Megaray and Screen Lid

[Rachella]

Howdy!

I have another question. I recently got a Megaray for Dude (Girl will get hers in a week or two) and he's loving it. It's super bright and true to the rumors his colors have been gorgeous and he's definitely been more active. I've left my Reptisun 10.0 tube on as well to help brighten the tank.

so I have two questions

The first is is it okay to have both of these bulbs on him at the same time?

The second is that the top of his viv has a screen lid that slides on and off. It's not the big metal mesh kind but more of the material you'd find on a screen door. He's always had this on his tank and I never even considered the possibility that it could be blocking some of his UVB rays from his lights until recently when I've read it a couple of times on the forums. So my question for this is is the screen okay, or should it be replaced? If replaced, does anyone have any suggestions on what to use?

 

[zebraflavencs]

The screen will block the rays. How far away from the dragon is that mega ?
Also the heat from the Mega can indeed melt that screen, and could burn out the mega prematurely.
Janie.

 

[Rachella]

Aw man.

So far no burning through, I'm going to keep a super close eye on it though because the last thing I need is for it to burn through and fall on poor Dude's head!

The Megaray is about 12 inches or so from Dude's highest basking spot. Maybe an inch or so more.

Any suggestions on what to use for a new lid? Should I try to get one with a metal mesh that has bigger openings?

 

[zebraflavencs]

HI again ! How many days has that mega been on there ?
Yes, I would make a metal screen, sorta like chix wire should be enough, the 1/2" grade. Or you can make a wooden top that swings up revealing the mega, so if you need to raise it an inch or so, you can.
I have two megas, and I burned them in, in an empty viv for 4 days. On day 2 temps rose by day 4 they were both stable.
Janie.

 

[Embee]

I've left my Reptisun 10.0 tube on as well to help brighten the tank.

Hi, Janie's got ya covered here but thought it important to mention that this is not advisable. With UVB it's either/or, but not both. There is such a thing as "too much UVB" and too much can cause eye problems and at worst, radiation poisoning. This is particularly important when using a high UVB output bulb such as the MegaRay. If you would like to keep light up in the tank, you can opt to use a plain household fluorescent in your strip fixture.

The best,
Em

 

[Rachella]

Howdy!

Argh, looks like I'm doing both things wrong. Oh well, now I know better. I'll try and get him a new lid ASAP. I don't know how yet. Maybe... punch out the screen in his current lid and re-attach some different, more open mesh? Some kinda glue I'm guessing? I'm so horrible with DIY things and here I am wanting to build the both of my lizards their own vivs.

I'll also look into a different bulb to sit in the fixture with the Reptisun and get that out of there. Last thing I want is for my most awesome loveable Dude to get sick!

Thanks a bunch for the info!

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

I just wanted to mention that if the Reptisun is old, then it really doesn't have much, if any uvb left. How old is the Reptisun?

If it is not old, then yes... as Em mentioned you do not want both uvb sources in the tank. If it is old and expired...then there should be no problem using it.

 

[Rachella]

It's about... I'd say 3 or 4 months old. It was gonna be replaced in October or November. I'll replace it anyways, I don't want to take any chances. Keep it on hand if something ever happens to the megaray.

 

[beardie parents]

Howdy!

Argh, looks like I'm doing both things wrong. Oh well, now I know better. I'll try and get him a new lid ASAP. I don't know how yet. Maybe... punch out the screen in his current lid and re-attach some different, more open mesh? Some kinda glue I'm guessing? I'm so horrible with DIY things and here I am wanting to build the both of my lizards their own vivs.

I'll also look into a different bulb to sit in the fixture with the Reptisun and get that out of there. Last thing I want is for my most awesome loveable Dude to get sick!

Thanks a bunch for the info!

Instead of a new lid, you could get what we got when we ordered our t-rex's. We got this hook from http://www.petmountain.com

This is another choice and, unless you have cats or animals that will try to get into your dragon's cage, you could do what we do, we have the screens off and the fixtures hanging above their basking spot. We can raise and lower the bulb as the temps require.

Lori

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Yeah...if the Reptisun is only 3-4 months old....take it out. Do keep it on hand though in case you need it in the future.
Good luck with your lighting!

 

[zebraflavencs]

This is how I fixed both MVBs in the boys' vivs:

It is a duel fixture, rated for over 200*f and has worked wonderfully !
Janie.

 

[BadCon]

I just posted something along the same lines as this topic. A metal screen can block up to 30% of the UVB emissions from a Mega Ray...though the percentage does very depending on how tight the metal weave is, and the color. A tight nit metal mesh will probobly block around 25% of the UV, while a mesh with larger openings will only block 15-20%. Refer to the 100 watt Mega Ray thread for a link to testing regarding this subject.