Do Bearded Dragons Need Heat at Night?

If you’re setting up a home for a bearded dragon, you’ll probably find yourself asking – does a bearded dragon need a nighttime heat source?

Vivarium heating is essential for bearded dragons during the day as these reptiles are sun-worshippers, native to the Australian outback, and spend their days basking in the heat of the sun. This is best-provided by a basking lamp like this.

But at nighttime it’s a different story. Your vivarium should mimic the natural heat and light pattern of your bearded dragon’s natural environment, and since the temperature in the outback drops after dark, your bearded dragon needs a cooler temperature at night. This means you can turn off your heat lamp at night.

Nighttime temperatures for bearded dragons

While bearded dragons are used to cooler temperatures at night, you should be careful that your beardie doesn’t get too cold. This is just as dangerous as overheating and can make your bearded dragon ill.

We’d recommend monitoring the temperature inside your bearded dragon tank at all times, and making sure the night temperature inside the vivarium never drops below 18℃.

You can do this will a thermostat, which is easy and cheap to pick up on Amazon. Once attached to a heat source, you can programme your thermostat to turn the heat lamp on whenever the temperature drops below 18℃.

It’s normal for your bearded dragon to feel cold to the touch in the morning (this is normal for cold-blooded reptiles who use their environment to regulate their body temperature) and you should only worry if the temperature in your tank has drastically fallen.

Nighttime heating options for bearded dragons

If your house is particularly cold at night, you may need to install some nighttime heating to keep your bearded dragon warm. Here are the different options.

image credit: WikiHow.

Ceramic lamp

A ceramic lamp is perfect for nighttime heating as it doesn’t emit light (and won’t disturb your bearded dragon’s natural sleeping pattern).

You’ll find loads of great value ceramic lamps on Amazon. Just make sure it’s attached to a thermostat and only turns on when the temperature drops below 18℃.

Infrared night time bulb

Another good option is an infrared bulb. You can pick one up for less than £10 on Amazon and the glow from this type of bulb won’t disturb your bearded dragon’s sleep. Just bear in mind that an infrared bulb won’t last as long as a ceramic lamp.

And there you have it – the complete guide to nighttime heating from bearded dragons. Want more advice about bearded dragon care? Stay on Vivarium World: