New enclosure—need help with lighting

[mommamango]

We have a 6-7 month old beardie that we adopted 3 months ago named Mango and bought a used 50 gallon vivarium today, pictured. He was in a 20 gallon tank and outgrew it. I’m not sure if the lighting that came with it is correct. On the left is a ceramic emitter only. On the right is a small bulb that I’m not sure what it’s for (also pictured) and a 75 watt bulb. I have a 5.0 reptisun UVB bulb from the old tank that will need to be changed out. Should this be 10.0? It rests on the screen and this new viv is so high that I don’t think the rays will reach very well. We plan to add a hammock and more sticks to climb up, but the picture shows what we transferred from the old enclosure. How do we get the UVB to be more effective? Are there other lighting changes we should make?

 

[KarrieRee]

We have a 6-7 month old beardie that we adopted 3 months ago named Mango and bought a used 50 gallon vivarium today, pictured. He was in a 20 gallon tank and outgrew it. I’m not sure if the lighting that came with it is correct. On the left is a ceramic emitter only. On the right is a small bulb that I’m not sure what it’s for (also pictured) and a 75 watt bulb. I have a 5.0 reptisun UVB bulb from the old tank that will need to be changed out. Should this be 10.0? It rests on the screen and this new viv is so high that I don’t think the rays will reach very well. We plan to add a hammock and more sticks to climb up, but the picture shows what we transferred from the old enclosure. How do we get the UVB to be more effective? Are there other lighting changes we should make?

Yes change the 5.0 to the 10.0- distance needs to be 12-15 inches inside the tank directly above the basking decor piece -- the screen looks to be a fine mesh type -you want one good clear solid bright white basking bulb-- temps taken w/ a digital probe thermometer 95-100-- these need to be surface basking temps- you only need the CHE if temps are falling below 65-75 for night time -- you want 3 temps in the tank cool side 80's middle 90's and basking spot 95-100-- if your using a hammock for basking you definitely need the probe IR guns do not read off of hammocks -- I would place the probes 2 of them one on your cool side and one on the basking side -- you dont need to leave it there place on the side of the tank but you want to spot check your temps at least one time a week - that one bulb looks like a coil please get rid of it --

 

[mommamango]

Yes change the 5.0 to the 10.0- distance needs to be 12-15 inches inside the tank directly above the basking decor piece -- the screen looks to be a fine mesh type -you want one good clear solid bright white basking bulb-- temps taken w/ a digital probe thermometer 95-100-- these need to be surface basking temps- you only need the CHE if temps are falling below 65-75 for night time -- you want 3 temps in the tank cool side 80's middle 90's and basking spot 95-100-- if your using a hammock for basking you definitely need the probe IR guns do not read off of hammocks -- I would place the probes 2 of them one on your cool side and one on the basking side -- you dont need to leave it there place on the side of the tank but you want to spot check your temps at least one time a week - that one bulb looks like a coil please get rid of it --

Thank you. The basking bulb is 75 watt, white.is that enough? Right now the temp is 85 degrees according to digital probe (IR gun says 82) so working on increasing it. We do have a space heater we can use until we get the lighting right.

 

[KarrieRee]

Thank you. The basking bulb is 75 watt, white.is that enough? Right now the temp is 85 degrees according to digital probe (IR gun says 82) so working on increasing it. We do have a space heater we can use until we get the lighting right.

You need one of these this is example Exo Terra® Intense Basking Spot Light | reptile Bulbs & Lamps | PetSmart or this Zoo Med Reptile Basking Spot Lamp | reptile Bulbs & Lamps | PetSmart
these are going to be trial and error for wattage start w/ a 100 you want temps of 95-100 for a 6 month old and older taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- surface basking temps -

 

[mommamango]

Thank you. It is a ZooMed but 75 watt. I’ll get a 100 watt tomorrow.

 

[KarrieRee]

Thank you. It is a ZooMed but 75 watt. I’ll get a 100 watt tomorrow.

make sure you have a digital probe thermometer you dont want to burn her up

 

[mommamango]

We have a digital probe and an IR gun.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Where are you measuring the temperatures for the basking, directly underneath & on her basking
rock/platform? There can be a variance in temperatures around the basking area so she can
thermoregulate but needs a specific hotspot of a range of 95-105F at a small area.
The digital probe & temperature gun combination should be fine to double check temperatures.

Tracie