New enclosure lighting?

[Creeps]

Hey, we're close to buying our first beardie from a breeder and are also having a wooden enclosure built for us. It's 4x2x2 and just seeing what an ideal setup would be? I'm thinking of picking up 3 10" zoo med dome fixtures for the lighting....would these be too big to hang on the inside? Also, I see some pics with enclosures with tile for flooring, looks real nice.....is that suitable for juveniles and adults,,or would adults prefer sand? Thanks so much

 

[Brooke74]

You should never use sand inside an enclosure. Tile is a great option for beardies of all ages, and it keeps their nails short as well. For UVB, you need a Reptisun 10.0 fluorescent tube light (Mounted inside the viv) and you can use a regular house light bulb along with that for lighting and to keep your temperatures up (105-110 degrees on the basking side, and 80 degrees on the cool side) Keep in mind your viv lighting and temps should be in check by the time you get your dragon, to assure its health.

 

[Mistyck]

Hey, we're close to buying our first beardie from a breeder and are also having a wooden enclosure built for us. It's 4x2x2 and just seeing what an ideal setup would be? I'm thinking of picking up 3 10" zoo med dome fixtures for the lighting....would these be too big to hang on the inside? Also, I see some pics with enclosures with tile for flooring, looks real nice.....is that suitable for juveniles and adults,,or would adults prefer sand? Thanks so much

That's a great size viv, beardie can live in there for life.

You do not need dome fixtures...They're a waste of money. Go to wal-mart, buy a under the counter light fixture in an appropriate size, and then mount the UVB (Reptisun 10.0 FLORESCENT TUBE) in that, and figure out how to mount it in the tank...Most people use the 3m clips. Then go to home depot and buy a dome fixture that are like the ones sold in the reptile stores, but at a much cheaper price http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerci...-Clamp-Light-CE-300PDQ/100354511#.UfB3KayQNkg. Then buy a regular incandescent household bulb (round, not coil) and get your temps set by figuring out what wattage to use. Sand is not recommended for any age of dragon. Tile is what I use for my dragon. It's easy to clean, and helps keep their nails filed down.

You will need to get a digital probe thermometer to check the temps, as round dial thermometers are as much as 30*f off.

 

[Creeps]

thanks so much for the info! What about a bulb for the night,,,,need a separate fixture for that?
Definitely going to put tile down........just put them in loose? wouldn't caulk them in or anything i imagine?

 

[Mistyck]

thanks so much for the info! What about a bulb for the night,,,,need a separate fixture for that?
Definitely going to put tile down........just put them in loose? wouldn't caulk them in or anything i imagine?

You do not need a heat bulb for night if your temps in the tank do not get below 65*f. So all in all, you only need 2 fixtures.

Just put the tile down... no need to grout or caulk it. Then you couldn't take them out to clean them.

 

[Creeps]

Thanks again!
Just bought a reptisun 10.0 ....$49.95....yikes

 

[Mistyck]

Holy moly! :shock: Where'd you buy it from?

 

[Claudiusx]

You can get it for cheaper online if you do some shopping around, but good news is you don't need to worry about it for another 6 months.

-Brandon

 

[Creeps]

Bought it from Petsmart.....I'm in Canada so the sites I found it cheaper, actually cost more in the end coming from the States with the high shipping!!

 

[Claudiusx]

That would explain it.

Looks like you have everything under control now, correct?
Temperatures good?

-Brandon

 

[Creeps]

Don't even have my enclosure yet....just getting everything ready beforehand

 

[Creeps]

Getting my beardie from a breeder who is also building my enclosure and have thermometers as well