Lamp wattage for 40gl tank?

[tripleh3lix]

Just curious on what bulb I should be using. I have an early adult beardie 2+ years, and he seems to be running and glass dancing. All the temps seem to be correct, but I can't afford a temp gun atm. It is reading on the analogue thermometer 107-109 in the basking spot, and 80-85 in the cooler side of the tank. His light recently went out, so I have a backup light that's also 150w, it's a blue one and seems on the cooler side as it's on a lamp that the brightness can be adjusted.

He appears to be more active and not glass dancing with this one. So I was thinking of maybe getting him less than 150w this time around, as he seems happier. I read online that 150w should be fine for a 40gl tank, but I figured I'd ask here. What would be the best wattage to go with? I feel he may have been burning up with 150, as it was a spotlight type of lamp without a brightness adjustment

 

[CooperDragon]

With the basking lamps, it all comes down to temperature. You really will want to try and get either a cheap temp gun (they are $20 or so on amazon) or a digital thermometer with a probe (about $10 at Petco as I recall). Once you can get accurate readings all around the tank, you can raise/lower the basking spot and the basking lamp to produce the correct temperature at the basking site. These adjustments may include using different wattage bulbs, but I'd stick with what you have and try changing the elevations first and see where that gets you. You can use a PAR38 halogen flood bulb for basking. They are pretty effective and cheaper than the reptile specific basking lights.

 

[diamc]

Hi, I agree with Cooper that temps are very important so you want to make sure that you are getting accurate readings.

If you were getting a reading of 107 to 109 with the analogue (dial) thermometer, then the actually basking surface temp could very well have been a bit higher. Adults actually prefer cooler temps than babies do so aiming for a basking surface temp of about 100 to 104 would probably be a good idea with a cool side within 78 to 82 to allow for proper thermoregulating.

 

[tripleh3lix]

So what lamp should I buy? Is the 150w fine or should I go lower?

 

[CooperDragon]

Try staying with the 150w and adjusting the height until you can get the correct temps. If you can't get the basking spot up to the proper temp without keeping the cool side 75-85 then I'd switch wattages up or down as needed.

 

[lisa127]

I find using a rheostat or lamp dimmer much easier than adjusting the height of the fixture when I need to adjust temperature.

And I agree. You need a temp gun!