Incandescent bulbs

[OneBigDude]

I'm getting a Beardie later this week and I have 2 ceramic heaters on the mesh above the enclosure. It is getting the basking spot to about 105 degrees, but since its a baby I would like to raise this to around 110. The ceramic heaters just won't get me there. I see a lot of people use incandescent bulbs and I have done some research. I'm thinking about removing the smaller of the two ceramics and replacing it with an incandescent bulb like a Zilla which is the brand available at my local shop. My question is: are these just like bulbs that can be bought at a hardware store but more expensive? Or will a 100w clear incandescent bulb from Walmart work just the same? Also, what should the temp be at the cool end? Thanks

 

[RuselBro]

Beardie's NEED Bright White Light to Be active and healthy. You do Need a Basking bulb that Produce's bright clean visual light. Depending on the Size of the Enclosure you have Depend's on what Wattage bulb you need. The Basking Bulb's at Pet Store's are pretty much the same as the Halogen Flood/Spot Light's and Normal Clear House Hold Bulb's.

The ONLY time you need a CHE-Ceramic Heat Emitter is at Night time, if the Temp's fall below 65.

You also NEED a UVB Bulb. The ONLy 2 Recommended UVB Bulb's are the ReptiSun 10.0 TUBE Bulb and the Arcadia 12% +D3 TUBE Bulb. If you buy the ReptiSun 10.0 Tube Bulb, you can buy a Fixture for it at Walmart for $8 and mount it inside your Tank using 3M Command Hook's also bought from Walmart.
These are the Only 2 Proven UVB Bulb's that produce the Correct Wavelength of UVB Beardies Need to Produce Vitamin D3 which allow's them to Absorb Calcium. Without Proper UVB they well get "MBD" Metabolic Bone Disease. Which mean's their bone's get soft, the beardie can not grow and loose all movement of it's body.

Make sure you're taking the Temp's with a Digital Thermometer that has a wire and probe on the end or a Temp Gun. Stick On and Dial Thermometer's are very inaccurate, they're 20 degree's higher or more than what the actual temp is. And yyou will end up cooking your Beardie cause the Therm is wrong.

Basking spot for a Baby should be 105-110. Area around the Basking spot in the 80-90 range, and Cool End in the 70-80 range.

 

[OneBigDude]

Thanks. I've got the Arcadia 12%. I've just been trying to get the temps right before I go get him. I guess I'll be going to Lowes for a flood lamp. Thanks

 

[RuselBro]

Sound's good. What size is your enclosure?

 

[OneBigDude]

Sound's good. What size is your enclosure?

36x12x18

 

[OneBigDude]

Is there anything specific to look for/avoid in a halogen flood light other that the amount of watts? Such as, if these get the basking spot to the right temp, would they be good? http://www.lowes.com/pd_202704-371-69203_0__?productId=3817947&Ntt=halogen+flood+light&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dhalogen%2Bflood%2Blight&facetInfo=

 

[Lindz0518]

That bulb looks good. It is actually the same bulb I have. You might want to get a lamp dimmer switch $6-9 so you can adjust the temp. Mine gets pretty hot.

 

[Goonie]

[Moved from General to Enclosures]

 

[RuselBro]

For a 40G Breeder Tank, like you have..a 75W Halogen Spot/Flood Light might be a better wattae so it doesn't get to hot, or buy a Dimmer as suggested above. And yes, those are Halogen Bulb's they're good, I'm not sure on each actual brand but I sure it doesn't matter.

 

[OneBigDude]

Any good pictures of the fixture from Walmart everyone seems to use, or a model number? I'm new to the lighting game.

 

[Soulwind]

OneBigDude,

I don't have a sku handy, but:

They are plug-in "under the counter lights". They are made by Lights of America. About $10-11
Walmart puts them either in with the bathroom stuff or in with the light bulbs, depending on the store.

They are basically just standard florescent light fixtures. You remove (and throw away) the plastic
light diffuser cover, swap out the standard light bulb with your UV bulb, and plug it in.