Best Recommendations for Lighting/Heat in 4x2x2 Enclosure

[spaceballs]

Hi Everyone! I'm feeling super overwhelmed by the amount of different information out there on Youtube and such so I was hoping you folks could best help me decide the best/healthiest setup for my enclosure. My beardie is about 4 years old now and just successfully had a sarcoma mass removed 2 weeks ago!

I purchased this 4x2x2 enclosure from Dubiaroaches.com - waiting for it to arrive in the mail

Questions - what is the best UVB bulb for this size tank? This tank is a rather high height so I'm curious as to whether I should mount a T8 inside the tank or place a T5 10.00 above the tank on the mesh. Should it reach the entire length of the tank? I want to make sure the UVB is reaching her appropriately but do not want to cause eye damage if it is too strong so not sure if I'm better off going with a T8 inside or T5 out (or does that matter?) I'm looking for the best recommendations for the blub, brand, fixture, etc. As I mentioned above, she just had surgery to remove a cancerous mass, so I want to ensure she's getting the best environment to stay healthy!

For the basking, I just purchased this solar glo mercury vapor bulb 160W and bought the cage fixture for it. This is dual uva and uvb. I am not sure if I am going to stick with this depending on if you folks recommend that or not. The tank has not arrived in the mail yet so I have NO idea if it is even going to keep the hot side of the tank hot enough. I'm worried the tank height is so high how am I going to keep the temps correct? I do have a spare 100W basking bulb and dome I could use as well if that isn't enough to raise the temp up a bit. Thoughts?

Another question, if I do end up sticking with the solar glo mercury vapor 160W, would that affect what kind of uvb bulb I need to use?

Right now, she is still somewhat recovering and not super into the idea of climbing right now as the mass was removed from her stomach so she has a long incision down the side of her stomach and absorption-type stitches.

Sorry this post is so long - ANY help would be very much appreciated by me and my lil Bibi !

Thanks again!

 

[KarrieRee]

Hi Everyone! I'm feeling super overwhelmed by the amount of different information out there on Youtube and such so I was hoping you folks could best help me decide the best/healthiest setup for my enclosure. My beardie is about 4 years old now and just successfully had a sarcoma mass removed 2 weeks ago!

I purchased this 4x2x2 enclosure from Dubiaroaches.com - waiting for it to arrive in the mail

Questions - what is the best UVB bulb for this size tank? This tank is a rather high height so I'm curious as to whether I should mount a T8 inside the tank or place a T5 10.00 above the tank on the mesh. Should it reach the entire length of the tank? I want to make sure the UVB is reaching her appropriately but do not want to cause eye damage if it is too strong so not sure if I'm better off going with a T8 inside or T5 out (or does that matter?) I'm looking for the best recommendations for the blub, brand, fixture, etc. As I mentioned above, she just had surgery to remove a cancerous mass, so I want to ensure she's getting the best environment to stay healthy!

For the basking, I just purchased this solar glo mercury vapor bulb 160W and bought the cage fixture for it. This is dual uva and uvb. I am not sure if I am going to stick with this depending on if you folks recommend that or not. The tank has not arrived in the mail yet so I have NO idea if it is even going to keep the hot side of the tank hot enough. I'm worried the tank height is so high how am I going to keep the temps correct? I do have a spare 100W basking bulb and dome I could use as well if that isn't enough to raise the temp up a bit. Thoughts?

Another question, if I do end up sticking with the solar glo mercury vapor 160W, would that affect what kind of uvb bulb I need to use?

Right now, she is still somewhat recovering and not super into the idea of climbing right now as the mass was removed from her stomach so she has a long incision down the side of her stomach and absorption-type stitches.

Sorry this post is so long - ANY help would be very much appreciated by me and my lil Bibi !

Thanks again!

You want a 24" fixture-- there are 3 on the forum that are recommended - I will post them for you- I don't recommend the solar glo we've been getting post w/ eye issues- I recommend you get a regular solid bright white basking bulb - for a 120 gallon I use 150 watt and a 75 watt on hot side- that's winter summer I use one 100 watt-
Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO High Output Terrarium Hood
This fixture comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you need this one 22" Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T5 HO High Output Fluorescent Bulb
Or this one from pet Smart you want the 24 watt 12% bulb Arcadia Reptile ProT5 UV-B Kit | reptile Light Fixtures | PetSmart or this you will need to change the bulb out to the one posted above 2ft or 24" https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster-nanotech-t5-ho-fixture-with-6400k-lamp.html the uvb needs to go in the tank 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor - this bulb will need to be changed out in approximately 10-11onths also please get two digital probe thermometers- you need those to get surface basking temps--

 

[spaceballs]

Perfect thanks so much for all this helpful information Karrie! I will be sure to purchase one of those uvbs and mount it on the inside the tank. I’ll also return the solar glo and get a 150w and 75w basking as well as the digital probes.

 

[KarrieRee]

Perfect thanks so much for all this helpful information Karrie! I will be sure to purchase one of those uvbs and mount it on the inside the tank. I’ll also return the solar glo and get a 150w and 75w basking as well as the digital probes.

Make sure your getting surface basking temps w/ the probes that's gonna tell you what wattage you need-

 

[spaceballs]

Make sure your getting surface basking temps w/ the probes that's gonna tell you what wattage you need-

Hi Karrie, I do have a temp gun but not sure how accurate that is - going to purchase a few temp probes today. Thank you!

 

[KarrieRee]

Hi Karrie, I do have a temp gun but not sure how accurate that is - going to purchase a few temp probes today. Thank you!

They are good for spot checking --- they cannot read off of certain material basking decor so its better to have those probes you will get actual temps from them

 

[spaceballs]

They are good for spot checking --- they cannot read off of certain material basking decor so its better to have those probes you will get actual temps from them

Thanks Karrie! I appreciate your fast responses here! Picking up my order from Petco today

 

[spaceballs]

@KarrieRee one more question - since the new tank is going to be 48" long, is the 22" t5 10 reptisun bulb sufficient? Or should I get a longer one that goes the full length of the tank (48 inches)? I will be mounting this on the inside. Thanks again!

 

[KarrieRee]

@KarrieRee one more question - since the new tank is going to be 48" long, is the 22" t5 10 reptisun bulb sufficient? Or should I get a longer one that goes the full length of the tank (48 inches)? I will be mounting this on the inside. Thanks again!

No your 24" is good it's half the tank-- you don't want a uvb the same length - you want him to be able to sit out in the tank w/out having to hide from the uvb rays

 

[spaceballs]

No your 24" is good it's half the tank-- you don't want a uvb the same length - you want him to be able to sit out in the tank w/out having to hide from the uvb rays

Perfect thank you !