Zoo Med Night Light Red Heat Bulbs are incandescent bulbs made using red glass, so the light emitted is red, not bright white. This way, you can provide your pet with nighttime heating without disrupting his day/night cycle. If you’re using a basking lamp during the day, this bulb may not be strictly necessary for your box turtle, since they generally do fine with cooler overnight temperatures. On the other hand, it makes a convenient set-it-and-forget-it, 24-hour heat source, especially if you use it with a thermostat or rheostat.
It also provides enough light that you can see your pet at night. It is important to remember that the light emitted does not provide either UVA or UBV rays. If your pet does not get regular time outside, you will need a separate bulb that does provide these light rays.
Keep reading for more about Zoo Med’s Nightlight Red Bulb:
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Light & Heat Output Life Expectancy Pros & Cons Where to Buy
Light and Heat Output
The red glass used to make the Zoo Med Night Light Red Heat Bulb allows for better heat transfer than with coated bulbs. It’s available in several strengths, so you can choose the one that works best for you. Which one you need will depend both on the size of your habitat and the ambient air temperature. So the colder you keep your home, the more you will need to heat your turtle’s home.
You can get bulbs in:
- 25 watts
- 40 watts
- 60 watts
- 100 watts
Most people seem to find the 60 watt bulbs provide the heat they need. This strength even comes in a 2-pack, which can save you money.
Remember, red bulbs are intended as heat lamps, not light lamps. Even so, they do put out a fair amount of red light. Some people found them too bright, especially if they had their pets in their bedroom. Although the light shouldn’t disturb your pet, it could disturb your sleep if you’re a light sleeper. Just something to keep in mind.
You can also use these bulbs with a dimmer, so the light output is less. You may need to experiment with how this affects the temperature in your habitat.
These bulbs are labeled as made in Europe.
Night Light Red Heat Bulb Life Expectancy
These bulbs are supposed to last up to about 3000 hours. Keep in mind this is not a guaranteed lifespan, and bulbs of all kinds do burn out sooner than expected. Overall, they seem to last somewhere between about 1500 and 3000 hours.
Some reviewers did have problems with them lasting only a few days or weeks. Obviously, we can’t know if these bulbs were defective or mishandled. But to help yours last longer, it’s a good idea to minimize bumps and movement, especially while the bulbs are hot. Here are a few more tips to maximize a bulb’s life:
- Do not get them wet while hot. These bulbs are not splashproof.
- Use in a ceramic socket.
- Don’t touch with bare hands. Believe it or not, oil from your hands can cause a hot spot that makes it more likely the bulb will burn out. Hold the bulb with a tissue or cloth (or wear gloves) while installing.
- Move the lamp only when the bulb is cool.
- Make sure bulb is screwed into socket firmly.
Some people have suggested that these bulbs will last longer if kept on 24/7, rather than switched off during the day. But there were other reviewers who claimed to have no problem using them only at night. How you use them is your call, of course, but it seems likely that the biggest factor in premature burn-out is how they’re handled. Take care of the bulbs and they’ll take care of you. 🙂
Zoo Med does provide a 3-month warranty, so if you do have a problem, call and complain.
Pros and Cons Summary for Zoo Med’s Night Light Red Heat Bulb
Overall, these bulbs seem to work very well to heat enclosures. The main complaints seem to be that the red glow is too bright and their potentially short lifespan.
Pros:
- Available in several strengths
- Better heat transfer than many other red bulbs
- May last longer than other red bulbs
- Good as a 24-hour heat source
- 60-watt bulbs are available in money-saving packs of two
Cons:
- Lifespan may be hit or miss; this may depend at least in part on how they’re handled
- Does not provide UVA or UVB rays, so unless your turtles go outside regularly, you’ll need a second bulb for this
- Some people find the red glow a little too bright
Even given the potential negatives, more people were happy than not with the performance and even the durability of these bulbs.
Check Prices and Availability
Interested in giving these bulbs a try? The following stores had various wattages in stock as of this writing:
- PetSmart also sells the 40, 60 and 100 watt bulbs. Choose the one you want under “select size.” It also sells the 60-watt value pack.
- PetCo sells all four wattages plus a 2-pack of 60-watt bulbs. They were all on sale as of this writing.
- Amazon also sells the 60 watt bulbs in a 2-pack plus all the other wattages (25, 40, 60 and 100 watt).
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