Some Lighting Help Please... =)

[Gatorugby]

Hello all,

This is my first post and I am really excited about my family's two new juvenile about 5", Beardies. We adopted them on Sunday and I have a few questions for the experts here to hopefully help me out with. So I purchased an enclosure similar to the exoterra 18x18x34 (it has a single hinged glass door on the front instead of 2 other than that they are identical). I bought a light canopy that houses 2 25w sockets mounted horizontally. I've put the reptiglo uvb 10.0 and the reptiglo 2.0 full spectrum in the canopy. So I guess I need a basking light now too? The temperature in the enclosure is only getting to 83 degrees F. So my questions are the following...

1) Can I replace one of these coils with a basking bulb? I know they need UVB so obviously the 10.0 has to stay.

2) I don't want to ruin the look of the canopy and enclosure by just placing a single lamp on top of the screen in front of the compact housing. What can I do here?

I'm sure im not the first person to encounter these issues. How can I get them all the light and heat they need without making my setup look junkie. I am on the verge of taking the compact top back and the coil lights and starting over.

Please help.

Thanks.

Z

 

[Blind]

First of all, you need to separate the beardies immediately. They should not be housed together.

Second, I would strongly recommend changing your UVB to the ReptiSUN 10.0, not the Reptiglo.

You do need a basking light. The cool side of the viv should be around 85* and the basking side should be around 100*.

 

[FBradshaw]

Them being housed together isn't necessarily so bad, but stay away from the coil lights. For UVB go with a full tube(fluorescent) light, the Repti-sun 10.0 is the most recommended. And yes a basking lamp is definitely needed, preferably on one side of your enclosure to create a hot side and a cool side. The fixture you have being rated for 2 x 25 watt bulbs would not work well with a basking lamp, it will start to overheat and melt or short out altogether.

 

[Blind]

Sorry, but it most definitely is. I have seen way too many dragons torn apart from being housed together. Territorial dominance will also result in one dragon not getting enough food, basking time, ect.

 

[Gatorugby]

Thank you for the info about them being housed separately. They have been getting along great so far and "stacking up" at different times. I will watch them closely and see how they behave once I get the lights situated etc.

Should I just get rid of the canopy and get 1 mercury vapor? What wattage would be appropriate? This enclosure is deep.

Thanks

Z