Best UVB Light For Bearded Dragons To Be Happy And Healthy

One way to properly care for your Bearded Dragon is to provide them with ample light. No, we don’t mean buying a regular light bulb and placing it above their tank. Instead, they need a special kind of light to help them grow and develop correctly.

But what kind of lights do Bearded Dragons need? This article will discuss different lights such as UVB, UVA, UVC, and more. In addition, we’ll talk about why these different lights are essential for your Beardie. Finally, we’ll share the five best bulbs to get your Bearded Dragon and how to set it up in their tank correctly.

Comparison Chart Of The Best UVB Bulb For Bearded Dragon

Name	Image	Light Output	Wattage	Price	Features	Rating (/5)
Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Mini Compact Fluorescent		10% UVB, 30% UVA	13 Watts	Click here	Vertical or horizontal use, great for all desert reptiles	4.5
Zoo Med ReptiSun 22” 10.0 T5HO UVB Bulb		10% UVB, 30% UVA	24 Watts	Click here	Comes in multiple sizes, can be used above screened top	4.5
Tekizoo UVA UVB Sun Lamp		10% UVB, 35% UVA	80 Watts	Click here	Compact design, premium quality	4.5
MyComfyPets UVB Light And UVA 2-in-1 Reptile Bulb		400 UVB at 30cm	100 Watts	Click here	UVA and UVB output for large tanks, fits standard light fixtures	4.5
ZooMed Repti Basking Spot Bulb		35% UVB	100 Watts	Click here	Comes with 2 bulbs, ideal for all desert reptiles	4.0

What Is A UVB Light?

A UVB light is a special Bearded Dragon light bulb that helps your Beardie grow and develop properly.

For example, a UVB light helps the synthesis of vitamin D3, which allows your Bearded to absorb calcium.

Bearded Dragons need plenty of calcium to grow and develop well. The UVB helps them absorb the calcium from their diet and the light’s rays, mimicking vitamin D3.

There is another type of light that’s helpful for your Bearded Dragon to have in addition to the UVB light. It’s called a UVA light, and it helps regulate feeding, diurnal movement, mating, and other behaviors your Beardie should show regularly.

Together, UVA UVB bulbs for bearded dragons can work to ensure your Beardie is getting everything they need. In addition, they’ll help your reptile feel like they’re truly in their natural habitat.

Finally, there is another type of light called UVC. This light is not needed for your Bearded Dragon, but it can help kill bacteria within the terrarium.

On the other hand, too much UVC light in the tank can also backfire and harm your Beardie.

What Lights Do Bearded Dragons Need?

So, what kind of light do Bearded Dragons need? Believe it or not, there are three kinds of lights that Bearded Dragons need to thrive in their terrarium.

First, they need a UV light. Then, they need the UV rays, whether it’s a UVB, UVA, both, or a Mercury Vapor bulb.

These lights mimic natural vitamin D from the sun. But, unfortunately, UV rays cannot pass through plastic or glass. So, even if you have your Bearded’s tank sitting in a sunny spot in the room, they’re not getting any UV rays.

This is why they need a UV bulb sitting on top of their tank, on a screened cover.

Also, your Beardie needs a heat bulb. UV lights don’t provide much heat, so a heat bulb will help regulate your Bearded Dragon’s body temperature and tank temperature.

Remember, this lizard needs their tank to be about 75 to 85 degrees F during the day.

At night, they need a tank between 65 and 74 degrees F. This is why they need the third bulb, specifically for nighttime.

For instance, they need a heat light for the night, but it should not be a white bulb. There are reb bulbs to create darkness while still providing heat. Likewise, bearded Dragons need darkness to help them sleep.

Watch this video: What UVB Is Best for Bearded Dragons? | CRTV S1:E4

What Size UVB Light For Bearded Dragon?

When it comes to choosing the size of UVB light for your Bearded Dragon, you’ll want to choose something that fits within their enclosure.

For example, you want it to be seven to ten inches away from their basking spot but still cover a good amount of the terrarium.

A higher wattage will mean the light will be stronger, but as long as the light covers the tank and you have it on a schedule, your Bearded Dragon will get what they need.

Top 5 Best UVB Light For Bearded Dragons

Now that we have a better understanding of the types of lights Bearded Dragons need and what they provide for your Beardie, let’s look at some of the best UVB for Bearded Dragons.

As with all products, there are benefits and drawbacks of each lightbulb. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best UVB light bulbs for Bearded Dragons. In the end, decide which one seems to be the best option for your Beardie.

If you’re unsure, you can discuss it with your lizard’s vet. However, this list is a good place to start looking.

