Height of enclosure?

[NikOverton]

I will be ordering an 48x30x24 cage from animal plastics. Should I stick with the height of 24 or would 18 be more accurate for UVB bulb distance and accurate basking spot temps?

 

[Claudiusx]

24 is what most people use, I personally like 18 for lighting reasons. Either one will work.

-Brandon

 

[NikOverton]

Thanks!

 

[hiTimothy]

24 is what most people use, I personally like 18 for lighting reasons. Either one will work.

-Brandon

Can you explain? I plan on making a viv 48x24x24 since I see that it's the average dimensions

 

[halffrozen]

Extra room up top to make higher climbing points and also helps with dome lights being mounted in there... I would think at least.

 

[hiTimothy]

Would lighting purposes (like Brandon prefers) be more beneficial or the extra space?

 

[halffrozen]

Would lighting purposes (like Brandon prefers) be more beneficial or the extra space?

It all depends on you... i personally think 18" is too low.. but at the same time.. the higher up the light for basking.. the more powerful it will have to be, unless you just build up a higher basking spot... I prefer for my beardie to be up on a perched mountain top to bask.. haha

 

[hiTimothy]

Yeah that's what I was thinking, adding branches or whatever to elevate the basking area so he'd be able to get adequate heat. Thank you for the help and advice!

 

[Claudiusx]

It's more difficult to get proper uvb lighting going on in a 24 inch tank. The recommended 6-8 inches away from the basking spot would mean that the basking surface needs to be nearly 18 inches tall.

24'' high would be ideal if you were planning on using an mvb. If you are planning on using the reptisun bulb, it would probably be best to build 18'' high.

-Brandon

 

[Sauzo]

Like Brandon said, if you plan on using a MVB, then 24 inches would be good although the 100 watt Mega Ray can go down as low as 12 inches from the basking spot. If you plan on using a fluorescent tube UVB then 18 inches is better unless you plan on building something for him/her to sit up at about 6-8 inches from the tube.

By the way i'm curious as to what Animal Plastics cage you are talking about cause the T12 is 48x24x24 and the T13 is 48x30x18. Are you having them do a custom for you? I personally was planning on the beardie/uro cage which is 48x30x18 since I figured Harley would get more use out of 6 more inches of depth to her cage vs 6 inches of height which is only useable by how many branches or platforms you have above 18 inches.