Ceramic heat bulbs are one of the most widespread and energy efficient ways of heating reptile enclosures. They emit no light whatsoever meaning there is less wasted electricity making them much more economical to run. They are frequently used as a 24-hour heat source and are ideal for supplementary night-time heating as there is no light emitted to disturb your reptiles sleep. When installing a ceramic heat bulb you must use a ceramic fitting that is rated to an appropriate wattage for the bulb you intend to use, they must never be used with plastic fittings as they will melt them. The surface of ceramic heat bulbs can and will get incredibly hot (this is the same heating technology as used in some forms of cooker hob) so in the interests of safety we strongly recommend the use of a guard or cage to protect both your reptile and yourself from coming into contact with the bulb directly where burns could occur. As with all heat sources the use of an appropriate thermostat is essential to control the heat output of the bulb both to avoid the risk of overheating and reduce any fire risk associated with heating elements.