heating Question!!!!!!!!!!!!

[moonkid]

im ot sure if im doing ok with my heating lights...

i have an uvb light n a uva light right above the basking spot is a zoo-med 100 watts n the uvb is a reptiglo 10.0 26w..i dnt have any problems so far but
i dnt get more than 85-90 at basking spot( im using the stick on petco termometer)

he loves hes baskin spot n when the temperature is hot(4 humans i mean outside)his basking spot can reach 100 but beside that i doesnt go higher than 85 i used to use a 75w uva n changed it to a 100w thinkin it was gonna make any difference......
is it safe for him to keep my setup???

 

[GoFast]

first you NEED to get rid of that compact uv bulb. that is a bad bad bulb. You also need to figure out how to raise those basking temps. you do not need to have a uva and a uvb bulb. Just the UVB bulb will suffice. For that you will want to get either a repti-SUN 10(NOT repti-GLO) or a mega ray or t-rex MVB bulb. I am sure others will pick up on anything that I missed

 

[Tigg]

Welcome to the site!

I just want to say to start that I see a number of issues here, and want to assure you that I in no way intend on making any of the later sound like an attack on you...

I would strongly reccomend you read the care sheet provided on this website for a complete run down of everything you need and how you should do it.

First of all....

The analog heat and humidity guages have got to go, they are incrediablly inaccurate, and can really only give you an ambient air reading... You can purchase a digital thermomemter with a wire probe for under $10 at your local pet store, or spend a little more and get one around $30 that will give you temp and humidity all in one! These types of thermometer will allow you to get a direct heat reading as well as ambient air temp reading.

Your basking temps initially sound way too low, but I wonder about this since you are only using those analog guages... you need to get the actual temp of the surface of the rock that your BD uses to bask. You also need to make sure you keep those temps between 100-110 degrees in his basking site, in the mid 90's on the hot end of the tank, and mid 80's on the cool side... mid 70's during the night making sure the temps DO NOT fall below 65*... Once you get an accurate surface temp reading, Myself and many others will be able to help you get the lighting right...

The subsrate you are using is very very dangerous to BD's for so many reasons, first and fore most being it's risk for impaction! There are many articles out there on this subject and I will urge you to search them out and read them ASAP. you should really consider throwing all of the sand out, and putting your BD on a solid substrate. (Paper towels, news paper, non adheisive shelf liner, or betetr yet Ceramic or slate tiles are the ideal substrate for BD's)

The reptiglo UVB bulb that you are using emit very low levels of UVB, and prolonged usage has been known for causing eye problems. You should look into a Reptisun 10.0 for your size enclosure, or better yet look into a MVB (Mercury Vapour Bulb) that produces high UVB levels as well as ample heat for basking.


Hope others will chime in and point out anything I missed, and again none of this was intended as a personal attack, just trying to make sure your handsome little guy is getting the best care possible!

Looking forward to helping you get your set up corrected

 

[moonkid]

thanx.. i was told tha i need a uva light for the basking spot n the uvb was just for the calcium n stuff...so wich one of them should i keep? n wich one should i get to replace the other one my tank is a 55 gl so im lost now...

 

[GoFast]

get rid of uva light. for teh uvb get either the reptiSUN 10.0 or a megaray or t-rex MVB bulb.

 

[GoFast]

oh I jsut noticed something else that should be changed out and that is that sand you have in there. As nice as it looks, and it really looks nice, it can cause impaction and ultimately loss of life. Instead try something like tile or reptile carpet instead.

P.S. I like your background!

 

[Tigg]

Unless you replace the UVB (Reptiglo) with a MVB (Trex or megaray) You will still need a light for basking and temps (This is what aids in digestion) However, Gofast is right, you don't need a UVA bulb... I regular house hold bulb will work just as well and cost you a fraction of the cost compared to the pet store UVA bulbs.

As for the sand substrate, the Calci Sand sold at pet stores is the same stuff they make popular indigestion medication (ROLAIDS) for humans... Not only does this sand clump together inside BD's stomach turning to a rock like substance, it also neutralized the natural acids, and bacteria in BD's stomachs that they absolutely need for proper break down and digestion of food. (You can see the clumping for yourself just by puring a little water onto the sand and wait for it to dry, it does not crumble like regular sand will once dry, it stays hard.

