Reptile Systems Gold Infrared Replacement Lamp 100w | Reptile Vivarium Heating

The RS Gold Infrared Replacement Lamp 100w is a dedicated heat source designed for reptile vivariums and terrariums. It delivers high levels of infrared heat with minimal visible light output, making it well suited as a primary heat source without interfering with your animal's natural day-night cycle. If you already run a Gold Infrared unit, this is the direct replacement lamp to keep it performing as intended.

What infrared means for your reptile

The sun's energy reaches animals across three key spectrums: ultraviolet, visible light, and infrared. Infrared begins where the human eye stops — beyond 700nm — and is responsible for the warmth that drives thermoregulation in reptiles. Near infrared (IR-A, roughly 700–1400nm) and mid infrared (IR-B, roughly 1400–3000nm) penetrate the skin and surrounding surfaces, contributing directly to heat regulation within the animal. This supports digestion, promotes natural activity, and contributes to overall wellbeing in a way that broadly reflects how solar heat functions in the wild.

Why gold infrared lamps work differently

The gold lamp takes its name from the metallic sheen visible when the lamp is cold. In operation, it produces infrared that is effectively invisible to the human eye — the faint red glow at the lower end of the spectrum is the only visible output. Unlike a standard basking spot, infrared heat is projected across a wider area, allowing for a more natural basking gradient rather than a concentrated hotspot. Infrared is also unaffected by air movement, making it considerably more efficient at transferring heat than convection-dependent methods.

How heat transfer works with this lamp

This lamp works across all three mechanisms of heat transfer simultaneously. Radiation delivers direct infrared energy to your reptile and surrounding surfaces. Those surfaces then re-radiate stored heat through conduction. The surrounding air is also warmed via convection, much like a domestic radiator. This combination means the enclosure holds and distributes heat more evenly, reducing cold spots and supporting consistent thermoregulation.

Using it correctly in your setup

• Must be used with a dimming thermostat — not a pulse or on/off thermostat
• Suitable as the primary heat source within a terrarium or vivarium
• Rich in both IR-A and IR-B wavelengths
• 100w output — select wattage based on enclosure size and target temperature
• Low visible light emission means it will not disrupt your animal's photoperiod

Used correctly with a dimming thermostat, the RS Gold Infrared Replacement Lamp 100w gives reptile keepers a reliable, biologically relevant heat source that works with the animal's natural physiology rather than against it.