The Best Reptile Light Timer

In this article, we will focus more on the day and night cycles and how you can ensure both are maintained with the use of the best reptile light timers.

Just like humans, reptiles, as well as other animals, depend on the environment to put them to sleep or keep them active.

The presence or absence of light greatly influences an animal’s daily schedule and also its circadian rhythm.

Circadian rhythms are changes that dictate your pet reptile’s behavior and is affected by light and darkness.

The rhythm influences body functions like sleep and wakefulness, and hormonal release too. If your pet is not sleeping right or sleeps off its biological clock, it will get stressed and you will have an unhappy pet.

In order to avoid mixing up the biological schedules of your pet, you need a system that you can trust to put the lights on and off to signify day time and night time respectively.

Switching the lights on and off yourself could be exhausting and besides, you won’t always be on time and that’s why you need a light timer.

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We Recommend

After seeing numerous lighting timers, we have a pretty solid idea of what characteristics make the Reptile Light timer, and the BN-LINK 8 Outlet Surge Protector it’s our top choice.

• SAFE & RELIABLE
• OVERRIDE SWITCH
• INDICATOR LIGHTS
• TIMER FUNCTION

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Complete Guide For Best Reptile Light Timers

There are several options to provide your pet with the proper lighting it needs to stay healthy and happy.

Light is important to your pet reptile because it helps you regulate your pet’s sleep cycle and mating behaviors.

This is usually regulated by sunlight in the wild but since you have the reptile in an indoor enclosure, you have to recreate a perfect environment.

Before getting a pet, you need to do some research so you can know your animal’s specific needs.

Having this information is the way you can provide your pet with a good living environment leading to a long and healthy life with few visits to the vet.

Reptiles need UVA and UVB from the sun, and so you will need to provide them with a source of both rays. 

UVB is essential for the synthesis of calcium and keeping your pet away from a source of UVB will lead to hypocalcemia.

Using a timer will, therefore, ensure that your pet gets enough UVB as it requires even when you are not looking.

It is not advisable however to keep the lights on at all times because it will lead to hyperkalemia.

Proper research on your specific pet reptile will let you know its UVB requirement and you will then provide for it properly.

But generally, you need to keep the daytime light on for 12 hours signifying day time and turn it off at night for another 12 hours. 

Other lights could be used at night to heat up the enclosure and help you see your pet even in the darkness of the night.

With the use of a light timer, you don’t have to go through the stress of remembering to put the light on and off at the appropriate times.

You can stay away for some time and know that your pet has its light needs met as the timer will control the lighting system.

Daylight Bulbs

Daylight bulbs are a replacement for the sun in your reptile’s enclosure. The sun provides reptiles with a balance of UV light and heat in the right amount that they need to stay healthy and using these types of bulbs will allow you to recreate that.

When using daylight bulbs, it is proper to put them on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours. Some reptile species, however, require more or less light and so you have to research the needs of your species to help you meet up.

Using a timer will ensure that your pet gets the benefits of a daylight bulb at the right time each day and in the right amount.

Nighttime (Infrared) Bulbs

Nighttime bulbs are basically used if you want to observe your pet at night when everywhere is dark.

It also provides heat your reptile requires at night. The red light these bulbs give off is invisible to their eyes so they can maintain their nightly routine while you enjoy the view.

If your pet reptile is nocturnal but doesn’t need much heat at night, you can make use of other light options that do not give off heat. The important thing is to meet your pet’s requirements at all times.

You may not always be home to put the nighttime light on as you put off the daytime light, but with the use of a light timer, it can be maintained and the day and night cycle will be more efficiently maintained.

Moon Lights

Moonlights are like night-time lights but they simulate the light of the moon and allow your nocturnal reptile carry on its activities.

Using the nighttime infrared lights isn’t favorable to all nocturnal reptiles as not all can hunt in the complete darkness.

So moonlight is the best choice here to provide them with low light and heat that they require to hunt, eat, and reproduce.

If your pet doesn’t require heat at night but needs a light, you can go for the type that doesn’t emit heat but just light. Connecting this to a light timer will ensure everything runs as it should.

