disappointed in mvb

[cbudelier]

Ok, since I've read all sorts of great things about mvb's here, (and being a pushover for peer pressure ), I splurged and bought Stych a T-Rex 100 watt UV heat bulb and the tall dome fixture for it. I was so excited when the box arrived 3 days early! I set everything up, measured like crazy so he wouldn't be too close...............he won't go near it He promptly started hanging out on the other side of his tank.
He is in a 40 gal. tank (36w x 18d x 16h). I put the mvb on the basking side, and for all the things I've read about how hot these things get, I can't get the temps to go over 102. I could easily get to 115 with my 65 watt halogen bulb.
So, is it something I'm doing wrong, is there something wrong with the bulb (how can you tell?) or is this normal?
I did put a regular light over the other side of the tank to add some brightness, because it was awfully dark with just the MVB.
I would appreciate any advice! I hate to spend this kind of money and have poor results.

Colleen

 

[LittleRob]

what kind of uvb light did you have in there before? I mean if everything was going good and you weren't in need of changing your flourecent fixture how come you whiched. I too want to switch to a mvb but i have also read many topics on them not getting hot enough. I have a tank just like your and have to switched do too what is happening to you. I hope you just got a defective bulb. And maybe your beardie didn't light the type of light it puts out. If you notice regular basking bulbs look diff than the Mvb. Anyways I hope someone can fianlly anwser the question of why they don't put out enough heat. In the mean time I'd go back to what you had so your beardie is happy. 8)

 

[cbudelier]

My original light was a ReptiSun 10.0 which is currently 5 months old, so is getting to the end of its life. I figured if I had to replace it, I'd go 1st class

 

[1happymommy]

MVB's are wonderful lights. You did make the right choice. I have read that beardies do not like change. Maybe since it's so new he just needs to adjust to it. Just give him time and keep checking the temps with a probe. Did you you let it burn for a couple of days before putting it in the viv? I don't know why people do this but I did. It was really hot the first couple days and then I had to raise the basking spot 2 inches.

I always get dirty looks when I move the furniture around in the viv after a good cleaning.

 

[cbudelier]

I didn't do any sort of a burn in period for it. I didn't see anything that said I should. I hooked everything up yesterday afternoon. It was on for about 4 hours yesterday and has been on for 11 hours so far today. I'm afraid to raise the basking spot too much, because it is just 12 inches away from the bulb. I don't want him to get hurt. The temp. 12" from the light on his basking spot is 102.3 with a probe thermometer.
Should I put the halogen light alongside the MVB for added heat? I was really hoping that this would be a 'one light for everything' kind of a deal. :?

 

[dobiegil2000]

Reggie did the same thing as your dragon after I bought the T-Rex. He would hang out on the other side. Now he is hanging out under the mvb and sleeping, so I really think it was the change. He didn't like it and wasn't going to have anything to do with it. :roll: Sounds like your beardie is stubborn like Reggie. :lol:

robin