Reptiles and amphibians are ectotherms, or cold-blooded.
A proper heating system is thus a very important factor of the natural terrarium set-up.
Reptiles are able to regulate their body temperature partly through radiant heat from the
sun, provided by the lighting system or the Heat Wave Lamp in terrarium conditions.
In their natural biotope, reptiles also often use surfaces heated by the sun,
like branches, rocks or the forest floor as a heat-conductor.
The Heat Wave Rock and Heat Wave substrate heaters simulate these natural conditions by
heating the rock or substrate of the terrarium, stimulating the natural
thermo-regulating behaviour of reptiles.
Although light is much more complex, there are only three facets of light that are important
for reptile husbandry: ultraviolet light, visible light and infrared light. In order
to create these three biological aspects of sunlight artificially, Exo Terra has developed
several specialized lights. Reptiles require appropriate and high quality lighting in order
to meet certain different metabolic needs.
As it is almost impossible to accommodate all of these needs in a single light source,
a combination of different light sources is necessary in most cases.
