Leopold...

[Dissy]

...is a feisty little snot right now, but at least he's front and center and never hides...even sleeps on his branch right in front of the cage.. He's about 10" to the tip of his tail, so I'm working on a new home already. That said, I've read a lot on lighting, and am still confused... 3 bulbs, 2 bulbs, red, black, blue, white, full strip lights, etc. A 65 gallon Marineland set up is what is being prepped for him right now, with a screened top.. Any advice on lighting specifics, brand, etc? Thanks...

 

[GoneForLunch]

UVB definitely should be a tube style Reptisun 10.0 that is close to his basking spot. Roughly 6-8". I use a zoo med lighting fixture with a 75w in my 75 gallon and that gets his basking spot to 100-105 depending where he is laying. Both the bulb and fixture are Reptisun. I'm sure there are better ones but it's what I use and it works pretty well for me.

 

[Dissy]

I have a Zoo Med dual fixture on there now.. It has a 75w heat bulb, and a 10.0 compact uvb bulb... His tank right now is a 20 gal.. 24x16.. So he's ok now, and do the larger strip when I move him?

 

[ancapper]

the compact uvbs are trash, he really needs a tube uvb light

 

[Dissy]

Could you be a little more specific? Theyre both 10.0 uvb, the tank right now is very small
. Other than being clumsy on top of such a small tank, how do the bulbs themselves vary? I can see needing a larger fixture for a larger span.. but now? (Forgive typos. Phone.)

 

[HKzForDayz]

CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs don't produce adequate UVB for our dragons. (Exception being some of the uvb200 , but you in order to get a proper uvb gradient it would require using multiple fixtures) i recommend getting a t5 high output fixture , and either a t5 reptisun 10.0 or an arcadia 12 , those are the only bulbs we have found that consistently provide adequate UVB without issues. At the very least I would recommend switching to a t8 fixture depending on your enclosure size , and getting a t8 bulb in either variety listed above, those are effective of distances to 6-8 inches , which you already have. The t5 fixtures deliver optimal UVB at 12-14" and provide a much better gradient depending on size. In a 65 gallon , you will want the t5.



This fixture
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AKKUBDQ/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_rQUbxbXJ0QHMB

With this bulb
Reptisun 10.0 Uvb T5 High Output Linear Lamp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQU8HAO/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_dSUbxbX6C2W3G


Or if you can afford the few extra bucks, id recommend this combo
http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/22-t-5-ho-fixture-high-output-with-arcadia-d3-12-ho-bulb/


The issue you will run into , in your current enclosure, is that a t5 fixture will probably be too close to your basking spots as you dont want the lizard getting much closer then 12" to the UVB source. A t8 would fit your current set up much better but wouldnt work so well on a 65 gal.

 

[GizmosGrammie]

Dissy,

It probably could have been said nicer, but from my reading this board for the last year. I've read there is controversy over older compact coil UVB bulbs causing eye damage & I think the general consensus is they are of poor quality in regard to UVB quality. Everything I've read, the recommendation is for the tube UVB lighting.

Good luck with Leopold.

Edit; HKZ must have been typing his reply same time as me. His/her explanation is good.

 

[HKzForDayz]

Dissy,

It probably could have been said nicer, but from my reading this board for the last year. I've read there is controversy over older compact coil UVB bulbs causing eye damage & I think the general consensus is they are of poor quality in regard to UVB quality. Everything I've read, the recommendation is for the tube UVB lighting.

Good luck with Leopold.

Edit; HKZ must have been typing his reply same time as me. His/her explanation is good.

Before seeing your edit I was so puzzled :lol: :lol: I was re-reading my explanation over and over again to figure out where I wasnt nice.

I agree though , it doesnt do much good to tell somebody what they are using is "trash" as that comes off as an attack, and makes it seem like said person is purposefully using lights that dont provide adequate UVB. I think 90 percent of the time, if not more, people using incorrect lighting are doing so because they were misinformed somewhere along the way either by pet store employees, breeders, other owners, websites, there are so many avenues out there in which false information regarding to bearded dragon care & husbandry CAN BE and IS shared, the only time I personally feel fault lies with owner is if A) Owner did no research at all, just bought an animal and picked at random how to care for B)Owner has been presented with correct info (in a respectable and believable manner) and still chooses to ignore said info.

 

[Dissy]

I don't have any problem spending a few extra bucks on something I won't have to replace later, as his next home is his permanent home.. He's only in the small one because I was told they have a problem finding their food in a larger enclosure..

The link you provided doesn't work, tho.. If you tell me what it was I can dig around on Amazon, and the like..

Thanks for the more detailed explanations..

 

[GizmosGrammie]

HKZ
YEAH had ur reply been there when I read the thread I probably wouldn't have replied, but when mine posted & it took me back to the thread I then saw ur post. I'm on a cell phone & I don't think it updates often enough to see new posts come in unless I do a refresh. All's good. Have a good evening.

 

[HKzForDayz]

oh crap give me a sec, i copied and pasted from another post and I ALWAYS forget that this site shortens the url , give me just a sec.

 

[HKzForDayz]

Okay the link should be working in my first reply now. Also, if you run into issues with your dragon not being able to find his feeders, you can always feed in a seperate tub. I especially enjoy doing this with my younger dragons as it makes it much easier to feed them as many as they can eat in a 10-15 minute period 2-3x a day, as required. I know when he is done eating in his feeding tub, its not because he cant find any but because he is full.

 

[Dissy]

Totally love the extra bin idea.. Better than going back for refills...

 

[HKzForDayz]

I love it, its something I have picked up from caring for other reptiles. A lot of other species will identify your hand with food and will be more prone to biting if you dont feed in a seperate container. This isn't true with Bearded Dragons, although it does make it much more convenient for giving them as many as they can eat. Also, you don't have to worry about them hiding, and it gives daddy a little cleaning time with their enclosures while they are busy chasing dubia around a sterilite tub.

 

[AHBD]

That's a really great looking set up, you did a good job and your beardie looks healthy. I love the look with the fake plants but my dragons tried to munch on them [ my first beardies almost 25 yrs. ago ] so I forsook them , though I much prefer the look. At any rate, be on the watch that your dragon doesn't try to munch on them.

As for the CFL's, they are not as bad as sometimes made out to be, as long as your dragon basks up close enough it will be O.K. until you get your new lights. One of the oldest breeders in the country uses them to raise their babies in the simple baby rearing bins. But the tubes are superior and will be much more effective for your larger tank.