Lighting or heating

Question
what have i gotten into ha no just kidding im become a bit discouraged with all this information i have been getting about heating my anole enclosure day and night and uvb and uva heres my question imagine i am like totally new to this whole heating cages and stuff can anybody break it down barney style for me im feeling kind of stupide right now
in total what kind of heat and light is need for the day and what kind of heat and light is needed for the night what is the best things to use for what i need as well thank you to anyone who can help me my email address ivrytigr@aol.com

Answer
Hi Tab, O.K, here is anole lighting 101. Lets start off the more simple subject of night heating. Unless your house gets down below the mid 60's F at night then your anole does not need any extra  heat or light source at night. As long as your house is a relatively normal room temperature (above 68F) at night then your anole will be fine. A night time temperature drop is completely normal and natural.
Heating and lighting day dwelling reptiles can get confusing. In the wild the sun provides them  with both heat to allow them to regulate their body temperature and ultraviolet light. The two types of ultraviolet light that reach the earth are UVA and UVB. Ultraviolet B wavelengths trigger the synthesis of vitamin D3 in the body when they hit the skin. This vitamin then allows the body to absorb calcium from the diet. The same process happens in humans. Ultraviolet A encourages normal feeding and mating behaviour in reptiles because reptiles can see ultraviolet light (we cannot). Ultraviolet A allows them to see insects, plants and other anoles "properly" so to speak.

Incandescent bulbs can be used to provide heat and they will also provide adequate levels of UVA but they cannot produce UVB. For the UVB you need a second bulb. That is the specially designed fluorescent bulb sold for reptiles to provide UVB. Zoomed and Exoterra are both good brands.
The heat bulb should be placed over just one end of the tank so that your anole can move into and out of the heat. You want a temperature of 85 - 90 F in the "hot spot". The long UVB tube (don't use the compact or coiled type, they have been causing problems) can run most or all the length of the tank. It must sit on a screen lid, a solid plastic or glass top will block the UVB.  Both lights should be on for 10 or 12 hours daily and then both off.