UVB Distance Problems

[kprnz18]

Hello! I just recently brought my new baby Gobi home. He's 7 weeks old. I've been searching the forums all week for an answer to my issues, but I still need some insight. I started off with the UVB on the top of the mesh cover, but after research realized it filters a lot of the UVB so I rigged up a way to mount it inside the tank near the back. Now I'm seeing that this is likely too close to him. I'd say it's 6 inches from where he normally sits on his basking spot. According to the lizardmadness lighting guide I found on here, with a mesh screen at 10 inches away he should receive 6.1%.

His setup:
20 gallon long tank
Reptisun 10.0 T5 HO 22" tube in Reptisun hood
Basking light
Ceramic heater 60w to keep a gradient

So here is my issue. I just ordered a Sunblaster fixture as this Repstisun hood is already flickering and giving me issues. When I was using it on top of the mesh he wasn't eating as much. Once I mounted it inside the tank he has more than doubled his live prey intake. He was mildly interested before, but now he is voraciously eating. In my mind I figured he wasn't getting enough UVB before. But according to my research the light is now way too close to him. Thoughts?? Should I go back to placing it on top of the mesh?

 

[CooperDragon]

Ultimately it depends on his preferences, how he reacts to the changes. Generally speaking with that T5 you want it to be about 12'' from the main basking area (maybe 10'' or so through a mesh top depending on how fine the mesh is). You can have branches etc a bit closer so he can go there if he wants to. And you definitely want areas further away and "shade" zones with little to no UVB exposure so he can choose what he wants. Taterbug's (lizardmadness) guide is a good one to reference for various distances.

 

[kprnz18]

Ultimately it depends on his preferences, how he reacts to the changes. Generally speaking with that T5 you want it to be about 12'' from the main basking area (maybe 10'' or so through a mesh top depending on how fine the mesh is). You can have branches etc a bit closer so he can go there if he wants to. And you definitely want areas further away and "shade" zones with little to no UVB exposure so he can choose what he wants. Taterbug's (lizardmadness) guide is a good one to reference for various distances.

Thank you for your reply. If I place the new light on top of the mesh it will be just about 10 inches from his lower basking site. He has two vines he can climb to get higher, one beneath the UVB and one closer to the front so he has space he can get away from the light if he wants. He also can hide beneath his rock to get shade.

If he starts to slow down with eating should I cut away the mesh?

 

[kprnz18]

Here’s the setup

 

[CooperDragon]

With a tank that size and that bulb, you should be OK having it on top of the mesh.

 

[kprnz18]

Thank you very much for your help. I’ve got his new Sunblast on top of the mesh!