If that isn't bad enough, it can lead to a calcium overdose in your BD's due to the fact they can also absord calcium through their skin, mixed with feeders dusted in calcium supliments there is no way to monitor the levels your BD is receiving. Considering the colour of the Calci Sand you are using it will also dye your BD's skin

 

[moonkid]

ok this may sound really stupid but if i dnt need a uva where im gonna get the heat from uvb light dnt produce a lot heat n if i dnt need a uva bulb why get a household bulb?? srry im confused

 

[Tigg]

See above you last post, I think we were writing at the same time

 

[moonkid]

ok i understand wat ur sayin bout the sand i already realized that>>. so bout the lights
i have to change my reptiglo 10.0 to a reptisun 10.0 n my uva light to a house hold bulb...
but im using the uva light to provide the heat on the basking spot so should i put the h-h bulb above the baskin spot?

should i get just one mvb 160w is it gonna be enough since it provide uvb n heat?

 

[Tigg]

If you already purchased the UVA light that is fine, and they are good to use (Just over priced)... you just need to get your temps right now, so first thing to do would be to buy a decent thermometer, or temp gun and see where you have to go from there...

 

[GoFast]

ok so the getting sand part is covered now to lighting issues.

To make things a lot easier to grasp forget the term "uva" all together. IT can get very confusing throwing all these different uv's out there. So from now on lets just consider UVB source because that is what really counts.

Yes you are correct with the change from reptiGLO 10 to the reptiSUN 10.

As for the basking spot just a regular household incandescent bulb will do fine and produce enough heat.

 

[moonkid]

thank u so much with the help guys, i was wondering can u post any pics of ur light system or you viv if that is posible...

 

[GoFast]

i will take some pics when I get home of my lighting set up for you.

If it helps, don't worry about being overwhelmed and lost about lighting. Not very long ago at all, I too felt the same way. Here are the main things to keep in mind and after this it's common sense.

1. provide UVB light. After researching, I figured that there were 3 options. a)reptiSUN 10.0 flourescent tube b) megaray MVB or c) t-rex mvb
I decided on the t-rex because it is the best uvb that can be provided. it is essentially a relabeled megaray so they are about the same, I just found the t-rex for a few bucks less. I also liked the longer life of the MVB when compared to the reptisun10. The reptisun 10 is the BEST florescent tube uvb bulb available just remember to change it out every 6 months or so. with the MVB bulbs about every year. Just remember to use the reccommended distances for whatever bulb you choose.
(mvb's-no closer than 12" reptisun 6-8")

2. Provide heat. basking spot should be around 105 on average so no matter what, position you lights so that temperature is obtained.

3. It is best to use a digital thermometer with probes or temp gun so you can put them where ever you want to measure temp. the stick ones and the dial ones are garbage.

4. Never use any type of coil bulbs.

Aside from that, don't worry about it. (heating and lighting issues only) It will take a little bit of trial and error to get the temps right and the set up right but you will get it. if it gets too hot, move light farther away or try a lower watt bulb. if its too cold then do the opposite.

 

[Tigg]

Here is 2 of mine...


Old one: This is the 20g I had my BD in as a hatchling. on top is a 36" Reptisun 10.0 flourescent tood in fixture. and 2 domes 1 with a red bulb for heat during the night, and the other was a 65w household bulb right above his basking site for daytime temps.

And Iggy's new enclosure: Just finished this 4x2x2. inside is a dual 36" flourescent tube fixture with 1 regular house hold tube for added light, and I am using the 36: Reptisun 10.0 in here but until it burns out only because I also have a 100w megaray MVB bulb (see second pic)once the reptisun burns out, I will just use 2 regular flourescent lights for light. It's a little over kill on the UVB but there is no point in wasting a reptisun 10.0. for night time temps I use a 50w Ceramic Heat Emitter. give off not light at all so it does not disturb his sleep, and keep my temps in the mid 70's all night long.