Dragon Smart UVB Check - Before You Buy!

Dragon Smart Heat Lamp Standard for Bearded Dragons

Core Principle

Basking temperature is determined by:

  • Lamp output (wattage and bulb type)

  • Distance from the bulb to the basking surface

  • Ambient room temperature

Target basking surface temperatures:

  • Adults: ~105–110°F

  • Juveniles: ~100–105°F

These recommendations are safe starting points, not hard limits. You will need to measure your temperatures to ensure your pets safety.

 

Heat Lamp Types Used in the Dragon Smart Standard

We intentionally standardize on two lamp types for consistency and safety.

Intense Basking Spot (Incandescent)

  • Best for small to medium setups

  • Focused beam for controlled basking zones

Halogen Heat Lamp

  • Best for large enclosures

  • Superior heat projection at longer distances

  • More natural basking response at scale

Heat Lamp Recommendations (Starting Standards)

Small Setups (Distance-Limited Enclosures/Interior mounts on larger enclosures.)

These recommendations do not endorse small enclosures.
They exist to help owners already using them achieve safer basking temperatures.

Intense Basking Spot

  • 50W or 75W are both reasonable starting points, 75 watts can push farther in to the enclosure.

  • Many 20-gallon-long owners benefit from testing both strengths

  • These lamps may struggle to cover the desired spread of an adult bearded dragon without special accomodations.

Measuring basking surface temperature is strongly recommended.

Zoo Med 50 Watt Intense Basking Spot
Zoo Med 75 Watt Intense Basking Spot

Medium Enclosures (40-Gallon Breeder Range)

Zoo Med Intense Basking Spot

Distance to basking surface:

  • ~10–12 inches → 100W (First Choice)

  • ~14–16 inches → 150W (Low Basking Spot Profile)

Zoo Med 100 Watt Intense Basking Spot 
Zoo Med 150 Watt Intense Basking Spot

Large Enclosures (4×2×2 and Larger)

150 Watt Basking Spot Lamp or 100 Watt Halogen Heat Lamp

Distance to basking surface:

  • ~14–16 inches → 150W

  • ~16 inches or greater → 100W Par38 Halogen

Why halogen:

  • Incandescent basking bulbs struggle to project heat efficiently at this distance

  • Halogen provides stronger usable heat and more consistent basking behavior

Zoo Med 150 Watt Intense Basking Spot.

Arcadia Halogen Heat Lamp 100W

If You’re Between Two Options

Choose the lower wattage and adjust basking height upward if needed.
Stronger bulbs are not automatically better.

Common Heat Lamp Mistakes

  • Choosing wattage without considering distance

  • Oversizing bulbs instead of adjusting basking height

  • Using flood bulbs instead of focused basking spots

  • Using cheap or unsecured lamp fixtures

Most heat problems are setup problems, not bulb problems.

Important Safety Notice

🔥 Heat lamps are a real fire risk if used improperly.
One of the most common causes of house fires involving reptiles is faulty, under-rated or low-quality heat lamp equipment.

Always:

  • Use high-quality, ceramic-based lamp fixtures

  • Ensure lamps are securely mounted

  • Keep bulbs clear of flammable materials

  • Avoid cheap plastic sockets or unstable clamp lamps

  • Check the wattage rating sticker inside the dome you are using

Heat lamps should never be treated as disposable hardware.

What this page is for

This page provides a reliable starting standard for choosing a basking heat lamp without guesswork, arguments, or over-complication.

Basking heat is controlled by lamp output, distance, and room conditions — not enclosure size alone.
Enclosure size is referenced here only as a distance and airflow proxy, not an endorsement of any enclosure size.

Final Reminder

These recommendations are starting standards, not absolutes.
Every home is different. Basking surface temperature is always the final authority.

This page exists to get you close, safely, and confidently — without guessing.