Reptile Mercury Vapour Bulbs

Powerful heat, light and UVB bulbs

Mercury vapour bulbs are incredibly powerful bulbs used to produce heat, light and UVB in open-topped enclosures, such as tortoise tables. In our UVB range, you’ll find lots of fantastic bulbs from leading brands like Arcadia, Exo Terra and Komodo.

What are mercury vapour bulbs?

Mercury vapour bulbs are filled with mercury vapour, in a similar way to how neon bulbs contain neon gas. They produce a lot of heat, light and UVB so they are great for keeping desert dwelling reptiles. However, mercury vapour bulbs cannot be managed with a thermostat, so they must be used on open-topped enclosures where the risk of overheating is minimised. It’s also important that the bulb is angled vertically and not at an angle, to avoid overheating and damage.

Why should I buy mercury vapour bulbs?

Mercury vapour bulbs are fantastic choices for tortoise tables and other open-topped setups. While they do require either a specialised fitting or a fitting for a much more powerful bulb and some reptile keeping knowledge to use effectively, they can be extremely useful and will outlast most bulbs. Mercury vapour bulbs can be quite pricey but they are more energy-efficient than almost any other type of bulb, except for LEDs.

What are the main types of mercury vapour bulbs?

Mercury vapour bulbs can be divided by the fitting they are designed for and their intensity. The fitting is what your bulb screws into and some mercury vapour bulbs require a specialist fitting. The intensity of a bulb is how hot and bright it gets, generally, the higher the wattage the higher the intensity, the intensity of the bulb you need will depend on what temperature and amount of light your pet requires.

What should I look for?

When buying a mercury vapour bulb you may need a fitting to use it, we sell a wide range that you can order along with your bulb. We also recommend doing plenty of research into your pet and their needs to determine if a mercury bulb is the right solution for them before making a purchase.