Another Enclosure Help Thread

[Roovin]

Hey guys,

I've been reading and searching and want to ask you guys for advice to see if I'm missing something very obvious.

I'm currently thinking about buying a 4x2x2 from a local person (He charges a lot, $225 for one, but I have no experience whatsoever in constructing something and want to get an enclosure that will last a beardie a lifetime) which includes a bunch of vents and 2 ceramic reflector domes. The thermostat for my house is set at 72 although that can vary a bit depending on if I keep my door to my room open or closed for a long time. I'm going to be buying this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XTPTG1J/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I16VQVRN5R8VLD&colid=3VGN36NMYWHNX&psc=0 so I can be sure what my temps are and how they fluctuate. So knowing that my house should be around 72 and given the size of this enclosure, would it be safe to say that I'd need a 150w basking bulb? I think that'd be a no brainer but just want to make sure.

Another major thing to note, is that the nighttime temperature gets cold. I don't know how much, the thermometer will help me determine that, but I live in Minneapolis and love to crack my window open to feel the cold breeze as I sleep. Obviously I'll need to get a CHE as well. Would it be safe to assume that I should just go for a 150w CHE?

Finally, since this enclosure that I have the opportunity of buying only has 2 reflector domes, and one will be occupied by a basking light and the other by a CHE, I'll have to add a fluorescent light fixture. The lighting guide gave a few suggestions and I think going with a 2 ft. T5 1-Bulb High Output 24-Watt Fluorescent Grow Light Fixture + Bulb from my local Home Depot would be my best bet. Would a 24 inch be too small for a 4 foot enclosure?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ViaVolt...Fluorescent-Grow-Light-Fixture-V21/203124380#
https://www.homedepot.com/p/ViaVolt...500K-Full-Spectrum-Grow-Light-VT52B/203124382

From what I can tell there is no difference between that and the ones specifically made for terrariums, except that the ones specifically made for terrariums have a hood that is much more convenient to just lay on top. The one issue with the ViaVolt fixture is that I'd have to attach them using command hooks (I have no idea what those are or how to do that but I'll worry about that later).

That pretty much wraps up the hard stuff. I'm going to be using tile as substrate and I'd just have to get a nice rock or something for him to hide in, a water dish and a nice basking rock and then some other random things to place around the tank like branches or a hammock.

One issue that I need clarification on, since I can't seem to find it in the care sheet or lighting part, does the beardie need to come within 6-8 inches of the fluorescent bulbs across the entire tank or just in his basking spot? But that leads me to another question, aren't they supposed to be like 10-12 inches away from the bulb in the basking spot?

Thanks you guys for helping me out. I don't have a beardie yet but I'm trying to cover absolutely every single basis before I take the plunge and buy one This will be my first reptile ever.

 

[KeyBlu422]

HI, as for the enclosure, while you might save some money constructing it yourself, that is really good pricing for a prebuilt enclosure. To give you an idea, an Exo Terra 40 gallon(the 18 inch tall one) goes for $240 at retail price. As for the link you put, that's a hygrometer(measures humidity, not temperature). If you want to read temperatures, a temp gun is a nice and cheap option, probes work too but are a little more work. As for the 150 watt bulb, it's trial and error really. If the temps reach high 90s to 105 degrees Fahrenheit(assuming you're measuring with a temp gun), then it's great. Any higher than 110 degrees is too hot, 95-100 is your best bet. If it's a wooden enclosure, heat will be retained well so a slightly lower wattage bulb might be better(as mentioned earlier, it's trial and error really). A flood halogen bulb with a dimmer switch from Home Depot or lowes is nice, cheap, and effective. As for the t5, I'd only use basking lights from Home Depot. I know it could be gimmick and whatnot because of the branding but I'm not 100% sure about it. Someone else will probably help you out with that. Most people would probably go with a 36 inch UVB tube for a 4x2 but i think 24 inches will be just fine. As for the distance, just provide a basking spot that reaches different heights. It's best to do that so that you can put it at a safe distance and he can get closer if need be. The general rule for more powerful UVB lights like a t5 tube would be I think 12 inches but don't remember exactly, could be a little closer. It only really needs to reach that distance at and near his basking spot. The beardy will be able to move across the enclosure if it needs to bask.

 

[KeyBlu422]

Also, for the CHE, as long as nighttime temps don't go below 65 degrees, you don't need one. If you do, a low wattage CHE would be good since the temps would keep the beardy warm but not near enough to daytime temps which could confuse the beardy and/or keep it from falling asleep easily.

