendell,

Iguanas need lots of Natural Sunlight so they can adsorb UVB and UVA light. Iguanas needs a day time and night time,so 12 hours of light and 12 hours of Darkness.

You need special Ultraviolet lighting,which is call UV lighting,also a basking light(this provides heat for your Iguana)..

Your Friend,

poppy1

Answer 5

not necesarly, you can leave it on all day and at night turn it off and put a heating pad under the cage and that turns on at night so the can sleep on warmth and then in the morning turn the blanket off and light on.

Answer 6

yes

but you should have a thermostat so that it does not get to hot in the tank.

if the light is really getting to you then you should get a ceramic heater wish does not give off light just heat

Answer 7

purchase a black phospherous light for nightime....it simulates moonlight.....just keep your room at a decent temp (above 65) and it should be alright....just let it have access to sun the next day....or do what I did....buy a heating pad....wrap it up in a towel.....put it on low...and let your lizard sleep on it.....they love it.....and it keeps them warm without disturbing your rest.....

Answer 8

No but you can get a nighttime heating bulb for nighttime warmth and I dont think it is that bright.