Kids, lights and canopies

[dreamwallaby]

Hello all
I have questions about the canopy hoods. I have a compact that holds two blubs up to 26 watts each, so I can't use it for a heat bulb (although I have been for a few weeks and need to change it) I don't want to use a regular clamp lamp because they get really hot and I have 3 young boys ~ eventually a finger will get burned. Our beardie is in a 55 gallon. Any suggestions? are there hoods similar to the canopy that I can use the spot lights in? We have a reptisun 10.0 in it now. Also, what temp is ok for the night? Can I just switch the lights off or does he really need a red night bulb? It gets 65-68 at night in the house. The person who had him before had no UVB lights on him, just plain white bulbs and never fed him greens. There is also this white film on the tank that no amount of scrubbing will get off, any suggestions for that?

left side

right side

whole tank

 

[morphmom]

Zoo Med Deluxe Sliding Hood. LOVE it! Each light has it's own switch for super easy temp control. The outside of the hood stays cool, and it even 'clamps' on to the tank! I have a 6 year old daughter and a large breed dog. I was scared out of my mind! I couldn't step out of the house without thinking that my 3 light system would start a fire or burn my little girl! You can get more info from the 'Petco' site. I'll NEVER go back to 3 lights!

 

[carlisv]

To answer your question about night heat, if your house stays above 65 the beardie will be fine with no lights. As a matter of fact, those red bulbs that pet stores sell give off too much light and disturb the beardie's sleep (they can see the red light, no matter what pet store folks tell you). In the winter if your house gets much below 65 you can get a ceramic heat emitter - it's basically a bulb that gives off warmth with no light at all. Beardies actually do better when they're given the chance to cool down at night. If they're constantly at high temps their systems don't work to their full capacity. Lots of folks have their beardies sleep somewhere other than their viv at night - a drawer, special pillow, hammock - as long as it's safe. My Richard would love to sleep under this one particular pillow on our couch, but I'm scared to death someone will sit on him or throw something heavy there if they get up before he does! So after he falls asleep there I put him back in his viv.

 

[dreamwallaby]

Thank you! I'm going to get one of those canopies. They look perfect.