 

[Roovin]

HI, as for the enclosure, while you might save some money constructing it yourself, that is really good pricing for a prebuilt enclosure. To give you an idea, an Exo Terra 40 gallon(the 18 inch tall one) goes for $240 at retail price. As for the link you put, that's a hygrometer(measures humidity, not temperature). If you want to read temperatures, a temp gun is a nice and cheap option, probes work too but are a little more work. As for the 150 watt bulb, it's trial and error really. If the temps reach high 90s to 105 degrees Fahrenheit(assuming you're measuring with a temp gun), then it's great. Any higher than 110 degrees is too hot, 95-100 is your best bet. If it's a wooden enclosure, heat will be retained well so a slightly lower wattage bulb might be better(as mentioned earlier, it's trial and error really). A flood halogen bulb with a dimmer switch from Home Depot or lowes is nice, cheap, and effective. As for the t5, I'd only use basking lights from Home Depot. I know it could be gimmick and whatnot because of the branding but I'm not 100% sure about it. Someone else will probably help you out with that. Most people would probably go with a 36 inch UVB tube for a 4x2 but i think 24 inches will be just fine. As for the distance, just provide a basking spot that reaches different heights. It's best to do that so that you can put it at a safe distance and he can get closer if need be. The general rule for more powerful UVB lights like a t5 tube would be I think 12 inches but don't remember exactly, could be a little closer. It only really needs to reach that distance at and near his basking spot. The beardy will be able to move across the enclosure if it needs to bask.

The device measures both, so I'll see. It should arrive here in a couple days. I am going to get an ir gun as well whenever I get an enclosure and have the lamps going.

I've never built anything in my life and I definitely wouldn't feel ok with building a bearded dragon enclosure as my first project ever.

The T5 isn't for basking, that's the long fluorescent tube light that provides UVB. I was just curious if having that not span the entire enclosure is ok. Since I'd like to get a 4x2x2 I wasn't sure if having a 2 foot UVB bulb would be considered adequate. 3 foot long bulbs are much harder to find.

Thanks for the tip about the halogen flood lights. What is the point of having a dimmer?

:study:

 

[KeyBlu422]

HI, as for the enclosure, while you might save some money constructing it yourself, that is really good pricing for a prebuilt enclosure. To give you an idea, an Exo Terra 40 gallon(the 18 inch tall one) goes for $240 at retail price. As for the link you put, that's a hygrometer(measures humidity, not temperature). If you want to read temperatures, a temp gun is a nice and cheap option, probes work too but are a little more work. As for the 150 watt bulb, it's trial and error really. If the temps reach high 90s to 105 degrees Fahrenheit(assuming you're measuring with a temp gun), then it's great. Any higher than 110 degrees is too hot, 95-100 is your best bet. If it's a wooden enclosure, heat will be retained well so a slightly lower wattage bulb might be better(as mentioned earlier, it's trial and error really). A flood halogen bulb with a dimmer switch from Home Depot or lowes is nice, cheap, and effective. As for the t5, I'd only use basking lights from Home Depot. I know it could be gimmick and whatnot because of the branding but I'm not 100% sure about it. Someone else will probably help you out with that. Most people would probably go with a 36 inch UVB tube for a 4x2 but i think 24 inches will be just fine. As for the distance, just provide a basking spot that reaches different heights. It's best to do that so that you can put it at a safe distance and he can get closer if need be. The general rule for more powerful UVB lights like a t5 tube would be I think 12 inches but don't remember exactly, could be a little closer. It only really needs to reach that distance at and near his basking spot. The beardy will be able to move across the enclosure if it needs to bask.

The device measures both, so I'll see. It should arrive here in a couple days. I am going to get an ir gun as well whenever I get an enclosure and have the lamps going.

I've never built anything in my life and I definitely wouldn't feel ok with building a bearded dragon enclosure as my first project ever.

The T5 isn't for basking, that's the long fluorescent tube light that provides UVB. I was just curious if having that not span the entire enclosure is ok. Since I'd like to get a 4x2x2 I wasn't sure if having a 2 foot UVB bulb would be considered adequate. 3 foot long bulbs are much harder to find.

Thanks for the tip about the halogen flood lights. What is the point of having a dimmer?