The 5 Top-Rated Best Reptile Light Timer

Editor’s Picks	Brand	Rating
Top Pick	BN-LINK 8 Outlet Surge Protector	4.2
Runner Up	GE 7-Day Programmable Power Strip with Digital Timer	4.0
Best Budget Buy	Sungrow Timer for Aquarium Light	3.7
Best Light Timer for Terrarium	Zilla Reptile Habitat Lighting	3.8
Best Day Night Light Timer for Reptiles	Zoo Med Repticare Day Night Timer	3.7

*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change

The Best Reptile Light Timer

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1. BN-LINK 8 Outlet Surge Protector

Top on our list of best reptile timers is the BN-LINK 8 outlet surge protector.

It is user-friendly from its installation up to its operation, making sure that you get the best with no sweat.

Of the 8 outlets, 4 are always on, while 4 are controllable.

So you can make use of the always-on outlets with your appliances that you always use, and control your reptile’s enclosure lights with the other 4 outlets.

While setting the timer, you can do so in increments of 15 minutes, to give you an accurate time setting that best suits you.

It protects your appliances from power surge and has a circuit breaker in it.

So you can use this device and have peace of mind knowing that all your connected devices are safe, and your pet will get its lights that need to be met adequately.

Pros

• 8 power outlets with 4 always on and other 4 controllable
• Offers surge protection
• Helps in energy saving
• Can be used with other devices apart from lights

Cons

• Produces a sound when turned on which can be disturbing

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2. GE 7-Day Programmable Power Strip with Digital Timer

This GE 7-day Programmable Power Strip allows you control not only your reptile lights but other household appliances as well.

You can easily program your light needs for each day of the week and let the device serve you to your satisfaction.

There are 8 outlets of which 4 can be controlled, so you have the space to plug in and control all the lights you have for your pet’s enclosure.

When not in use, it is possible that debris can find their way into the outlets.

You can prevent this and elongate the lifespan of your device by the twist to lock cover features it comes with.

Your settings are also safe as the backup battery keeps it going in the event of power failure, so you do not need to reset the timer when the power goes off.

Pros

• Gives control to multiple lights
• Programmable for up to 7 days
• Allows you save power
• Backup battery to save settings when there is a power failure

Cons

• Does not provide surge protection

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3. Sungrow Timer for Aquarium Light

The Sungrow Timer for Aquarium Light is specially designed for your aquatic reptiles so you can take care of their light needs.

Just like it is with other reptiles, aquatic reptiles do not need light for 24 hours and so the use of a good timer is required to signify day time and the beginning of activities, and nighttime and the beginning of rest and sleep.

Except your reptile has other light needs, you can set the daytime light to come on for 12 hours, and go off while the nighttime light comes on for the remaining 12 hours.

And even if your reptile has other needs, you can adjust it easily with the 15 minutes increment over a 24 hour period.

It is easy to program and its use is as easy as just plugging the timer in, plugging the lights in and then setting the on and off times.

Once set, you do not need to reset anything as it will continue to run on the schedule you have chosen.

You have nothing to worry about even in the case of a power surge as it is built to protect your electrical devices.

The refund policy is very juicy and makes this product a great purchase as its customer service is superb also.

Pros

• Automatically control your pet’s day and night schedule
• Easy to program
• Full refund policy
• No need to reset the timer
• Has power surge protection
• Can be used with other appliances too

Cons

• Set up instructions are not in English and can be a problem

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4. Zilla Reptile Habitat Lighting

The Sungrow Timer for Aquarium Light is specially designed for your aquatic reptiles so you can take care of their light needs.

Just like it is with other reptiles, aquatic reptiles do not need light for 24 hours and so the use of a good timer is required to signify day time and the beginning of activities, and nighttime and the beginning of rest and sleep.

Except your reptile has other light needs, you can set the daytime light to come on for 12 hours, and go off while the nighttime light comes on for the remaining 12 hours.

And even if your reptile has other needs, you can adjust it easily with the 15 minutes increment over a 24 hour period.

It is easy to program and its use is as easy as just plugging the timer in, plugging the lights in and then setting the on and off times.

Once set, you do not need to reset anything as it will continue to run on the schedule you have chosen.

You have nothing to worry about even in the case of a power surge as it is built to protect your electrical devices.

The refund policy is very juicy and makes this product a great purchase as its customer service is superb also.

Pros

• Automatically control your pet’s day and night schedule
• Easy to program
• Full refund policy
• No need to reset the timer
• Has power surge protection
• Can be used with other appliances too

Cons

• Set up instructions are not in English and can be a problem

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5. Zoo Med Repticare Day Night Timer

We will wrap it up on the best light timers for reptiles with this Zoo Med Repticare Day Night Timer.