UVB Light 1: Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Mini Compact Fluorescent (13 Watts)

Benefits:

• 10% UVB output and 30% UVA output
• Great for all desert reptiles
• It can be used vertically or horizontally to fit your tank

Drawbacks:

• It cannot be handled with bare hands
• The bulb may burn out after a couple of months
• It might be a fire hazard if not changed often enough

Zoo Med is a great company that’s well-known by many reptile lovers. They provide great bulbs, catering to the needs of your Bearded Dragon. For instance, your Beardie will get what they need with ample heat and UV rays.

In addition, you can place it in a dome lamp above your reptile’s tank. Or, you can place it inside the terrarium so your Beardie can get the maximum UV rays and heat they need.

In addition, this bulb is made with quartz, so it can’t be touched with bare hands. The oil from your hand may harm the bulb, shortening its lifespan and possibly causing it to crack.

One of the best parts about this bulb is that it stays relatively cool. If you don’t change it every six months, it may be a fire hazard. However, if you accidentally touch the bulb while it’s been on for a while, you won’t burn yourself.

Overall, this is an excellent UVA UVB bulb for Bearded Dragons.

>> Click here for the latest prices.

UVB Light 2: Zoo Med ReptiSun 22” 10.0 T5HO UVB Bulb

Benefits:

• Has 10% UVB and 30% UVA output
• It comes in multiple sizes
• It can be used above a screened top

Drawbacks:

• It doesn’t produce enough heat
• Contains mercury
• Best if used with bigger tanks

There’s a lot to love about this Zoo Med UVB light. Once again, this brand is well-known and creates great products for reptiles.

This light is excellent for desert reptiles and is a great Bearded Dragon UV bulb. It provides enough UVB and UVA light for your Beardie. However, when it comes to providing heat, you’ll still need a heat lamp during the day.

In addition, you can place this light above your tank on a screened top, saving you some room in the enclosure and making it easier for you to change the bulb.

However, because it’s such a long bulb, this will be better to use in larger tanks. Of course, this bulb does come in a few different sizes, but it’s always lengthy.

One of the downsides of this blub is that it does contain mercury. So, when disposing of this bulb, you’ll have to do so in a special way. Also, you’ll want to ensure you handle it carefully.

>> Click here for the latest prices.

UVB Light 3: Tekizoo UVA UVB Sun Lamp

Benefits: 

• Compact design
• Compatible with all reptiles and enclosures
• Provides the sufficient amount of UVA and UVB

Drawbacks:

• It cannot be mounted at an angle
• The bulb may burn out quickly
• UVA and UVB output may be unbalanced

If you have a smaller enclosure for your Bearded Dragon then this bulb might be a good choice for you.

Its compact design is great for any tank size. In addition, you can place it over the screened top, or you can mount it on the inside. However, you can’t mount it at an angle. This is because the bulb needs to be at a certain angle for the light to spread evenly throughout the terrarium.

Even though the bulb is small, the light is strong with ample UVB and UVA for your Bearded Dragon. However, this particular bulb is known to burn out quickly.

You should change the UV light every six months, but this bulb might burn out after two or three months.

In addition, the UVA and UVB output may be imbalanced. The light could cause this to be angled, or some bulbs might carry more UVB than UVA. Regardless, this bulb produces excellent UV rays and heat.

>> Click here for the latest prices.

UV Light 4: MyComfyPets UVB Light And UVA 2-in-1 Reptile Bulb

Benefits:

• Provides UVA and UVB output for large tanks
• It fits standard threaded light fixtures
• Great source of heat

Drawbacks:

• UVA and UVB is not measured in percentages
• Contains mercury
• It does not contain UVC

You can be sure that your Bearded Dragon will get what they need with this UV light. For example, it provides plenty of UVA, UVB and heat for large tanks.

However, the UV rays are not measured by percentages, so it’s unclear how much your Beardie is getting. This is something you’ll want to measure yourself when the light has been on for a little while. 

So, if you’re unsure if this is the right bulb for your Bearded Dragon, you can try the light for a day without the Beardie, to be sure.

Otherwise, it’s a great source of heat for your reptile. In addition, the bulb will fit standard light fixtures, so you won’t need to buy anything else too fancy.

Also, this bulb is advertised as a mercury vapor bulb but contains no UVC. It does, however, contain mercury. So, it will need to be handled carefully and disposed of specially.

>> Click here for the latest prices.

UV Light 5: ZooMed Repti Basking Spot Bulb

Benefits:

• Provides 35% UVB rays
• It comes with two bulbs
• Ideal for all desert reptiles

Drawbacks:

• It does not provide enough heat
• It might burn out quickly
• May shatter easily

These are great UVB lights for Bearded Dragons, but they might not be as sturdy as you’d like.

