Lighting Help for Newbies (:

[Ronzie]

I've only ever used a Reptisun 10.0 UVB.
But for basking lights I've used both Zoo Med's Repti Basking Spot Lamp, Exo Terra's Halogen Basking Spot and Exo Terra's Sun Glo's.
For over a year I have switched them up (only from spring till fall). With Zoo Med my dragon is way more alert, brighter orange, eats better and over all active. I put in any type of Exo Terra and by the 2nd day my dragon just lays there. Eating only alittle and dull. Put back in the Zoo Med spot and right back to being herself the next day, everytime. 3 times last year, 4 times this year.
Not sure about the color change. I thought only the uvb would change that or no light.
I have alot of Exo Terra products, but will never use any of their basking lights again.

 

[uabmicurn]

Hi Jess,

First I want to say, what a tremendous help you are with your very helpful and knowledgable information! I am a new beardie mom and have been having trouble with my Hughey being lethargic, not eating and just overall not as spunky as he was when we got him about six weeks ago. I've had him to a reptile vet, who thinks he probably does have parasites (though I had no 'sample' to take him) and he is being treated with Flagyl.

I think part of my problem is also my lighting, from the posts I've been reading. My husband bought a Zilla Critter Cage that measures 36" L x 16" H x 18" W from PetsMart that has a slide-in, wire-mesh top screen. They recommended the Exo-Terra Repti Glo 10.0 UVB coil bulb, which I'm now seeing should not have been the choice. I am going to order the ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent tube with the under-the-counter fixure. For my heating source, I'm using the All Living Things 100 watt halogen-type bulb. Is this sufficient? I have both a Fluker's Digital Thermo-Hygrometer (that I keep on the basking/heating side) and a Exo-Terra Thermometer (round, stick-on type thermometer --that I've since learned aren't reliable) on the cool side. At night, I replace the heating bulb with a Exo-Terra 75 Watt Moonlight (blue) bulb. However, during the day, even when I have the heating lamp 'hanging' down in to the cage and the dimmer turned to the warmest, the highest temp on my warm side has only been about 94 (based on the digital thermometer). Right now, with the Moonlight bulb, the thermometer is reading 84.

Any suggestions on what I can/need to do differently? Other than replacing my basking light? I'm ready for my sweet Hughey to perk back up and get active and start growing! At the vet last week, he was 11.5 inches long, weighed 140 grams, but when we bought him, we were told he was "probably" around 8 or 9 months old. This doesn't really seem right?

Thanks much!!!!

 

[uabmicurn]

One other quick question regarding the ReptiSun 10.0 tube bulb....with my tank being 36" long, should I order an 18" bulb or a 24"?

I found the petmountain.com online store and they have both bulbs listed as a "Daily Deal" being $22.54 per bulb. I'm hoping this is a 'good' price?

 

[Jess]

Hi, I'm glad it was helpful!

SInce your replacing the coil, your setup sounds pretty good. I would get a digital thermometer for the cool side, and replace the moonlight bulb with a CHE if you can. For night time temps, you usually don't want it to be over 75*F, because they do need a temp drop. But since your little guy is on meds, it is OK to keep him a little warmer for now.

Are you sure that thermometer is working though? The 100 watt should be plenty for that tank! I never needed anything over 50 watts for my 40 gal. Maybe try getting the Accurite therm, and compare it to the Zilla to see if you get different readings. I find that a little odd.

Unless the person you got him from can say that they actually had him for 9 months, I think they estimated wrong. He sounds more like 4-5 months old to me.

And $22 is a great price for ReptiSuns! Another website to check is www.lightyourreptiles.com. Arcardia 12% UVB lights are available there for about $30, and they tend to be a tad better than the ReptiSuns. Once I use mine up, I'll probably be switching over.

 

[uabmicurn]

Thanks, everyone!

I just ordered my ReptiSun 10.0 UVB bulb from Pet Mountain. Hopefully, it will be here this week. I will go to WalMart for the fixture when the bulb comes in.

As far as that Fluker's Digital Thermometer (w/hygrometer) that I have, there is no kind of probe with that. It's just a rectangular, digital device that velcros to the inside wall of the tank. I am going to go to WalMart tomorrow to look for the Accurite digital thermometer, which I'm assuming has one of the probes that I can lay on different areas of Hughey's tank to get readings? If I can't find it at WalMart, I believe I saw a link on this thread to a site that offered them for around $16.00 each.

Hughey has finished up his 5th day of Flagyl today. I have to now go 10 days without giving him his med and then give him 5 more days worth. He has perked up more and has been more social during the day, even hung out with me in the living room today and explored the area a little bit.

However, as far as eating, he has still not been interested in crickets at all and has only eaten maybe a few bites of his greens. I bought a yellow squash this evening, but was wondering if I could just cube it and give it to him raw? Or do I need to boil it?

I'm SO ready for my little guy to feel better and start eating better. I wish I would've found this website when we were researching on how to get ready for him. I don't even care so much about the money I've wasted on stuff I shouldn't be using, I just hate that my poor fella has had to suffer while his momma is 'getting her stuff together.'

I appreciate all the help you all have given!

