My setup

Fawah54

Member
Doing a writeup of my setup. I'm new to reptiles myself, trying to help others as well as get suggestions. I live in the US, Colorado, so gets pretty cold. We keep our house at 61F at night, Mr. Wilson is in my office upstairs so its colder upstairs.

That said, he has a lot of options, here is my set up and temp choices he has:

-Thrive Front Double Door Opening Reptile Terrarium - 40 Gallon
-LUCKY HERP 150W Ceramic Heat Emitter x 2 housed in a Zoo Med Combo Deep Dome Reptile Dual Lamp Fixture (160w)
-Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 T5-HO UVB Fluorescent Reptile Lamp, 39 x 34-in
-Thrive 2-in-1 Digital Thermometer & Hygrometer
-Thrive digital Thermometer
-Digiten TTC1003 Reptile Temperature Controller with Timer, Day-Night Timer Thermostat, 3 Outlet
-Etekcity Infrared Thermometer Laser Temperature Gun 774 (A MUST IMO)

The Digiten controls both the ceramic heat lamps.
One prob is at the highest point closest to the heat lamps.
The other prob is in the bottom corner, furthest from the heat lamps underneath the bridge.

Right now both ceramic heat lamps are cranking, outside temp of them 170F. Room temp is 69F (This setup really heats up my office). The Digiten controls both, I have the prob in the cooler section set to a lower temp at night so when the UVB light cuts off the temp will drop down to the mid 70s in the coolest spot. He usually hangs out at night where he is right now. Sometimes in the upper right where it is a bit cooler but not the coolest spot. I know he's happy with the heat choices as he has both cooler and warmer spots and doesn't always favor one over the other.

Posted a pic with current temps. Ambient temps are 90F up top the cave and 86F at the bottom left. This is why the Infrared Thermometer Laser is a must, wouldn't know the basking temps are correct with out it.
 

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Chris.

Sub-Adult Member
Beardie name(s)
Luis and Lilith
That looks really nice an I totally agree on the IR gun.
Is there a reason you went for the ceramic bulbs? Usually lights are better as they emit...well light and bearded dragons come from a semi dessert enviroments were there is lots of light.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
Doing a writeup of my setup. I'm new to reptiles myself, trying to help others as well as get suggestions. I live in the US, Colorado, so gets pretty cold. We keep our house at 61F at night, Mr. Wilson is in my office upstairs so its colder upstairs.

That said, he has a lot of options, here is my set up and temp choices he has:

-Thrive Front Double Door Opening Reptile Terrarium - 40 Gallon
-LUCKY HERP 150W Ceramic Heat Emitter x 2 housed in a Zoo Med Combo Deep Dome Reptile Dual Lamp Fixture (160w)
-Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 T5-HO UVB Fluorescent Reptile Lamp, 39 x 34-in
-Thrive 2-in-1 Digital Thermometer & Hygrometer
-Thrive digital Thermometer
-Digiten TTC1003 Reptile Temperature Controller with Timer, Day-Night Timer Thermostat, 3 Outlet
-Etekcity Infrared Thermometer Laser Temperature Gun 774 (A MUST IMO)

The Digiten controls both the ceramic heat lamps.
One prob is at the highest point closest to the heat lamps.
The other prob is in the bottom corner, furthest from the heat lamps underneath the bridge.

Right now both ceramic heat lamps are cranking, outside temp of them 170F. Room temp is 69F (This setup really heats up my office). The Digiten controls both, I have the prob in the cooler section set to a lower temp at night so when the UVB light cuts off the temp will drop down to the mid 70s in the coolest spot. He usually hangs out at night where he is right now. Sometimes in the upper right where it is a bit cooler but not the coolest spot. I know he's happy with the heat choices as he has both cooler and warmer spots and doesn't always favor one over the other.

