Lighting/Season Changes

[Linziehonn]

I've read that several people change the lenght of time their lights are on when the time/season changes. I was wondering if this was necessary? I have timers for my lights but with my work schedule it really can't be reduced with out skipping a meal. They come on at 6:30AM and off at 8PM, giving 13 1/2 hours per day. This is so that I can feed them at 7:30AM right before I leave for work then again at 6:00PM when I get home. This gives them an hour before breakfast and two hours after supper. Will this schedule be okay to keep year round? When they are adults and no longer eat twice a day it will be easy to reduce the lighting hours, but for now, I can't see how it's possible.

 

[lilgreeneyes]

I'm actually wondering this myself. I asked the question, but I think you worded it better than I did

 

[Kalyn876]

If they are juviniles I wouldn't shorten the light schedule.

With my 11yr old beardie I turn off his lights when i notice he has gone to sleep during the winter months, this can be anywhere from 12:00pm to 9pm depending on him. He chooses his brumation pattern I just act like a good slave and do as he tells me.

Kalyn

 

[Linziehonn]

Okay sounds great! Thanks Kalyn!

 

[Draxx]

Admittedly apples and oranges, but I try with my other reptiles on timers (Crested gecko, fire belly frogs) to mirror the actual sunrise, sunset times.

I just changed all my timers to go on at 6:00 am and off at 5pm to reflect the season and time change. I can see the challenge of doing this with a juvie dragon that must eat a couple times a day tho.