Lighting Help for Newbies (:

[Joe9216]

I wish I would have found this page prior to purchasing all my equipment. I am kinda worried now about what I got. The one that has me worried is the UvB light. I got the Reptisun 10 UVB CFB. And it seems everywhere I look about lighting says stay away form CFB's. The reptisun 10 stick has been the one I have seen most often recommended, so that has me a bit at ease at least.

please let me know I did not mess up too bad on equipment.

40 gallon breeder tank, Large Combo Deep Dome Lamp Fixture, All Living Things® Reptile Ceramic Heat Emitter w/ fixture, ReptiSun 10.0 Compact UVB Fluorescent Bulb, Repti Basking Spot Lamp, a 12-lb bag of Reptisand (was going to use it as a base layer for tiles), Dual temperature/humidity gauge and thermostat, Repti Rock food and water dish, Exo Terra® Dual Outlet Timer, Grapewood Logs, Cave/Basking rock.

as far as food and minerals I purchased

Free Natural Bearded Dragon Food, Tropical Fruit Mix-In Food, Can O' Worms,Repti Calcium, Reptivite, and Reptisafe Water Conditioner

 

[Wolfeden]

I think most would say to stay away from the CFB but you can read the sticky here, https://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=112482, and decide for yourself.

But if you can return the CFB and get the tube, I would do that.

On the other stuff...most is ok.
Try to keep the sand from getting all over, on top of the tiles, and that would probably work. Though most, again, would say avoid all particulate substrate if possible.

The ceramic heater and basking lamp are probably overkill, unless the tank is in a pretty cold room. A single halogen bulb would probably give enough heat for the 40G, and would be much less expensive.
But you'll have to fire them up and check your temps.

I can't offer any help on the other stuff, hopefully somebody else can.

 

[Esther19]

Hi Joe. You are in good company in realizing you have many wrong things for your dragon. Almost every one of us has been through the same thing. I hope you kept your receipts.

You are correct in thinking you will need to change out the Reptisun compact for the Reptisun 10 tube.

Consider using newspaper or paper towels under your tiles, especially if your dragon is young.

Does your temp gauge have a digital readout with a probe? You want that or a temp gun. The round dial thermometers are notoriously inaccurate by 20 degrees or more.

You will only need the CHE (heat emitter) if your tank temps fall below 65 F at night, or if your dragon is sick and you want to keep it warmer at night to boost the immune system. Good thing to have around, though.

It's great that you are checking this out now, rather than having your dragon get sick and then changing everything.

Let us know how else we can help.

 

[Xoya]

After reading in some of the stickied threads in other forums tonight, I feel compelled to ask whether the MVB that I've had for my beardie, Darwin, for a few months now is okay. Specifically, it's this one:

http://www.lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/uvb-fluorescent-lights-mercury-vapor-bulbs/-/fluker-sun-spot-100-watt-mercury-vapor-bulb/

I won't be back in town to see her for another week but I'll definitely ask my boyfriend tomorrow if he's noticed anything odd about her basking.

 

[Joe9216]

well I am returning the 40gallon breeder tank, Large Combo Deep Dome Lamp Fixture, ReptiSun 10.0 Compact UVB Fluorescent Bulb, and the 12-lb bag of Reptisand. Returning the tank because I was gifted a custom built 4x2x2 enclosure (not fancy, but free). The only thing is that this new viv does not have cutouts in the top for light fixtures, and I am finding it hard to get my hands on a cheap but usable Fluorescent light fixture to mount inside the viv. With the size i'm guessing it will have to be at least 30"-36" long, flush mountable, and single bulb....my best find is this http://www.coxhardware.com/p-17467-...eD1b6MEaJkdm0xVZ6Bbw5so3rReqgA24PlBtDE-Dw_wcB. Any ideas? As for the basking bulb and its fixture, I am trying to figure out how to mount it as well. cut a hole in the top and shine through, or place inside the viv. If inside, how to drop it down and still look good. I am still going to use the CHB, but only at night, as the room my beardie will be in can get cold at night and be a bit drafty, but it will be hooked up to the thermostat so that it does not heat it up too much. my UVB and basking lamp will be hooked up to a timer as well. I think I am getting closer to having a good home for my beardie when I take delivery of 'em next week.

 

[msimock]

Does anyone have experience with Solar Brite, 100 wt, UVA/UVB/heat bulbs? This is what I got when I adopted my baby bearded a few weeks ago, and was told it's all I needed. But after getting my temp gun yesterday, the hottest spot in her 20 gal viv is only 89F! And she hasn't been eating, so I'm guessing this may be why. Do I have a defective bulb? Or is this not ever a sufficient heat source? How do I boost the temps in her viv now? Thank you!!

 

[jarich]

Does anyone have experience with Solar Brite, 100 wt, UVA/UVB/heat bulbs? This is what I got when I adopted my baby bearded a few weeks ago, and was told it's all I needed. But after getting my temp gun yesterday, the hottest spot in her 20 gal viv is only 89F! And she hasn't been eating, so I'm guessing this may be why. Do I have a defective bulb? Or is this not ever a sufficient heat source? How do I boost the temps in her viv now? Thank you!!

How far away is your bulb from the basking area? Is it sitting on a screen?

 

[msimock]

No screen. The Solar Brite bulb is about 18" away. It can't be moved closer with fixture I have now, and form what I've read, it shouldn't be any closer. I added a desk lamp to the mix (because that's all I had on hand), and it seems to be helping. That bulb is about 15" away from the bottom, and maybe 11 or 12" from her log.

 

[achilles2224]

I saw this post which helped me get my new cage set up, but I had a question. I purchased the mounting light fixture that the care sheet from the website suggested and I currently have it on top of my tank. I know I should have it mounted inside the tank, but I am not sure what I can do to achieve that. It is a metal fixture and I have a glass tank.

 

[asia1745]

I'm getting my first beardie on Tuesday and bought a 24 hour timer but realized I don't know what plugs into the day time spot is it the basking light/day light??I know the Che goes into the night time spot,thanks.

 

[diamc]

You would want to plug the daylight heat bulb AND the UVB light into the timer so they both come on & turn off at the same time.

 

[Beckio]

What wattage does the Arcadia 12% need to be?

 

[diamc]

All of the Arcadia bulbs are very good so wattage really doesn't matter. You would want the right length bulb for the HO fixture you have. So make sure you have a T5 fixture.

 

[Beckio]

All of the Arcadia bulbs are very good so wattage really doesn't matter. You would want the right length bulb for the HO fixture you have. So make sure you have a T5 fixture.

Where would I get a fixture from? I went to a let shop near me and he said I have to buy the starter motor to go with it which was an extra £34!!! I thought you could just buy any fixture and fit it?

 

[diamc]

If you're in the U.S., you can get the bulbs and fixtures from here. www.lightyourreptiles.com If you have any questions, you can either send an email to Todd or call him, he is great to deal with.