Lighting questions from a newbie

[NeonXtacy]

Hey all! First I'd like to say, it's a pleasure finding this forum!

I just recently got a baby bearded dragon(9 weeks old) and I had gone to a shop to get a setup before getting him. They sold me a 20 gallon tank(I will be upgrading to a 40 gallon by January) it's 24 inches long, 18 inches high and 13 inches wide. I got a log that goes up about half way of the tank and his basking light is hitting about 100 degrees where he basks(the light is a 50 W ZM Basking Lamp). The issue is, the light gives off a yellow light, but I was reading I should have a bright white light! By getting a halogen 50 W white light, would that be better?

Also, the main issue I am having is with the UVB, so everything is set up on the dual Zoo Med light fixture on top of a screen top they sold me, I have a compact UVB light(looks like the reptisun 10.0 compact.) so I want to get a reptisun 10.0 t5 tube, but I was reading that if the UVB is too close to where he basks, that it could cause issues? His basking spot is raised up about 6-7inches high on an 18 inch high terrarium.

I do want to get the reptisun 10.0 tube as soon as possible, but I want to make sure I get the proper one, would it be better if I did not get the high output version?

Sorry for all the questions and long story . I do appreciate your help!


*Edit* If I have a light holder, should I just remove the screen top all together?

 

[VenusAndSaturn]

Its entirely fine if you get the high output one, in fact it would be much better.
Honestly i have a 46" t5 HO 10.0 reptisun tube light going across my juviniles 20 gallon and partially onto another 20 gallon, thats probably 30 long, 12 wide and 10 high and half her enclosure doesnt even have screen and she loves it and is quite active, however not too much as the tank is quite small for her and shes going into a 75 gallon once Christmas comes.

I'd recommend either a 22" inch one or if you dont mind it overlapping a bit until you get a 40 gallon a 30" one. The 22" inch would be good for the 40 gallon as well however it wouldnt cover the whole top like the 30" one would.

As for the basking light dont worry at all, as long as its a bright light it should be fine. And of course not the red, blue, or black "nighttime" bulbs which are pretty useless and just cause harm during the day and at night.

Is it okay if i ask what the substrate is and what your feeding him and how much your feeding?

 

[NeonXtacy]

Its entirely fine if you get the high output one, in fact it would be much better.
Honestly i have a 46" t5 HO 10.0 reptisun tube light going across my juviniles 20 gallon and partially onto another 20 gallon, thats probably 30 long, 12 wide and 10 high and half her enclosure doesnt even have screen and she loves it and is quite active, however not too much as the tank is quite small for her and shes going into a 75 gallon once Christmas comes.

I'd recommend either a 22" inch one or if you dont mind it overlapping a bit until you get a 40 gallon a 30" one. The 22" inch would be good for the 40 gallon as well however it wouldnt cover the whole top like the 30" one would.

As for the basking light dont worry at all, as long as its a bright light it should be fine. And of course not the red, blue, or black "nighttime" bulbs which are pretty useless and just cause harm during the day and at night.

Is it okay if i ask what the substrate is and what your feeding him and how much your feeding?

That is great! Thank you for the information . You think the reptisun terrarium hoods are good for a fixture? That's a great idea on getting a bigger one for now, so that I can use it for the 40 gallon once purchased!

Yeah of course! I am currently using paper towel as a substrate, they gave me sand, but I did not use it as I read it should be avoided at all costs. Right now I am feeding him small crickets, I feed him twice a day(should I be doing it more?) and he eats about 30 a day. I've been giving him some greens to eat as well.

 

[VenusAndSaturn]

I'd feed him an extra feeding, and personally i get my uvb lights and fixtures on amazon wheres its the cheapest so i honestly have never used the reptisun terrarium hoods.
What i go for feeding is by age so usually this,
1-4 months fed 3 times a day 10-20 bugs each feeding, 4-12 months 2 times a day 10-20 bugs each, 12-20 months once a day 10-20 bugs each, and then 20+ months every other day or 2-3 times a week 10-20 bugs each feeding and of course all dusted in calcium or multivitamins depending on the day of the week. Calcium 5 times a week, multivitamins 2 times a week.

Good thing your using paper towel, so much easier to clean up and much safer than the unnatural particle substrates. And yes most if not all particle substrates should be avoided, personally i have a very big hate toward them. Since when i was 8 i had my first beardie die in front of me because of a little 10 or so minute interaction with calcisand in the tank she was going to be in once older. So yeah personally i hate any particle substrates with a very, very passionate hate.

