For bearded dragon owners, providing proper lighting is crucial to keeping your reptile healthy and happy. One important lighting decision owners face is whether or not to turn off the UVB light at night. UVB light plays a vital role in bearded dragon health, so understanding when they need access to these rays can optimize their care.
What is UVB Light and Why Do Bearded Dragons Need It?
UVB light is ultraviolet light that is essential for bearded dragons to produce vitamin D3. Reptiles cannot produce this vitamin on their own efficiently, so they rely on UVB rays to facilitate vitamin D3 synthesis. With appropriate vitamin D3 levels, bearded dragons can properly absorb and utilize calcium from their diet. This helps support strong bones and prevent metabolic bone disease.
Some key functions of vitamin D3 include:
- Promoting calcium absorption
- Supporting bone growth and strength
- Boosting immune system function
- Regulating cell growth
In addition to vitamin D3 production, UVB exposure provides other health benefits for bearded dragons including:
- Increased appetite and growth
- Higher activity levels
- Enhanced skin, scale, and nail health
- Improved digestive function
- Behavioral benefits like social interaction
Given the importance of UVB light, it is vital to supply adequate UVB to meet your bearded dragon’s needs. Providing UVB without harmful overexposure requires understanding your bearded dragon’s UVB requirements in terms of duration and intensity.
Do Bearded Dragons Need UVB Light at Night?
Bearded dragons are diurnal reptiles, meaning they are naturally awake and active during daylight hours. In the wild, bearded dragons bask in the sun’s UVB rays for 10-12 hours per day. However, at night they retreat to sheltered dens and burrows where no UVB exposure occurs.
This day/night UVB pattern should be mimicked for pet bearded dragons. During their normal waking hours, bearded dragons require unfiltered access to UVB rays to get their daily dose. But they do not need UVB light exposure at night when they are sleeping.
Potential Risks of Nighttime UVB
Leaving UVB lights on at night goes against a bearded dragon’s natural cycle and can pose risks including:
- Disrupted sleep: UVB rays may keep bearded dragons awake, preventing needed rest.
- Eye damage: Dilated pupils at night take in more UV. This can irritate a bearded dragon’s sensitive eyes.
- Overexposure: Too much UVB can cause vitamin D3 toxicity and calcium regulation issues.
- Stress: Unnatural lighting cycles are a source of stress for bearded dragons.
- Dehydration: Light and heat at night increase activity levels and water needs.
Nighttime UVB may also skew research results for those studying bearded dragon UVB requirements and effects.
Is Moonlight a Substitute?
While some owners think moonlight bulbs can substitute for daytime UVB at night, this is misguided. Moonlight bulbs emit a low-level white light but do not provide UVB rays like the sun. Using a moonlight heat bulb at night is fine but does not eliminate the need to turn off UVB-emitting bulbs.
Best Practice: Turn UVB Off at Night
Given bearded dragons have adapted to avoid UVB exposure at night, turning off these lights after their active daytime hours is recommended. Here are some tips for providing proper day/night UVB cycles:
- Use a timer to turn UVB bulbs off in the evening and on in the morning to match natural cycles.
- Ensure UVB bulbs provide optimal output during daytime hours when in use.
- Double check bulbs are off at night – stray UVB can disrupt sleep.
- Use a ceramic heat emitter or moonlight bulb for nighttime heat, not UVB.
- Avoid compact UVB bulbs, which can leak UVB at night after power off.
- Check the UVB bulb frequently as output declines over time.
Making adjustments to ensure no UVB exposure at night while meeting all vitamin D3 needs during the day is crucial for bearded dragons. Consult your veterinarian if you have concerns about your dragon’s UVB needs and exposure.
How Many Hours of UVB Per Day for Bearded Dragons?
While bearded dragons do not need UVB at night, getting adequate exposure during daytime hours is vital. So how many hours per day should you provide UVB lighting?
The total optimal UVB exposure time for bearded dragons is generally 10-12 hours per day. However, factors like bulb type, distance, and individual needs can impact the ideal duration. Here are some guidelines for daily UVB time:
- Baby bearded dragons up to 1 year old may need up to 14 hours of UVB daily for healthy growth.
