1beardie":qg1f969n said:I just got a digital thermo today. Do you know why they say the compact coils are bad for beardies????
There are actually several problems with the compact/coil type bulbs. There are 2 basic designs for UVB lighting, using a lower output light(the tube style fluorescent bulbs) to bathe most of the enclosure so that UVB is absorbed in small quantities all throughout the day, and using a higher output light(MVB) to put higher amounts of UVB in just one area, usually the basking area. The main problem with coil/compact bulbs is they aren't large enough to flood most of the enclosure with UVB like the tube style bulbs do, and they don't have a high enough UVB output to work as a spot source like an MVB. A secondary problem that occurs with most compact/coil style bulbs is they have too high of a UVI(UV Index) and they tend to leak UVC. Too high of a UVI will result in skin and retna burns, kind of like a bad sunburn, while the UVC is actually quite hazardous on it's own.
1beardie":qg1f969n said:I might have to mount it inside the viv.... I dont think I can pull out the screen due to my kids... they might mess with it.... Anyone know a safe way to mount it inside on the glass??
You can buy velcro strips that will attach to the side of the tank and the fixture that will work perfectly for mounting a UVB fixture inside the enclosure. You should be able to find these at any local hardware store(Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, ....).