Future Beardie Owner, some questions..

[Baller99k]

So what is the most recommended and least costly for of getting the UVA lighting? in stores...online? I know the MVB lasts longer and provides heat, then theres the regular bulbs...

Is there a problem with putting the Bulbs on top of the screen? i heard it CAN reduce the UV that gets through?

How close is too close for the beardies to be able to get in terms of the Heat light and UV light?

I plan on gettin a juvenile one...so do I just make sure there is a basking spot in the tank thats around 105 degrees, and he will get close or further from the heat light as he pleases?

Thanks to whoever helps answer all these...

 

[spikez123]

i can't answer all, but i read an article with a very good point. the juvinile will get bigger. so when measuring temps. make sure you do it from the top of the beardies head. the 2? inches can make a difference of up to 20 degrees. so while you thinkyour beardies cold, he might be burning up. and make sure uv and heat lamps are two different lamps so the beardie can stop soaking uv and still bask.
and yes, there might be a problem with the bulbs being on top of the screen. some bulbs get their uv reflected by the screen if the weave is too close together, but some bulbs are powerful enough to get through.
i'm just saying what the vet said. if you need more info. post thisin the general discusion. they're is sure to be alot more people who could help there.

 

[RioReptiles]

I would definitely go with mvb's. All lights have UVA, but not all have the right quality of UVB. Mercury vapors are more like the sun and stimulate the production of vitamin D in the beardies skin, like humans. If you use a fluorescent, you have to use another bulb for heat and supplement with D3. The cost is cheaper in the long run too if you consider how much longer they last. So you end up with a happier healthier dragon which makes you happy. You can always cut out the screen or use a course mesh and not a fine screen. You really have to worry more if your not using mvb's because they say the fluorescent is more like filtered sunlight anyway.

 

[Baller99k]

Thanks for the input, I meant UVB before instead of UVA. But ya, sounds like MVB's are the way to go, now I need to figure out if I am going to put it on top of the screen, or find a way to get it inside...

So I assume since MVB's pride the heat and UVB, that it is okay to have both in the same spot in the tank..?

 

[Resputan]

Hi there!

Its been awhile since I posted and my setup is pretty set so if im off on some stuff someone correct me.

Ill start with UVB,

The initial cost of this can depend on the size of your tank, because youll have to buy the hood to house the light. You can definitely find these cheaper if you have a pet store around you that isnt petsmart/petco or if you do some searching online but generally they will range 30-50$ for the hood. Then you will have to buy the light and replace it every six months. For a reptisun 10.0 I believe youll be set back around 40$ at the major chains, again cheaper if you look around though. The major draw back with this is that if you upgrade tank size youll need a new hood and you have to always base your set up so they have a basking spot under the strip light usually against the back wall, not too bad but can be a little restricting if you have a big tank.

For the strip light they should be within 10 inches of it and can be closer if you like since the tube lights are not incredibly strong, I wouldnt put them closer than 5 inches though. These also give off no heat so you will need a heat lamp for the UV basking spot and another for the non UV basking spot.


For the megaray youll need a 10 inch dome fixture with a ceramic base to handle the heat. I cant remember at all what these cost, I believe around 30$ most pet stores have these. The megaray itself costs about 45$ from http://www.reptileuv.com these will last about a year but I replace them after around 8-10 months. Your dragon will -Have- to be 12 inches or more away from the bulb due to the high UV output so if you have a smaller cage to start this may be harder to work with. This bulb also produces heat but depending on your cage size may need another low wattage light to keep the temp up around 100-105. I have a small fixture with a 40 watter in there along with the megaray for one of my basking spots and it works great.

So honostly its around the same cost for either one but I like the better quality of the megaray and the fexibility of the uv light being in a dome fixture and not a strip so if ordering online is something you can do its the way to go, in my opinion atleast.


As far as UV going through a screen it can significantly cut down on UV from the strip lights especially. I dont know exact number but on http://www.reptileuv.com there are a ton of great articles on UV and strength of the rays in different scenarios etc. The megaray may not get reduced as much and I would still use the 12inch rule if its on a screen just to be safe, the dragon will still get plenty of UV.

One suggestion if you go the strip light route and need a screen, go to a hardware store and buy a roll of wire screen, usually for gardens etc to keep out small animals. You can then cut it to size, fold it down over the edges enough so it sits flush, tape the edges so no one gets cut and cut out underneath your strip light so the cage is covered except right under the strip light. This worked wonders for me keeping my cat out, the dragon in and letting my dragon get the most of her UV while I was using a strip light. Its cheap too, maybe 5-8$ for a roll of the stuff.

Like I said its been awhile since ive had to price anything or read any updates or findings of stuff so if anyone can correct me

 

[RioReptiles]

Thanks for the input, I meant UVB before instead of UVA. But ya, sounds like MVB's are the way to go, now I need to figure out if I am going to put it on top of the screen, or find a way to get it inside...

So I assume since MVB's pride the heat and UVB, that it is okay to have both in the same spot in the tank..?

I think it would be preferred to have it in the same spot. A beardie basks mainly to digest, as they get older you will notice they don't like it as hot and they won't bask as often or all day like babies because they don't eat as much. At the same time they need the UVB for the production of D3 which facilitates the absorbtion and metabolism of calcium. An mvb is more like their natural habitat so they can get what they need in shorter amounts of time.

This is why if you use a fluorescent tube, you must expose them too it all day, even when they arent basking. The uvb quality isn't high enough to give them enough of it during those times. Make sense?

 

[Catalyst]

Just a tip, MVBs are generally longer than regular lightbulbs and so if you'll be sitting it on the screen, you'll most likely need a special deep dome fixture like this one: http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...ht-fixtures/-/zoo-med-deep-dome-heat-fixture/. I have my t-rex active heat MVB in a deepish regular dome fixture and it's a bit too close to my screen for comfort. I'll be picking up one of those deep dome fixtures soon (right now Randal is in brumation so her MVB isn't on at the moment).

 

[Baller99k]

Thanks, good to know. Im not going to use a lid, and im going to find a way to get my mvb raised off the top area of the tank.

Do you think the reptile show in SD in June will have significantly cheaper domes and MVB's??