For instance, this bulb is fragile and can shatter easily. Also, it might burn out quicker than you’d like. It would help if you changed the bulb every six months, but you might go through more than two or three within six months.

Luckily, this pack comes with two bulbs at a time. In addition, it’s affordable in case you end up needing to stock up.

In addition, you’ll want to use a heat lamp with this bulb because it provides little to no heat. It contains 35% UVB rays, though, so your Beardie will be able to bask peacefully.

Overall, this light is ideal for all desert reptiles. It can also fit in with many types of enclosures and lamp fixtures. It can be mounted inside the tank or on top of a screened cover.

>> Click here for the latest prices.

Bearded Dragon Light Setup

When it comes to setting up the best UV light for Bearded Dragons, the first thing you’ll want to figure out is the wattage to get.

These bulbs can range in watts, which is the bulb’s strength of output.

Believe it or not, the watts don’t matter. Yes, the more watts, the stronger the bulb will be. However, when choosing a UVB light, you want to focus more on which bulb will fit your Beardie’s enclosure.

The UVB light should cover most of the tank. However, be sure to provide plenty of shaded areas, such as hiding holes, for your Beardie to retreat to if they need a break from the light and heat.

You can place the UVB light in a couple of spots. Choose whichever is best for your Beardie.

For example, you can place the light inside the tank. Then, mount it on the wall, keeping the light about seven to ten inches away from your Beardie’s basking spot.

This will allow your Bearded Dragon to get the rays they need while basking, but they’ll be able to get some rays throughout the tank. In addition, if they need a break, they can find a shaded spot to do so.

Alternatively, if you have a tank with a screened cover, you can place the bulb on the screen. Be sure to keep it seven to ten inches away from the basking spot. It will still be as effective for your reptile and slightly easier for you to change the bulb when needed.

On the other hand, if you decide to use a Mercury Vapor Bulb, you’ll want to mount it to the side of the tank, outside of the enclosure, about three inches away from the top.

Since this bulb is so strong, you don’t want to have it immediately in your Beardie’s face.

How Long Does A Bearded Dragon UVB Light Last?

UVB lights last a long time. Provided on the type of bulb you get and the luck of the draw, these bulbs can last for up to 12 months.

While it sounds excellent that these bulbs last so long, the truth is that the longer they’re on, the weaker they get. So, a 12-month-old bulb will not give the same output as it did when you first turned it on.

This is why we recommend changing the UVB light once every six months. This will ensure the output remains strong, and you can keep better track of the UV rays your Beardie gets throughout the year.

How Much Light Do Bearded Dragons Need?

So, how many hours of light do Bearded Dragons need?

They need a UVB light source for about 12 to 14 hours a day during the spring and summer. In addition, they’ll need the UV rays for about eight hours a day during the fall and winter months.

Your Beardie needs to get this type of light for a few different reasons.

UVB for Bearded Dragons is important because the UV rays help regulate their behavior and get the proper amount of vitamin D they need to thrive.

For instance, if they don’t get enough UVB, then your Beardie could end up getting sick. Thus, resulting in a shorter lifespan and leading to other illnesses such as tail rot.

Do You Need Bearded Dragon Light Bulbs For Night?

Yes, your Bearded Dragon does need a light bulb for the night.

Even though your Beardie needs darkness to sleep, they still need warmth. So, you won’t need to worry about having a special UVB light for the night because the sun isn’t out at night.

However, you can get a red heat light for nighttime. It will keep your Bearded Dragon (and their tank) warm and keep it dark enough for them to get proper sleep.

What About A Coil UVB Light Bulb For Bearded Dragon?

As you can see, there is plenty of UVB light bulbs available to choose from. However, some are better than others. For instance, a coil UVB light bulb should be avoided.

Unfortunately, coil UVB bulbs do their job too well and are too powerful for your Bearded Dragon. This type of bulb can also be inconsistent when it comes to putting out heat and UV rays. 

In other words, you can’t be sure if your Bearded Dragon is getting too much or too little. If they get too much, then your Beardie can get serious health conditions. For example, vision problems are expected when the UV rays are too strong for them.

Conclusion

Is there a best UVB light for Bearded Dragons? Every Beardie is different.

Finding the right UVB light isn’t an easy task, but it’s doable. You might need trial and error on some brands, but this list is a good place to start.

Learn more about exactly how to raise bearded dragons here, our complete guide to the best heat lamp for your Beardie here, the best bedding for them here and what bearded dragons do for fun here. Read more about Bearded Dragons here.