Questions about hardware store products for reptiles

[MCHRKiller]

I have been doing some research and have found that some folks are buying their enclosure supplies from the local hardware store. Admittedly this would save me quite a bit of money so I an certainly considering it.

Would anyone tell me if these products would work okay?

Temperature gun
https://www.lowes.com/pd/General-Tools-Instruments-The-Heat-Seeker-8-1-Professional-Infrared-Thermometer/3136869

Clamp light for 150watt basking
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bayco-150-Watt-Incandescent-Portable-Work-Light/3122291

Light for Powersun 10.0
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-18-25-in-Under-Cabinet-Fluorescent-Light-Bar/1097885

I have also heard of people buying their "basking" bulbs from the hardware store but I have no idea what would work vs buying a reptile specific item. Any suggestions?

 

[Taterbug]

For the most part "reptile" equipment is not much different - I don't use a lot of reptile branded products myself. A few comments:

Brooder lamps and clamp lamps from the hardware store are not as durable. The domes are thin aluminum and bend/dent easily. This isn't a functional thing but they are cheaper for a reason.

Look at getting a better UV fixture and lamp the one you linked will work but is the bare minimum acceptable. Good UV lights are worth not skimping on. T5HO are worth the extra cost and last longer too so you can recoup the money. Light your reptiles hase good ones and sunblaster and hygrofarm on Amazon are good for Reptisun bulbs.

Household bulbs are fine for basking. There isn't anything special about heat lamps from the pet store. You'll probably need to experience the with what wattage works, I like the interior flood lamps

 

[MCHRKiller]

I have some T5HO fixtures laying around from my aquariums...I have a 2x18watt HOT5 would that be too much? Could I run a standard daylight lamp and a T5 UV bulb? The fixture is 20" long if that makes a difference.

 

[Taterbug]

I have some T5HO fixtures laying around from my aquariums...I have a 2x18watt HOT5 would that be too much? Could I run a standard daylight lamp and a T5 UV bulb? The fixture is 20" long if that makes a difference.

What size is the cage? Should be long enough for most cages.
I would do just that - 1 UVB and 1 daylight

 

[MCHRKiller]

40gallon breeder...will it bother anything that it is a high ouput fixture? I know non HO bulbs may burnout more rapidly if overdriven. However it is my understanding that UVs are replaced every 6 months so this wouldn't matter anyway?

 

[MCHRKiller]

Another option which may look a bit better would be for me to buy the Combo Deep Dome Fixture and run a 160watt powersun with a supplemental reptisun 10.0 26watt. That should give me plenty of lighting, heat and UV. Thoughts?

 

[Taterbug]

Personally I would use the T5HO fixture you have (the UV lamps for T5 are HO) these get replaced annually (I've had them last up to two years).

The MVB bulbs don't have as good of a beam shape (they are focused) and don't have as nice of color quality. Some people find them fussy to position as well, I prefer T5 tubes.

 

[MCHRKiller]

Upon looking further my old fixture is not working...as I had feared it has been in storage for quite a few years since I swapped most of my tanks out to LED :roll:

Would my plan of the double dome fixture with the MVB Powersun 160watt and "supplemental" power compact be good? I know the MVBs are adequate UV but there is question to how good they really are...so I thought if I added the backup UV power compact I would have no issues with UV. The tank is about 10ft from an adjacent window so it will get some natural sunlight in addition to the lighting I put on there so it should be pretty bright. I would imagine the 160watt powersun puts out a lot of brightness in addition to the 26watt UV. Plus my beardies future home sits on a large shelving unit so hanging the dome fixture will be a snap so it will be a cleaner look with nothing sitting on the screen.

Also another dumb question; should I buy screen clips or are Beardies not really escape artists?

 

[Skipper7]

You probably don't need the screen clips. If you want to hang lights anyway you can just do away with the screen altogether!

As for bulbs:
I know some people use a 90w PAR 38 halogen bulb for heat. You'd probably have to experiment with wattage, but they are cheaper than "reptile" bulbs.
I've never used an MVB bulb, but the general consensus seems to be that separate heat and light works the best. When using an MVB, you have to follow the distance rules that apply to the UVB... this often makes heating a pain and you wind up buying another bulb anyway.
By "power compact" you are referring to a small coil UVB, right? I don't know about using it in conjunction with the powersun, but they are generally not reccomended because they don't have a wide enough field or strong enough rays.

If you get your old fixture working or buy a new one, you could run one T5 UVB and one normal flourescent tube for more light. Beardies thrive in BRIGHT environments with ample UVA.

Being 10ft from the window won't help with natural UVB. The window and glass in the tank will block it. If only that did work!!!

 

[MCHRKiller]

Thank you for your reply and explanation!

Ok seems like T5HO is the way to go...my qualm is I would rather not have a fixture on my screen top(I have cats...just to keep them out and beardie in). Could I mount the T5 in my shelving unit? I would probably go with a 36" Reptisun fixture:
http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-hoods/11442-580029/zoo-med-zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-high-output-terrarium-hood.html
It comes with the bulb so it is honestly a great deal IMO

The shelf above my future beardie tank is on is about 29" tall so the fixture would be mounted on the above shelf which is 12" off the rim of the 40breeder. Would this provide ample UV to the whole tank? I could then mount the basking bulb directly behind the UV on one end of the tank. I would probably keep with my plan to go with a 150watt basking bulb.