Lighting questions

[Grace789]

OK got my first Beardie baby today. He or she is in a 15 gallon tank. I am using a Zilla 50 basking light. I will be purchasing UVB lamp tomorrow. My question is should I shut the basking light off at night. Will the dragon be OK without a source of heat at night or should I also buy a CHE to use at night. I am in NJ and right now we are in the middle of a cold spell.

 

[Zach7]

Your beardie should be okay with the lights off, get a CHE if the temps in the viv drop below 65 degrees F. You should also try to invest in a bigger tank when he gets bigger. Check out some of the sticky topics in Enclosure section for articles about night time heat.

 

[Grace789]

I will definetely be looking into a larger tank. Off to do some lizard shopping today.

 

[Soulwind]

Since you say you haven't yet gotten the UV lamp, be sure you get the right kind.

The only recommended ones are the ReptiSUN 10 long tube florescent or the Arcadia 12 long tube florescent.

NOT ReptiGLO, NOT ReptiSun 5 -- [these are for tropical species, not desert species]

and not ANY kind of "compact" florescent, regardless of who makes it [UV is too intense and stops working quickly].

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Yes, you want to turn off the basking light (and the UV lamp) at night. They need it dark and quiet to sleep well.

If it's really cold at night, and the temps in the viv fall below mid 60's F, then you can add a Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE)
to provide some nighttime heat, but it's probably not necessary if you keep your house comfortable for you.

 

[patrickmb21]

The cheapest place to buy a CHE is petmountain for $20 the petsmart by my place rips people off, they sell them for $50!!!