There are many ways to heat your reptile's habitat. Most of them will be discussed below. If you are unsure as to what the best option is for heating your reptile's habitat, email me and I'll try to help you out.
Red, White, and Blue Lightbulbs
Red and White and Blue lights are used as heat lamps. They come in many wattages. These lights can be screwed into clamp lamps. To control the heat output, you move the lamp further or closer to the basking spot. Or you can use a dimmer switch (rheostat) to regulate heat. Blue and Red lights are usually used as night viewing lights for nocturnal reptiles that become overly stressed when faced with constant white light.
Mercury Vapor Bulbs-
Mercury Vapor Bulbs are white lights that give off UV light waves as well as certain amounts of heat. They range in wattages.
Ceramic Heat Emitters-
Ceramic Heat Emitters are coils of ceramic that give off heat. No light is given off from it. They fit standard clamp lamps.
Under Tank Heaters (UTH)-
UTHs are plastic mats with the heating element inside. They are made to lay flat and under the surface of the reptile's habitat. They work best when placed under glass. To regulate temperatures you need a thermostat, rheostat, or dimmer switch.
Flexwatt-
Flexwatt is a heating element between two layers of plastic. The work similar to UTHs, but come in adjustable sizes (1 foot increments) and widths (3, 4, 7, 11 inches). To keep them in place, you can use aluminum tape. To regulate temperatures you need a thermostat, rheostat, or dimmer switch.