What type of greens are you currently offering?

 

[NeonXtacy]

I'd feed him an extra feeding, and personally i get my uvb lights and fixtures on amazon wheres its the cheapest so i honestly have never used the reptisun terrarium hoods.
What i go for feeding is by age so usually this,
1-4 months fed 3 times a day 10-20 bugs each feeding, 4-12 months 2 times a day 10-20 bugs each, 12-20 months once a day 10-20 bugs each, and then 20+ months every other day or 2-3 times a week 10-20 bugs each feeding and of course all dusted in calcium or multivitamins depending on the day of the week. Calcium 5 times a week, multivitamins 2 times a week.

Good thing your using paper towel, so much easier to clean up and much safer than the unnatural particle substrates. And yes most if not all particle substrates should be avoided, personally i have a very big hate toward them. Since when i was 8 i had my first beardie die in front of me because of a little 10 or so minute interaction with calcisand in the tank she was going to be in once older. So yeah personally i hate any particle substrates with a very, very passionate hate.

What type of greens are you currently offering?

I will definitely start feeding him 3 times a day then! Thank you for that! Also that is great to know about the calcium and multi vitamins, so each feeding dust the food with calcium(on calcium day). Just like a pinch right?

I'll give a look on amazon and hopefully I can find a good fixture that I can receive on monday with the light! Does the light fixture have to have a reflector?

Oh man, sorry to hear about that . No one should go through that with any pets. Glad you stuck it out and didn't let that stop you from getting more beardies!

We've been giving him what comes in spring mix, but not giving him the spinach that is in there. We have to hand feed it to him or else he won't touch it haha!

 

[VenusAndSaturn]

Yeah each insect feeding usually, though sometimes i just dust one feeding out of the day with other feedings having full dusting but its probably best to go with full dusting because of the calcium to phosphorus ratio in bugs. I personally use tall cups and put a pinch of the supplements in one and then the other supplement in the other cup and come feeding time i put crickets in there and shake it around until coated in it.

And yes the fixture does have to have a reflector, it should be fairly easy to find the light and fixture on amazon.

Yeah it wasnt the best moment in my life but hey at least i learned not to put any particle substrates near beardies (especially babies) or it just doesnt end good. It also causes a few other problems with the eyes, joints and causes some other stuff ive learned about over the short time ive been keeping proper care of reptiles.

Ah okay, yeah good thing your staying away from the spinach. I usually feed my beardies collard greens, turnip greens and mustard greens daily since those are the easiest i can find and then if i can help myself and not eat all the red raspberries ill give them fruit once or twice a week.

 

[NeonXtacy]

Yeah each insect feeding usually, though sometimes i just dust one feeding out of the day with other feedings having full dusting but its probably best to go with full dusting because of the calcium to phosphorus ratio in bugs. I personally use tall cups and put a pinch of the supplements in one and then the other supplement in the other cup and come feeding time i put crickets in there and shake it around until coated in it.

And yes the fixture does have to have a reflector, it should be fairly easy to find the light and fixture on amazon.

Yeah it wasnt the best moment in my life but hey at least i learned not to put any particle substrates near beardies (especially babies) or it just doesnt end good. It also causes a few other problems with the eyes, joints and causes some other stuff ive learned about over the short time ive been keeping proper care of reptiles.

Ah okay, yeah good thing your staying away from the spinach. I usually feed my beardies collard greens, turnip greens and mustard greens daily since those are the easiest i can find and then if i can help myself and not eat all the red raspberries ill give them fruit once or twice a week.

Oh I like the mixture of collard greens, turnip greens and mustard greens! I'll give that a try ! Thank you so much for your help!

I do have a hard time finding a fixture for a 22 inch t5 ho reptisun on Amazon. Seems like I can only find some 24 inch fixtures that ship with prime . Maybe we don't get the awesome stuff in Canada haha.

 

[CooperDragon]

Those should do. The T5 fixtures are 24'' long for the 22'' bulbs because the end caps take up some space. =)

 

[NeonXtacy]

Those should do. The T5 fixtures are 24'' long for the 22'' bulbs because the end caps take up some space. =)

Oh goodie!! Thank you so much! Just placed my order on Amazon. Super excited to get him some proper UVB !

 

[NeonXtacy]

I bought a new halogen bright white light for him today as well! It's a 50 w, had to change his basking spot a little so it was lower because it reached 116 on that spot, now it's at 106 and he seems to be a lot more active with this light !