I fixed my lighting issues! Happy dance!

[Sue E.]

Sooo...I got ANOTHER top for this tank which opens left and right instead of front and back. AND a brand new reptisun t510.0 high output bulb and hood! (So I have 2 hoods now lol). I am feeling pretty good with all the kind words and encouragement from you all esp xp29, so I mount it diagonally overlapping the basking spot under the screen with 14.5" heat resistant zip ties. Go me....BUuuut...that damn center support bar! Making the top unstable and not lying flat! Hmmm...what would my forum friends do??? Solution: I mount the uvb just UNDER the center support bar, using 24" zip ties and it fits! Basking spot 14" away from uvb, heat between 100-101 with probe, warm side 85.5 and cool side 73.2. Fresh veggies in dish ( not a bug day). And here are my results! And my happy camper Kai! (I shouldve video'd the process it took to get me there though haha. Thank you all so much!! Next on the list is a digital hygrometer and the solarmeter 6.5 (pricy little bugger, that one!)

 

[Sue E.]

Sooo...I got ANOTHER top for this tank which opens left and right instead of front and back. AND a brand new reptisun t510.0 high output bulb and hood! (So I have 2 hoods now lol). I am feeling pretty good with all the kind words and encouragement from you all esp xp29, so I mount it diagonally overlapping the basking spot under the screen with 14.5" heat resistant zip ties. Go me....BUuuut...that damn center support bar! Making the top unstable and not lying flat! Hmmm...what would my forum friends do??? Solution: I mount the uvb just UNDER the center support bar, using 24" zip ties and it fits! Basking spot 14" away from uvb, heat between 100-101 with probe, warm side 85.5 and cool side 73.2. Fresh veggies in dish ( not a bug day). And here are my results! And my happy camper Kai! (I shouldve video'd the process it took to get me there though haha. Thank you all so much!! Next on the list is a digital hygrometer and the solarmeter 6.5 (pricy little bugger, that one!) View attachment 96638 View attachment 96639

I should add, the second hood is a back up and is not in the tank. I have one 24" reptisun hood in there, angled as shown.

 

[xp29]

Sooo...I got ANOTHER top for this tank which opens left and right instead of front and back. AND a brand new reptisun t510.0 high output bulb and hood! (So I have 2 hoods now lol). I am feeling pretty good with all the kind words and encouragement from you all esp xp29, so I mount it diagonally overlapping the basking spot under the screen with 14.5" heat resistant zip ties. Go me....BUuuut...that damn center support bar! Making the top unstable and not lying flat! Hmmm...what would my forum friends do??? Solution: I mount the uvb just UNDER the center support bar, using 24" zip ties and it fits! Basking spot 14" away from uvb, heat between 100-101 with probe, warm side 85.5 and cool side 73.2. Fresh veggies in dish ( not a bug day). And here are my results! And my happy camper Kai! (I shouldve video'd the process it took to get me there though haha. Thank you all so much!! Next on the list is a digital hygrometer and the solarmeter 6.5 (pricy little bugger, that one!) View attachment 96638 View attachment 96639

Kai looks absolutely smug now lol.
I'm glad we could all be of assistance and you got it worked out. Once you get the lights right everything else is pretty easy

 

[xp29]

I should add, the second hood is a back up and is not in the tank. I have one 24" reptisun hood in there, angled as shown.

Having a back up is quite handy actually. I've had hoods die and then I'm hustling all over town trying to find a replacement. It's good to have spare basking bulbs also.

 

[Sue E.]

Having a back up is quite handy actually. I've had hoods die and then I'm hustling all over town trying to find a replacement. It's good to have spare basking bulbs also.

Omg I have like 4 spares lol. Its winter here in upstate ny...got 2 spare 150w basking bulbs and 3 125 watts! Little dragon is hooked up lol...spending my retirement savings up on him haha.

 

[Sue E.]

Omg I have like 4 spares lol. Its winter here in upstate ny...got 2 spare 150w basking bulbs and 3 125 watts! Little dragon is hooked up lol...spending my retirement savings up on him haha.

And 4 spare t5 10.0s!

 

[Sue E.]

Kai looks absolutely smug now lol.
I'm glad we could all be of assistance and you got it worked out. Once you get the lights right everything else is pretty easy

Now if I could only get him to eat his salad lol. Id get rhe bee pollen powder but im not too sure it would. Little stubborn is holding out for bugs! Nope, nope, not a bug day!

 

[xp29]

Omg I have like 4 spares lol. Its winter here in upstate ny...got 2 spare 150w basking bulbs and 3 125 watts! Little dragon is hooked up lol...spending my retirement savings up on him haha.

Beardies tend to have that effect on us

 

[xp29]

Now if I could only get him to eat his salad lol. Id get rhe bee pollen powder but im not too sure it would. Little stubborn is holding out for bugs! Nope, nope, not a bug day!

Most all of us struggle with salad. Im fortunate my two younger ones will eat it. My two older ones it's hit or miss.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Your tank looks great! I am sure your dragon is quite happy with the lighting improvements!
Hopefully his appetite will pick up when it comes to greens & vegetation, soon.

Tracie

 

[Sue E.]

Hello,

Your tank looks great! I am sure your dragon is quite happy with the lighting improvements!
Hopefully his appetite will pick up when it comes to greens & vegetation, soon.

Tracie

Thanks! I owe it all to you guys! He seems to be starting his first brumation. His usual self when awake, but sleeping in his hide more and more (like all day). Its so scary...he is cold to the touch which I didnt expect but he does look at you and breathe and move and everything. My grandson and I were picking him up and moving him to his basking rock when the lights came on to warm him up for the first 2 days but I guess you're supposed to provide access to greens and water and leave them alone? Its funny, a few days ago he was going for his worms and grabbed a nice juicy collard green leaf. Not sure if he was surprised or not but he crunched it right down and chewed it up and ate it! We are going away overnight and I was afraid to leave him but we will be back tomorrow and his lights are all on a timer.

Hello,

Your tank looks great! I am sure your dragon is quite happy with the lighting improvements!
Hopefully his appetite will pick up when it comes to greens & vegetation, soon.

Tracie