CatalinValli":8ece8 said:
I have a 20 gallon tank for a younger beardie I am getting as a temporary home until I get paid next week and get a larger one. I was just wondering about temporary heat/lighting for her until next week, because when I get the bigger tank, I want to use a MVB if I can find one in the town I live in. I went and asked a few of the employees at a pet store and they couldn't give me one single answer. One kept saying I should use a 50W bulb and a small ceramic heater and another said I could just use a 50W Zoo Med Basking Spot Lamp. The 20 Gallon tank is about 15.5 inches deep, so which light/heat source would work best for now and how far away should she be allowed to be from it? Also, if I can't find a MVB right away, the light/heat from the 20 gallon will be transferrred to the bigger tank. Any suggestions?
If you're planning to upgrade and have beardie in a larger enclosure under an MVB by next week, then beardie is likely fine without UVB for that length of time. Beardies are usually fine for a week, or even two... can't put an exact number on it, but being that you'll be putting her under a MVB within days, I would go ahead and just use a basking bulb in the 20 gallon for now. I imagine a 60w basking would be sufficient for a 20 gallon (MAYBE a 75, you might need to experiment), or household incandescent or flood (floods tend to throw out more heat) should do the job. Just make sure to use a "digital with probe" thermometer to gauge the temps in the tank, especially in the basking area. They should be 105-110. And remember, when gauging with a probe, you want to leave the probe on the exact basking spot for 45 minutes to get an accurate temp. Other temps should be, mid-tank 85-90 and cool side, about 80.
As to the MVB, do beware that there have been some problems with the ZooMed PowerSun as of late, so I would avoid that bulb until the problem has been cleared up. Honestly, the best way to get a MVB is through an online resource, as you can get a
quality unit for
MUCH cheaper than in the store. The stores tend to drive up prices, and then only carry the lower UVB output types such as the PowerSun (above), and the Exo Terra Solar Glo, which are "good" bulbs (well, the PowerSun usually is), but not as high in UVB as say, the MegaRay (best) and the TRex (close second), good price here:
http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-heat-bulbs/503619/t-rex-active-uv-heat-flood-spot-lamps.html The MegaRay is available through only one source:
http://www.reptileUV.com and believe is on back order at present. We use a TRex, and it is excellent. Our beardie has never been so healthy or eaten so well.
A couple of things I will mention about the MVBs, just in case you need. For a 40 gallon, you will want a 100w, and beardie should be NO CLOSER than 12 inches to the bulb (we get perfect basking temps at about 14-15 inches with the TRex). Also, you will want to use calcium with
OUT D3 as the higher output of UVB with the MVB will allow beardie to start making D3 on his/her own.
The only thing I would caution while she is not under UVB this week, is that you may not see great appetite, and perhaps beardie might appear a tad lethargic. These are normal conditions of a lack of UVB. But as I say, if it's just temporary, it should be fine. And that you will be putting her under a MVB soon, she'll likely take off after that... they have a habit of helping beardie make up for lost time. In the meantime, keep beardie
hydrated through
bathing, offer food as usual 2-3 times per day, as many as beardie will eat in 10-15 minutes, and well, I think we've already covered the calcium and vites. :wink:
The best,
Em
