Lighting issues-PLEASE HELP!

[lnicholson]

Ok here is the situation! First of all I am trying to decide between the Mega-Ray and the Reptisun 10.0. Right now I have a 20 gal but once I get my tax return I am planning on buying materials needed to make Samson a new bigger viv. I am going to go with the 4x2x2 melamine (something like the crossfire). I was talking to my husband yesterday about the lighting and he claims that you can use a ultraviolet light from Home depot or an aquarium store. He says that when he was younger he built an enclosure for his iguana and put lights from the hardware store and the iguana was just fine. Now the reason we got into this discussion in the first place is because I went to like 5 pet stores and even a reptile store and no one had the reptisun. I would have to order it online. I was trying to argue with him but quite honestly I can't because I am really dumb when it comes to this whole lighting thing. My question is can I go to a home improvement/hardware store and find a good full spectrum uv light or a mercury vapor bulb for my dragon? If the answer is no and my husband is totally wrong please help me with the arguement for this! He kind of knows about electrical stuff because he works installing and repairing alarms but i think on this one he totally does not know what he is saying! Please help

 

[BadCon]

The answer is no to all the above. To many variables to really know if the bulb is safe, effective, etc. Also, Mega Rays are not shipping right now, so look for a Solar Glo MVB, or a reptisun 10.0 online.

 

[acwood04]

Yea you cant buy a bulb from a hardware store or Lowe's that will work for your beardie. There are very specific requirements for the lighting and they simply dont carry those kind of bulbs. You want to go with a Reptisun 10.0 or a Exoterra Solar glo. I was using the reptisuns in my 20 gal tanks and I switched to a solar glo after the megaray was recalled. I have had no issues with the bulb. With the reptisun, your beardie needs to get within about 10 inches or closer to the tube, so for a larger viv it wont work as well. With the MVB's your beardie needs to be a little farther. If you are planning on buying one bulb and using it for the small viv and then for the new larger one your planning on building, I'd get the Solar glo. Just make sure you get a lamp stand so the bulb can be at least 12 inches from the basking spot, it will be the best around 14-16 inches away. Read the intro to UV lighting and have your husband read that as well.

 

[lnicholson]

Thanks guys! I have given my husband a few links on bearded dragons and UV so he could read. He is a little stubborn so I think I am just going to do what I feel is right and tell him about after the fact! I can be just as or more stubborn than him...don't know if he has realizes that yet I guess if I am going to do a bigger viv I should probably go with the solar glo. Is there a specific lamp stand that I need or could it be any brand?

 

[BadCon]

Any lampstand will work, just make sure to get one tall enough so you can keep the bulb (Solar Glo or any MVB) a MINIMUM of 12" from the beardy (really should be 14"). Thats the distance from the bulb to the top of the animal...they shouldn't be allowed to get any closer then 12", especially their head.

If this means your temps are too low, then you'll have to add another bulb for additional heat.

 

[lnicholson]

I guess all those links I sent my husband on lighting worked because we discussed the lighting issue today and I told him I was going for the MVB and he agreed! I guess he figured he was never going to win this one!!! I sent him like 10 links on reptile lighting Maybe he finally realized who was boss around here :lol: