Many MANY questions! (New beardie owner!)

You definitely need one ASAP. If you can get her out in the sun , like in a very large plastic storage tote [ but in partial shade ] she can get enough heat to digest her food. Otherwise, just feed her VERY lightly, only 2-3 bugs if she does not have a basking spot of 100-105.

Mochwi":26ovcb5m said:

Thank you so much for the info! I just got home and the bulb says to be 160w. Is that way too much? It's by the brand Living Nature and called Super Sun UV.

<<<< is this the bulb ? Brand is GYPR (?)
https://shop.stefmar.com.au/get-your-pet-right/gypr-super-sun-uv-160w

You can't dim a MVB , nor control the heat output of an MVB using a thermostat. They have control circuitry in them that will stop them from lighting up under a dimmer or a thermostat.

If it's 160W , you'll cook your dragon . If you still have the receipt, take it back to the shop and ask for either :
>> a full refund (cash back)
>> a credit towards your next purchase , ie feeder insects, or a better brand MVB.

As to it's build quality …. take a look at the brand info in the base of the globe near where it screws into the Edison fitting , if it says made in China , it's rubbish . These things are made cheap and nasty in china and reboxed to sell as "shop brands" in pet chains.

Unless the MVB is made by Arcadia Reptile, Exo Terra or Zoo Med , it's going to have a dubious quality , and likely leak UVC and likely not last long .

My recommendation is to visit Ebay and buy one of these :https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Philips-CLEAR-PAR38-GLOBE-80W-Screw-Fitting-Pressed-Glass-Reflector-Lamp/263554553139?hash=item3d5d135533:g:Bv0AAOSwRlharL0c
wont produce UVA or UVB , but will give nice natural light and plenty of heat and , even better , it's dimmable.

I just realized that the bulb is probably way too powerful. 12" is considered to be in the danger zone... at 43°C. My tank is only around 18 in". Would it be better for me to just get a whole new bulb? I fear this one is WAYY too intense.

Click to expand...

An 80W par38 incandescent flood-globe , or 80W MVB will work in a 18" tall tank. Arcadia have nice 80W MVBs that will work a treat in that tank .
http://www.arcadia-aust.com.au/80w-d3-uv-basking-lamp
Other good 80W to 100W MVBs are
https://www.amazingamazon.com.au/exo-terra-solar-glo-80-watt-mercury-vapour.html
https://www.amazingamazon.com.au/mega-ray-mercury-vapour.html
https://www.amazingamazon.com.au/zoo-med-power-sun.html

Alright, I now have a very temporary set up, I got a 120 wat bulb that is fixed a bit above the top of the cage. The basking spot was supposed to be on her hammock but because there are leaves that she likes to climb on, it seems she just stays up there. The fixture is completely temporary as I now have something to actually make it work. So the heating bulb is in place although I turned it off as where I am it's 10:44 pm which Is around her bedtime. The bulb seems to display heat but she's not quite down where her hammock is. She spends most of her time in suction cup leaves that I set up which isn't exactly in the heating bulbs direct sight but it still supplies heat in this area. Is this ok?

As long as there is a good hot spot she will be fine. How are you reading the temperature ? They do pick where they want to bask, that's just how they are.