:study:

The dimmer can help manage temps better and reduce the intensity of the light. That's why it's generally good to have. As for what I said earlier, I know it's not for basking. I was assuming that when you place the uvb tube, it would be placed on the same side of the cage as the bask bulb which you'd need a place for the beardy to bask anyway. So, I was talking about the distance from the uvb when the beardy is under his or her basking bulb. Some people get tubes that go along the entire cage but it isn't really necessary, while a 3 foot may be preferred, a 2 foot long tube should be just fine.

 

[Roovin]

HI, as for the enclosure, while you might save some money constructing it yourself, that is really good pricing for a prebuilt enclosure. To give you an idea, an Exo Terra 40 gallon(the 18 inch tall one) goes for $240 at retail price. As for the link you put, that's a hygrometer(measures humidity, not temperature). If you want to read temperatures, a temp gun is a nice and cheap option, probes work too but are a little more work. As for the 150 watt bulb, it's trial and error really. If the temps reach high 90s to 105 degrees Fahrenheit(assuming you're measuring with a temp gun), then it's great. Any higher than 110 degrees is too hot, 95-100 is your best bet. If it's a wooden enclosure, heat will be retained well so a slightly lower wattage bulb might be better(as mentioned earlier, it's trial and error really). A flood halogen bulb with a dimmer switch from Home Depot or lowes is nice, cheap, and effective. As for the t5, I'd only use basking lights from Home Depot. I know it could be gimmick and whatnot because of the branding but I'm not 100% sure about it. Someone else will probably help you out with that. Most people would probably go with a 36 inch UVB tube for a 4x2 but i think 24 inches will be just fine. As for the distance, just provide a basking spot that reaches different heights. It's best to do that so that you can put it at a safe distance and he can get closer if need be. The general rule for more powerful UVB lights like a t5 tube would be I think 12 inches but don't remember exactly, could be a little closer. It only really needs to reach that distance at and near his basking spot. The beardy will be able to move across the enclosure if it needs to bask.

The device measures both, so I'll see. It should arrive here in a couple days. I am going to get an ir gun as well whenever I get an enclosure and have the lamps going.

I've never built anything in my life and I definitely wouldn't feel ok with building a bearded dragon enclosure as my first project ever.

The T5 isn't for basking, that's the long fluorescent tube light that provides UVB. I was just curious if having that not span the entire enclosure is ok. Since I'd like to get a 4x2x2 I wasn't sure if having a 2 foot UVB bulb would be considered adequate. 3 foot long bulbs are much harder to find.

Thanks for the tip about the halogen flood lights. What is the point of having a dimmer?

:study:

The dimmer can help manage temps better and reduce the intensity of the light. That's why it's generally good to have. As for what I said earlier, I know it's not for basking. I was assuming that when you place the uvb tube, it would be placed on the same side of the cage as the bask bulb which you'd need a place for the beardy to bask anyway. So, I was talking about the distance from the uvb when the beardy is under his or her basking bulb. Some people get tubes that go along the entire cage but it isn't really necessary, while a 3 foot may be preferred, a 2 foot long tube should be just fine.

I'm still at a loss for what I should do. The lighting guide says that the basking light needs to be a "bright white" bulb and I can't find a single halogen flood bulb at Home Depot or Lowes that even says that. They all say something like soft white. The only ones I can find that say "bright white" are the LED ones

 

[KeyBlu422]

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=235858

This will tell you a little about the halogen bulbs and which to get, if not, I've got other sites that can explain and help you come up with a decision on which ones to get. Also, you're right to avoid soft white, I read a thread a while back and apparently, it's not bright enough for the beardies to see or something like that.

 

[Roovin]

https://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=235858

This will tell you a little about the halogen bulbs and which to get, if not, I've got other sites that can explain and help you come up with a decision on which ones to get. Also, you're right to avoid soft white, I read a thread a while back and apparently, it's not bright enough for the beardies to see or something like that.

I'll just go with what everyone is saying is fine with a par38 halogen. I'm way overthinking this.

You've been a great help. A few pay checks from now and I should have my very own beardie

 

[KeyBlu422]

https://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=235858

This will tell you a little about the halogen bulbs and which to get, if not, I've got other sites that can explain and help you come up with a decision on which ones to get. Also, you're right to avoid soft white, I read a thread a while back and apparently, it's not bright enough for the beardies to see or something like that.

I'll just go with what everyone is saying is fine with a par38 halogen. I'm way overthinking this.

You've been a great help. A few pay checks from now and I should have my very own beardie

Not a problem, you've made a great choice when it comes to reptiles. If you ever have a question, you can always pm me.