Is my Reptisun 10.0 too close?

[Teleste]

I have read up and down and all around: 6 to 8 inches

Yet still, 6 to 8 inches from the basking spot?

Or 6 to 8 inches from the dragon's head?

Currently, measuring from the top of his rock to the light bulb is 6 to 6.5 inches.

However, measuring from his head (standing tall) to the light bulb is about 4 to 4.5 inches at max.

I have just installed the Reptisun 10.0 to replace my MegaRay that I used for 2 weeks. The bulb seemed to do fine, but I was curious whether it was too much and stressing him out.

He is 4 months old.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Sauzo]

You can run both bulbs. I run a Powersun and a Reptisun 10.0. I run all that on 1 side of a 4ft cage though and the reptisun is only 18 inches so Harley can get her full dose of UVB with full heat or she can climb under her basking spot for shade and still get some UVB and less heat or go to the cool side and avoid the UVB and heat all together. Not quite sure why you would ditch a MVB for tube though. 4.5 inches from the UVB should be ok as long as he/she can move out alittle and get farther as it looks like the photo he/she can. Just remember babies grow quick and you will be needing to raise that tube up higher prolly in a month or 2 at most. And just to answer the question, generally its 6-8 inches from the beardie. And the Megaray shouldn't be stressing him out. With what I run, Harley loves it and usually spends half the day either sitting on her basking slate or sitting pancaked out on her hammock which is next to her slate opposite the back wall where the UVB tube is mounted.

 

[Teleste]

Thanks for the reply. I can always use the MegaRay again if I need to. So in a month it will definitely need to move up, that sounds reasonable. I'm tempted to go ahead and move it now but I may need to buy some fresh 3M sticky strips.

If the fixture is hanging 3.5 inches from the top of the viv now, do you think I should go ahead and move it 1.5 inches up? Or just wait a month?

Open to suggestions. Thanks again!

P.S. My next idea to help lower his stress is finding a cheap and decent looking way to block his own reflection from inside the viv... ideas?

 

[Sauzo]

I'd prolly just wait a month or so to move it. As for the reflection, I went the cheap route and just used paper towels taped to the sides and back till Harley got used to the cage and me. Then I pulled them down and she was fine. She never really paid much attention to her reflection. She actually likes looking out the cage around the room. You can use one of those scenic backings you buy at pet shops if you wanted though.

 

[Teleste]

Leaving the fixture as it is sounds good for a month unless someone disagrees with how close he can get to it (4 inches from head). Please speak up if you disagree!

Ah yes... why didn't I think of that? I'll tape up some paper towels this evening and see if it helps.

I also pondered about buying a roll of plastic that people use to line a house when painting. Maybe I could cut the plastic into the size needed and hang to eliminate the reflection? Hm.

Thanks for the reply!