Lighting Help for Newbies (:

[Tokens]

Hi guys I've been lurking these forums a few days and I have a question. I was unaware about needing 2 lights and had my enclosure built like this....

After reading alot I now understand beardies need white light to protect their eyes from the uvb, and also i found out they can see the red light so im sure thats annoying to him at night. I just got my beardie today after getting temps right over the weekend.
Ok ok now for my question. If my house never drops below 65F. Should I just put a white light in there during the UVB hours and turn off all heat at night? To me this seems like the best idea providing my beardie doesn't need to thermoregulate at night? I really want to do this right!

 

[Claudiusx]

Yes that will work.

-Brandon

 

[Jess]

Yup, that's fine!

 

[Tokens]

Awesome, I appreciate the quick response, and at the same time very relieved i dont have to switch to a CHE EVERY night, haha. Looking forward to the learning experience from my new beardie and this forum as well!

 

[hicksorganics]

Hey Jess n Claudiusx,

Sorry, I'm sure you guys have been asked this before, but I am wondering about the white light having to be between the UVB and the beardie. Is that what you're saying, or can the white light for heat be above the mesh at the top, and the UVB be in the cage?

 

[Jess]

Yes, the basking light can be on top of the mesh. You just want it to be shining light into the cage, so it doesn't matter whether it's on the mesh or not.

 

[hicksorganics]

Awesome, thank you. I was pretty sure I had it figured out when I read from the beginning, but the more posts I read along the way, the more it confused me hahaha.

 

[gyrene2083]

I have a question regarding lighting I'm hoping someone could help. I just got my son just got his beardie today. I have a 40 gallon setup. In my excitement and getting all "Dantes" (that's the beardies name, his mom gave my son the idea, she named him after Dante from General Hospital, my son thinks it's Dante from one of his video games, lol) I bought a powersun 100w MVB, and I bought a 36 inch Reptisun 10. Now the Reptisun didn't come in yet, but the MVB came today, with the deep dome hood. The tank is reading on the basking side 99, and the cool side 77. I just added another 8" reflector with a 50 watt halogen to the basking side to try and raise the temps, and the aluminum 36inch hood I have, (actually got the whole 40 gallon breeder from a previous beardie owner) has along with the florescent bulb, three outlets for screw on bulbs, so I figured I'd put one on the cooler side to help raise the temps.

Anyway, sorry for being long winded. Could I put the reptisun when it comes in while still using the MVB, or is that just too much?

-Semper Fi
gyrene2083

 

[Jess]

No, you should only use one UVB source at a time. You should PM Cheyl at RioReptiles about the Powersun if you have any questions about it, since she knows more about them than I do. Don't return the ReptiSun yet though, because if the Powersun doesn't work out you can use it!

 

[gyrene2083]

Thanks, I wasn't going to return it anyway, I figured it this way God forbid something happens to the powersun, and I can't get another MVB bulb right away, I'll always have the reptisun 10, to fall back on. I like stocking up on things, you should see my computer collection. I still have a 5 1/4 floppy drive, and floppies to go with it! lol...

-Semper Fi
gyrene2083

 

[Jess]

Haha same, I'm a hoarder of reptile supplies. :roll:

 

[gyrene2083]

Ok, so I am a little confused, actually a lot. So as I stated before I have a 40 gallon breeder. 36 inch regular florescent (in the back of the tank) 100w MVB and 40w bulb in the front right, and a 25w bulb on the left. Now my temps in the front Left are between 81 and the Left rear are 79. The right front is between 100-110, and the back right is 84. I found this out the rear temps today cause I bought two digital flukers and have them stuck on the glass.

Now as it is I'm fighting to get the right front basking spot stabilized, but now I have the back of the tank to deal with, do I really need to worry about those and if so is a CHE needed? If I need to purchase one could anyone with a 40 gallon breeder recommend the wattage?

-Semper Fi
gyrene2083

 

[Claudiusx]

You don't really have to worry about it, As long as your basking temp is up to par, and you have a gradient in your tank that gets to around the low 80ish on the cool side, your all fine. Those dial thermometers aren't very accurate, I wouldn't pay much attention to them.

-Brandon

 

[gyrene2083]

so as long as his basking spot is between 100-110 and the rest of the tank is in the low 80's I'm straight? I tell you my son has me going crazy with "Dante".

-Semper Fi
gyrene2083

 

[Claudiusx]

Well, a gradient from the hot side to the cool side of the low 80's. So you don't want the whole tank low 80's, but a temp gradient down to the low 80's on the cool end.

-Brandon