You can now more efficiently maintain the day and night cycle of your pet in its enclosure effortlessly.

By installing this timer, daylight will be turned on in the morning and off at night, and the night light will come on at night and off in the morning.

This ensures your pet gets all the UV radiation from the lights in the appropriate amount, and also gets active when it is supposed to, and rest at the right time too.

It is not easy to maintain the natural setting in an indoor reptilian enclosure but with the use of this device, you have less to worry about.

Pros

• Easy to set up
• Can also be used to regulate heaters
• Great at maintaining day time and night time in the enclosure

Cons

• Lacks that durable feel

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Things to Look Out For In A Good Reptile Light Timer

When you go to the store to purchase a light timer for your pet reptile, you will discover that there are a lot of options available and making a choice will become difficult.

How then can you make a choice that will be of great value and benefit to you and your pet? There are a number of factors to consider and look out for as you try to make your purchase.

Having them at the back of your mind will go a long way in helping you make the right choice:

Check that the product can perfectly put on lights and turn them off at the appropriate times. This information is provided in the product description.

A timer is not supposed to raise the energy bills you pay but help you save cost and power. Check for this feature too.

Do not go for looks only but ensure what you are purchasing is durable. A product that comes with a good warranty and returns policy is more trustworthy than a product with none.

Ensure that what you are purchasing is easy to set up because if it is complex, you may get frustrated and not enjoy the full benefits.

Besides you are making the purchase to take away the stress and not create a new one.

Ultimately, you won’t want to use a product that is harmful to your pet. So when making a purchase, make sure it is something that can safely be used with reptiles.

How To Use Reptile Light Timer

These can be used to turn automatically on and off an electrical appliance and two good examples of this would be something like a pump for a turtle tank or basking lights.

In order for the timer to work, it must be plugged in into an electrical outlet.

The appliance you wish to use then must be plugged into the timer and the power must be switched on for the electrical outlet.

Usually, on the timer, there should be a switch or a button depending on the product, which will allow you to change it between the manual function and the timer function.

The manual function will allow you to turn your appliances on and off as you usually would but by switching it to the timer function, it means it would turn on and off to whatever time you set on the timer.

If you are looking to change the timer while it still has the power switched on for the electrical outlet, it would be a good idea to turn the power back off for the respective electrical outlet to avoid damaging the timer.

Usually, most of the timers will have a rotatable clockwise circle that indicates how many minutes are between each hour marked depending on each product. 

On other types of timers, they will have your standard buttons paired up with a display which will indicate the time, day and the function timer that it’s currently set up to.

Commonly Asked Question About Reptile Light Timers

Q: Do You Keep Basking Light On At Night?

You should not keep basking light on at night. Basking light acts as a daytime light and as such will make sleeping and rest difficult for your pet. What your pet needs at night is darkness.

Q: How Long Do You Keep The Lights On For A Bearded Dragon?

The light requirements of a bearded dragon vary with the seasons. During the summer months, they need a minimum of 16 hours of daytime light and UV exposure. During the winter months, they need a minimum of 12 hours of daytime and UV exposure.

Q: Can Turtles Live Without UV Light?

Yes, they can but not for long. Without UVB light for instance, they will have health issues like shell problems and metabolic bone disease. If kept away from UVB for long it can lead to death

Q: How Many Types Of Timers Are There?

There are two main types of light timers: mechanical and electronic. They come either as hardwired or plug-in modules.

Conclusion

The use of light timers for reptiles cannot be overemphasized as their survival depends largely on the environment they are in.

The right daylight and nighttime schedule are critical in their behavior and maturity and as such, tasks like maintaining the cycle cannot be left to you to handle as it can be stressful.

The use of an automatic timer will ensure this cycle is maintained and that your pet gets the required amounts of UV radiation.

We have helped you in narrowing down the best light timers for reptiles, but if you are still confused about the right choice to make, may we suggest BN-LINK 8 Outlet Surge Protector. It offers surge protection and saves power also. Most importantly is the fact that it can control lighting perfectly.

Another option for you to choose from is GE 7-Day Programmable Power Strip with Digital Timer. It is programmable for up to 7 days and has a backup battery that keeps your settings safe even if there is a power failure. It controls your lights perfectly and satisfactorily. 

All choices here are top and so no matter what you end up going for, you are sure to enjoy using it.