Reptile lamps occupy a strange position in pet retail: they are sold like accessories but function like medical equipment. A bearded dragon kept under the wrong lamp does not just look unhappy — it develops metabolic bone disease. That is why this category has both high margins and high return rates. Stocking it correctly starts with knowing the three distinct functions.
Basking lamps produce visible light and concentrated heat for daytime basking. They are halogen or incandescent bulbs, typically 25W to 150W in E27 or E14 bases. The number that matters is not wattage but the surface temperature achieved at a defined distance — a 50W lamp focused in one spot beats a 100W lamp that spreads heat. For retailers, the practical check is simple: does the lamp have a reflector shape that concentrates heat? If it is a plain round bulb, it is a general-purpose lamp wearing a reptile label.
UVB lamps are a different product entirely. They emit the ultraviolet spectrum reptiles need to synthesize vitamin D3; without it, captive reptiles develop metabolic bone disease regardless of how warm they are. Two things matter to suppliers: the UVB output is specified as a percentage or µW/cm² at a set distance, and it degrades over time even while visible light continues. Reputable brands state a replacement interval (typically 6–12 months), which is also the recurring-revenue engine of this category.
Night heat lamps provide warmth without visible light, so nocturnal species can thermoregulate without breaking their day-night cycle. Three technologies compete: red glass lamps (cheapest, shortest life), blue glass, and ceramic heat emitters (no light at all, longest life, premium price). The ceramic emitter is the product that builds a loyal customer base because it rarely fails.
Before stocking any of the three, verify the base type against the fixture your customers will use — E27 and E14 dominate, but the wrong base kills the sale instantly. Confirm voltage for your market (110V or 220V), and demand CE/RoHS documentation plus, for UVB lamps, an actual output curve. An unbranded lamp claiming "UVB" without test data is the fastest way to generate a return and a bad review.
The honest supplier question is: can the factory show you the UVB output measurement for the specific batch you are buying? Shunqi Lighting supplies E27/E14 basking lamps from 25W to 75W, UVB heat lamps in the RAR20/30 series with output documentation, and long-life night heating lamps — with OEM packaging available for distributors building their own brand.