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.
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.