How close is too close for heat lamp?

Itszackbreh · Nov 10, 2018

Hello, in my Beardie enclosure, he’s about 2 1/2 months old. He can get within three inches from his heat lamp at the top of his stick. It’s a 100w zoomed basking lamp. And he is usually right up on it ALL the time as if he enjoys it, he’s smarter than to overheat himself correct? Or should that be something I regulate? The distance he can get from it.

Drache613 · Nov 11, 2018

Hello,-

Well, 3 inches is likely a little too close. You wont want to risk any type of thermal burns.
Is it mounted inside of the screen or on top of the screen?
We usually recommend no closer than 8 inches for safety though. They do love to sit on
or near it but I would hate for him to get burned though.

Tracie

Itszackbreh · Nov 12, 2018

Mounted on top of the screen.

CooperDragon · Nov 12, 2018

It should be well out of reach to prevent burns. I like having them at least 12'' above the main basking area because that is out of reach and is further away to provide a wider basking beam. I prefer a higher wattage further away to a lower wattage close up.

Drache613 · Nov 12, 2018

Hello,

Ok, mounted on top of the screen is better than inside of the tank since that would help to
minimize the likelihood of burns.
We do recommend 10-12 inches depending on the wattage. If you wanted to post a picture of
your tank setup, we can review it for you also.

Tracie

Itszackbreh · Nov 13, 2018

I was trying to do that but I can’t fogure out how to put pictures on here.

Itszackbreh · Nov 13, 2018

And the enclosure isn’t ideal as of right now, he’s in one of those little “starrter kit” tanks you get at Petsmart or something. Coil UVB, 20 gal. I’m building one here in about another month or so, 36”x24”x18” melamine with mounted reptisun 10.0 tube. Also he’s only got one of those stick on thermometers, but haven’t been too worried about temp because he eats well very alert with regular bowel movements. If you tell me how I can post a picture though.

Itszackbreh · Nov 13, 2018

I figured it out.

CooperDragon · Nov 13, 2018

That's probably OK for now. What is the wattage of your coil? You'll want a 26w rather than a 13w. You can also upgrade to a T5 tube now and just transfer it to the larger tank when it's ready to go.

Itszackbreh · Nov 13, 2018

Is a regular store bought T5 fluorescent light bulb the same as getting like a reptisun 10.0 tube?
And I’m not too sure what the wattage was on the uvb.

CooperDragon · Nov 13, 2018

You'll want to use a good fixture that you'd find at a hydroponics/gardening supply store. Like this https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904296-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUBDQ/

You can use different brands of bulbs in them but they need to be a T5 UVB bulb of the same size (22'' for the 24'' fixture). ReptiSun 10.0 is a good option and I like Arcadia 12% a lot too http://www.reptilebasics.com/arcadia-desert-12-uvb/arcadia-d3-12-uvb-t5-bulb-22/

Itszackbreh · Nov 14, 2018

Cooper I just went and purchased a reptisun 10.0 for the time being because I figured it wouldn’t hurt to go ahead and get it. My question is is how far away should be the closest my bearded dragon could get from the UVB light?
And how about heat lamp?

CooperDragon · Nov 14, 2018

Did you get a T8 or a T5 ReptiSun 10? In a fixture with a good reflector a T5 should be about 12'' up and a T8 should be about 6'' up. This is measured to the main basking area. You can provide access on branches etc that gets closer without a problem as long are there are also areas further away from the light.

I like to keep the basking light at least 12'' above the main basking area so it's out of reach and provides a nice wide beam. I generally prefer higher and more powerful to closer and lower wattage.

Itszackbreh · Nov 14, 2018

All right cool thank you . Got a t8

Itszackbreh · Nov 14, 2018

Dude, literally I put the light in there about two hours ago and for the whole two hours he’s been at the top of his stick stretched out like he’s standing as straight up as possible . I guess that coil uvb wasn’t doing it’s job?
He had been acting kind of funny the past few days, always having his eyes shut, bulging them and kind of lazy.

How close is too close for heat lamp?

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