- Adults typically need 10-12 hours of UVB exposure from quality bulbs positioned properly.
- Outdoor housing allows natural sunlight for UVB needs 6-8 months of the year.
- Indoor dragons rely solely on artificial UVB, so lighting optimizations are very important.
- Compact coil UVB bulbs provide less usable light so won’t meet needs used alone.
- T5 HO linear fluorescent tubes work well for 10-12 hours of indoor UVB.
- Adjust duration to allow unfiltered exposure during all active daytime hours.
Tailor the hours of UVB access to match the time your bearded dragon is awake and active each day. UV meters and vet assistance can help fine-tune exposure times and avoid deficiencies or toxicity.
Sample UVB Schedule
Here is an example UVB schedule that provides 10-12 hours of daytime exposure for an adult bearded dragon with a typical sleep/wake cycle:
- 7 am – UVB bulb turns on for the day
- 7 pm – UVB bulb turns off for the night
- 12 hours of UVB during their awake hours
- No UVB while sleeping at night
This schedule ensures UVB access during all active periods. Adjust morning/evening times based on individual bearded dragon behavior. Baby dragons often wake earlier and settle down later, needing expanded UVB duration.
Tips for Providing Proper UVB
To meet all your bearded dragon’s UVB needs during the day, follow these tips in addition to turning off UVB at night:
- Choose UVB bulbs specifically for reptiles (10-12% UVB output).
- Select linear tube bulbs rather than compact coils whenever possible.
- Mount UVB bulb inside enclosure, unfiltered by glass or mesh.
- Position bulb 10-12 inches from basking area for ideal exposure.
- Replace UVB bulb every 6-12 months when UVB output declines.
- Use a solar meter to check UVB levels in the enclosure.
- Provide an appropriate heat gradient along with UVB access.
- Ensure proper calcium levels and vitamin D3 in the diet.
- Have a reptile experienced exotic vet monitor your bearded dragon’s health.
Fine tuning your bearded dragon’s UVB lighting, both duration during the day and turning off at night, is key to supporting their health and happiness!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it okay to leave UVB on at night for bearded dragons?
No, it is not recommended to leave UVB lighting on at night for bearded dragons. They should get 10-12 hours of UVB during their active daytime hours but do not require exposure at night when sleeping.
What UVB level do bearded dragons need?
Most bearded dragons do best with a UVB output of around 10-12% from high quality reptile specific linear fluorescent tubes. Compact UVB bulbs often provide insufficient usable light. Outdoor sun exposure also meets UVB needs when possible.
How close should a UVB light be to a bearded dragon?
UVB bulbs should be positioned within 10-12 inches of where your bearded dragon will bask to allow proper exposure. Any closer risks eye and skin irritation. Measure distance from bulb to basking area, not dragon length.
Can you leave a heat lamp on at night for bearded dragons?
Yes, while UVB bulbs should be off at night, it is fine to leave a ceramic heat emitter, moonlight bulb, or low wattage incandescent bulb on at night to maintain a temperature gradient. Just be sure no UVB is emitted.
How do I provide light for my bearded dragon at night?
The best options for bearded dragon lighting at night include ceramic heat emitters, moonlight bulbs, and low wattage incandescent bulbs. These provide warmth without UVB. Some owners use red, blue, or purple bulbs but research on how beardies perceive colored lights is limited.
Can bearded dragons see in the dark?
Bearded dragons cannot see detailed images in pure darkness. However, they likely have some ability to detect shapes and movement in low light conditions. Moonlight or dim white bulbs can allow navigation at night without disrupting circadian rhythms like bright lights.
Conclusion
UVB exposure is crucial for bearded dragons during their active daylight hours. But allowing unnatural access to these rays at night can disrupt natural cycles and have detrimental effects. For optimal health, turn off UVB-emitting bulbs at night while providing 10-12 hours of high quality UVB during awake hours. Adjustments to match an individual bearded dragon’s needs are key to balancing UVB properly. With a clear day/night cycle, you can meet all your bearded dragon’s UVB requirements.