Posted a pic with current temps. Ambient temps are 90F up top the cave and 86F at the bottom left. This is why the Infrared Thermometer Laser is a must, wouldn't know the basking temps are correct with out it.
If your using only a CHE for heat/ basking bulb please get a regular basking bulb--- CHE do not emit UVA and your dragon needs that - CHE's are good for night time heat and should not be used for basking --
 

Fawah54

Member
Original Poster
That looks really nice an I totally agree on the IR gun.
Is there a reason you went for the ceramic bulbs? Usually lights are better as they emit...well light and bearded dragons come from a semi dessert enviroments were there is lots of light.
I've got a 36in zoomed 10.0 UVB T5 HO for light, went with ceramic so at night his enclosure is completely dark.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
I've got a 36in zoomed 10.0 UVB T5 HO for light, went with ceramic so at night his enclosure is completely dark.
You need a clear bright white basking bulb for heat and UVA- this is what starts digestion - CHE's are good for heat only at night if temps are falling below 65-- they are NOT good for basking
 

Fawah54

Member
Original Poster
You need a clear bright white basking bulb for heat and UVA- this is what starts digestion - CHE's are good for heat only at night if temps are falling below 65-- they are NOT good for basking
Confused now. I've got:

Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB 39W Lamps for Reptiles - High Output T5 HO with Optimal UVA/UVB Output​

Owner of the local reptile shop said this and adaquute heat options would be all I need. I need more UVA/UVB?
 

Chris.

Sub-Adult Member
Beardie name(s)
Luis and Lilith
Confused now. I've got:

Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB 39W Lamps for Reptiles - High Output T5 HO with Optimal UVA/UVB Output​

Owner of the local reptile shop said this and adaquute heat options would be all I need. I need more UVA/UVB?
Yeah so those tubes provide good UVB and SOME UVA. But you need a basking bulb to go along with those. They do not provide enough light also, and light (lumen; lm) is what triggers activity.

As long as your tank does not get below 65°F during the night you do not need a ceramic heat emitter. In fact you do not want one as a cooler night does benefit your dragon.

Bearded dragons are from a semi dessert enviroments. Meaning it is hot, dry and bright during the day and cold and dark during the night!
 

Fawah54

Member
Original Poster
I've got a

Exo Terra Solar-Glo High Intensity Self-Ballasted Uv/Heat Mercury Vapor Lamp, 125-Watt​


That might not do that trick, I ordered a Sunlight/UV meter to see what I've got at the basking spot. Thanks.
 
Last edited:

Chris.

Sub-Adult Member
Beardie name(s)
Luis and Lilith
I've got a

Exo Terra Solar-Glo High Intensity Self-Ballasted Uv/Heat Mercury Vapor Lamp, 125-Watt​


That might not do that trick, I ordered a Sunlight/UV meter to see what I've got at the basking spot. Thanks.
Mercury Vapor Bulbs (mvb) are fine also, I've used those for a long time until I switched to the more efficient and modern metal halide bulbs.
Just make sure the distance is fine, it's usually around 12"
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 5
Watch the Solar Glo we have had people on here w/ issues w/ that bulb and the dragons eyes
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
I've got a

Exo Terra Solar-Glo High Intensity Self-Ballasted Uv/Heat Mercury Vapor Lamp, 125-Watt​


That might not do that trick, I ordered a Sunlight/UV meter to see what I've got at the basking spot. Thanks.

I've used the Solar glo 125 before and had no problems. No vision problems even as they got old.
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
Yeah so those tubes provide good UVB and SOME UVA. But you need a basking bulb to go along with those. They do not provide enough light also, and light (lumen; lm) is what triggers activity.

As long as your tank does not get below 65°F during the night you do not need a ceramic heat emitter. In fact you do not want one as a cooler night does benefit your dragon.

Bearded dragons are from a semi dessert enviroments. Meaning it is hot, dry and bright during the day and cold and dark during the night!
During the summer, when babies are hatching, it stays higher than 65F at night , more like 68-low 70's. And here in the U.S most breeders never keep their babies below 65, so we wouldn't really want them at a lower temp. than that even if our home gets colder because of seasonal change.
 

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