Help with lighting and tank setup! (With pictures)

[MusikalMadness]

I just recently got a baby bearded dragon this past Tuesday for my birthday and I was curious about the best possible light choices. I'm currently using a tube light Repti Glo 10.0 UBV light and a 75W Sun Glo light for his basking spot. I have the tube light pushed to the back. I recently found out that this bulb can cause health problems so what would you recommend? I also have a 100W infrared heat glo bulb by the basking spot so that the rocks by the basking spot are 100F -110F degrees.

I also was wondering if my tank setup was okay. I can take a picture of it if it is needed. Right now I have the tube UVB light pushed to the back of my 40 gallon tank and lowered in so that it is about 10 inches from the bottom. I had to use cheap carpentry (I suck at building), using a wooden board and wrapping wire loops around it to hang the UVB light from. I don't have a screen on the tank because they reduce UV lights. I have my heat lamp on the left of the tank by the basking rocks and the UV bulb clamped in the middle of the wooden board facing the basking spot.

Thanks again!!

Britt

 

[peera]

The light you want is the ReptiSUN 10.0 tube. It's expensive (if you can even find it) at petstores, but it's only $20 on http://www.petmountain.com

I don't see a problem with your setup, but it seems to me the temps may be off... What kind of thermometer are you using to measure them? The stick on's and round dial ones can be way off, so you should be using a digital with a probe or a temp gun.

 

[MusikalMadness]

The light you want is the ReptiSUN 10.0 tube. It's expensive (if you can even find it) at petstores, but it's only $20 on http://www.petmountain.com

I don't see a problem with your setup, but it seems to me the temps may be off... What kind of thermometer are you using to measure them? The stick on's and round dial ones can be way off, so you should be using a digital with a probe or a temp gun.

I use a temp gun to measure the surface temperatures. The private breeder I got him from said that I should keep the temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit while he is young so that he will digest his food properly. The cool side of the tank is about 80-85 degrees.

Thanks for the website and your help!! :mrgreen:

Any other suggestions for bulbs of any kind are welcome.

 

[peera]

Just checking, good that you're using a gun, and the advice the breeder gave you about the temps is good. They actually need their basking spot to stay between 100-110 their entire lives, but babies need it on the higher end of that spectrum. Good luck and have fun.

 

[dragons1222]

also you want the uvb to be 6-8 inches away so i would mave his basking spot a little closer

and yes i would keep temps closer to 110

with the red bulb just make sure it is still very bright as that is the kind of light they like

and we still love pics lol

 

[MusikalMadness]

Here are the pictures...

Cool side of the tank

Warm side of the tank

Tank setup

Note: I only use the second heat lamp in the morning until the basking rock is where it needs to be and then it gets shut off

Here's Zakhari!! (Zuh-kar-ee)

 

[peera]

Aww, he's darling. Why do you have the white paper around the sides?

 

[MusikalMadness]

Aww, he's darling. Why do you have the white paper around the sides?

I was told to do that for a few weeks until he's comfortable with his new home because if he sees his reflection he'll think he's in another dragon's territory.

 

[peera]

Huh, that's weird. I've never heard to do that. I suppose it might make sense, all of mine treat their reflections like seperate dragons, lol. Gibby will head bob at himself all day when he's in a mood.

 

[beardie parents]

He's beautiful!! Is the red light the one you turn off after the tank is warm enough? From what I've read, they don't need to red bulb, they need a bright white light to go along with the fluorescent tube you use. Unless you use the Mega Ray or Trex. Those are Mercury Vapor Bulbs and they give off heat and better uvb than the reptisun 10 does. From the pics it looks like your tanks is large enough to use one of them. The 100 watt mega ray must be at LEAST 12 inches from the basking spot your beardie uses and the 160 watt must be at least 18 inches from the basking spot.

 

[dragons1222]

it is usually a good idea to cover 3 of the sides but i would uncover the one side so he can see out and get used to seeing his new home

in a couple of those pics it looks pretty dark and yes the red bulbs are usually not recomended as they tend to darken the tanks as long as the tank is staying at the 110 range with the regular basking bulb you dont need to have the red bulb especially since you said you turn it off after a while anyway

you are really just wasting your money

and yes if your tank is large enough i would definatly suggest an mvb they are great

 

[MusikalMadness]

it is usually a good idea to cover 3 of the sides but i would uncover the one side so he can see out and get used to seeing his new home

in a couple of those pics it looks pretty dark and yes the red bulbs are usually not recomended as they tend to darken the tanks as long as the tank is staying at the 110 range with the regular basking bulb you dont need to have the red bulb especially since you said you turn it off after a while anyway

you are really just wasting your money

and yes if your tank is large enough i would definatly suggest an mvb they are great

I use the red bulb only for heat because my two UBV lights don't give off enough heat.

 

[diamc]

Hi, you were right about the fact that the Repti-Glo 10.0 fluorescent has caused some health issues. Having that bulb 10" from your beardie and right alongside a bright white basking bulb is the safest way to use it so it shouldn't be lowered to the Repti-Sun distance of 6 to 8 inches. So, you're using a white 75 watt Sun Glo for the basking bulb, right?

I use the red bulb only for heat because my two UBV lights don't give off enough heat.

I'm not sure what you meant about using 2 UVB lights, do you have 2 Repti-Glo 10.0 fluorescents? What is in the 3rd holder?

Also wanted to mention that red bulbs are rough on their eyes and they do actually do better under all white bulbs. You can even use a standard household lightbulb in place of the red one. Since babies can jump very high, I'm concerned about the bulb that is in the deep dome and so close to him, would worry about him getting burned. Also, not having a screen or anything covering the tank could cause him to escape and even more of a concern if you have any cats or dogs running around.

 

[dragons1222]

i understand that the red bulbs are oly used to raise the temps but like the pp said you shoyld just use i bright bulb for that

the red bulbs are making your tank waaaay to dark

what are your basking temps again?

 

[MusikalMadness]

i understand that the red bulbs are oly used to raise the temps but like the pp said you shoyld just use i bright bulb for that

the red bulbs are making your tank waaaay to dark

what are your basking temps again?

100 -110 degrees