UVB lamps are called "desert" and "jungle" - what does this mean?

Buying reptile lamps is a science of its own. There are not only different lamp technologies, different wattages and sizes. But some manufacturers also distinguish between "desert" and "jungle". Actually self-explanatory designations, but what does it really mean? The difference is the light color in the visible range. Desert stands for 6000 Kelvin (which is pure white) and jungle for 4000 Kelvin (a warmer, yellowish white). So it is not about the intensity of the light, not about the brightness, not about the amount of UV radiation or the heat development - it is purely about differences in the color of light.

In our opinion the main factors for the selection of a terrarium lamp are how much UV light, how much visible light and how much heat this lamp emits. All this depends on the lamp technology, the wattage and the distance of the lamp from the animal. The more watts, the brighter the visible light, the more UV light and the warmer the place in the sun - at the same distance. Desert animals need high wattages - the distance also depends on the size of the animal, since the whole body should be irradiated. Rainforest animals that spend more time in the shade generally require lower wattages. When choosing the right terrarium lamp it is enough to concentrate on these essential points. In our opinion, an additional - minor - differentiation by the light color is not necessary. That is the reason why Reptiles Expert only offers UVB metal halide lamps with 6000 Kelvin. We want to keep the selection process simple.