 

[Jess]

Ok, great. And the the lack of a probe is probably why you are getting such low readings... it is much hotter directly on the basking spot than around it/near by it.
Yup, you can feed him the squash raw.

 

[bltkpo]

Jess, I have been studying your thread a lot these last few days. I really want what is best for Bindy, and I have been re-evaluating our current setup, and I hope to make changes soon.. both saving money and giving Bindy the optimum little home.

Anyway, our current set is up is a Solar Glo bulb, which emits heat and UVB. It is the best product I can find locally. I can not seem to locate Repti-sun anywhere in town, or online. (Pet mountain will not ship to Canada. Amazon will ship the lights, but not the hoods ect.)

We also have a infrared heat bulb. This is in the middle of Bindy's tank, and his preferred basking spot. Then, on the cool side of the tank we have a second UVB bulb, which emits no heat.

After reconsidering I think I would change things up to this;

Solar Glo stays, until I find a means to acquire a Repti-Sun Tube. Then I will consider a different heat lamp.

Infrared bulb goes. No need for second heat source right? Bindy's tank is positioned right above a furnace vent, so he gets all the warm air when the furnace is running. I have never worried about his tank dropping too low at night.

Second UVB bulb goes as well. I am sure we could save money NOT buying these fancy bulbs, when they are not necessary. Also, my poor landlord won't have outrageous power bills. And hopefully we have a happy Bindy.

He currently doesn't show any problems with the current set up; He basks under the red light in the morning to warm up, and bounces from either side of the tank throughout the day, but I notice he sticks to the cool side, which makes me think the two heat lamps is excessive. We do have thermometers which read the temperature at a steady 105 degrees. I am also slightly concerned about too much UVB exposure.

Anyway,

Whether you, or someone else with a bit more experience can evaluate my thoughts, that would be awesome. I will take all the advice I can get. This has been bothering me for a few weeks now, and I want to get all the info I can before I make some changes. I have already read the Solar Glo MVB thread, as well as peoples angst against Repti-Glo 10.0 Tube. (Which, aside from the Solar Glo Bulb, is the only tube light available locally.) Locally, the tube for the hood is expensive. I believe 172.00 for the set up, which holds two tubes. I thought this was a bit excessive and would appreciate variety but it seems hard to find/convince anyone of anything around my city.. haha.

Anyway... thanks everyone for hearing out my rant. Bahaha!

 

[allaboutfish]

i have a reptisun fixture and chicken wire at the top of my handmade enclosure. do i really need to mount it in the inside?

 

[Jess]

If it has the wide holes that most chicken wire does, then no. That won't filter out the UVB at all.

 

[allaboutfish]

ok awesome thanks!

 

[kitkat101]

This is awesome! Thanks so much!

 

[KeNNethX]

Hi am new to this forum. My son bought a hatchling dragon about 4 months ago. Smaug is about 10-12 inches with the tail and appears to be very healthy. He is active and eats lots of crickets, greens and squash. He is in a 40 gallon breeder. After reading this guide I am worried about the lighting. Upon the recommendation of a guy at the store we bout a ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent Bulb that covers most of the tank. We don't have a basking light but a 150-watt Ceramic Heat Emitter that we ran during the day in the Summer and 24/7 now that it is colder. He has a nice flat piece of wood (on an incline) that he goes up on to bask and when he is up there he is within 3"-8" of the light...depending where he is on the wood. We give him ZooMed Repti Calcium and Repti-Vite on a regular basis. I have an infrared gun and the temps where he basks are good. BUT...I looked at this thread and I am worried :? Will this make him blind? Will he have other health issues? His digesting and growth, like I said seem fine. I came to this forum because I was considering some type of sand...after much reading I think I am going with Slate tile. That said...now I am worried.

 

[KeNNethX]

Oh and I have my ReptiSun 10.0 on top of the screen and not inside the tank. It is in a long black aquarium fixture. It doesn't cause the bulb to hum or flicker.

 

[Jess]

Hi! Welcome to the forum! It sounds like you are doing a great job with Smaug!

You can just put a low-wattage regular light bulb besides the CHE, so that he has another bright light to look at. That will protect his eyes. I just use the coiled "energy saver" lights in my viv for visual light.

And your beardie will get more UVB rays with out the screen in between him and the bulb! There are a couple things you can do: Cut out the screen under the UVB light, use shelving brackets or those over-the-door hanging things to mount it inside the tank, or get a reflector for your UVB light to make up for the UVB that is filtered through the screen.

 

[KeNNethX]

Thanks! Before I got your reply I talked to ZooMed specialist for over 30 minutes. She was actually concerned that the UVB was too close to his eyes. She said since the mesh for the screen is not to small (in her opinion) she said at most I am losing 20% of UVB and she said for the 10.0 bulb (and the screen) should be no closer than 12 inches from his eyes. She said that any closer would hurt his eyes. I measured this to where he basks (on the wood at an angle in the back of the tank under the ceramic heater). That said I have never seen a problem with his eyes. That said she said a bulb wouldn't hurt and it wouldn't block the UVB in any way. Can you send me a link of what kind of bulb to use and what wattage? We have a good reptile-only shop in town.