what basking bulb in a 3x2x1

[tempusfugit]

I just got a beardie that came with a cage. It's a 3x2x1 critter condo.2 foot reptisun down the middle. Any heat light I try either gets the bottom too hot (130-140) or spreads heat everywhere and gets the whole cage too hot - no cold side. Right now the socket is mounted interior and bulbs hang 3-5 inches leaving only 8 to the floor. Good for uvb not so much heat.

Do I need to cut a hole in the roof to get the light higher up?

Here's a link to another thread with some more info on the bulbs I've tried and a pic of bowser.

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=146657

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Okay, so are you using the 50w bulb? Is this the one that is making the viv too hot?
Have you tried a low wattage regular "bright" white tight beamed household bulb? You don't neccessarily need to use a so-called basking bulb for heat/basking. You could try one of the small bulbs you use for track lighting.... maybe try a 25w or 40w.
You definitely don't want you beardie too close to the light bulb. Recommended distance for a basking bulb is 10-12".
!30-140 degree temps are extremely high, so you do need to get that worked out.
Unfortunately, getting desired temps can sometimes be tough and may require a bit of experimenting with different types and watt bulbs.
If you cannot get the temps down, you may have to put in extra ventilation, to allow some of the heat to escape.
You may even have to cut a hole on top to move your fixture up some.

 

[tempusfugit]

I'm trying the 25w right now, it keeps the tank at good temps, but the basking spot gets a little too hot still, its just too darn close.

There are 2 pictures of the cage, and lots of bowser in this album.

http://photobucket.com/bowserthedragon

 

[Slave2Scarlett]

I looked at your pics and I saw the wall thermometer but do u hve a thermometer with a probe? The stick on thermometers can sometimes be off 15-20 degrees either way. i would really recommend getting one with a probe so you can place it directly on the basking spot.. Walmart has a great one called and Accurite thermometer it measures the temp inside the tank, on the basking spot and it measures humidity..

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

I had read in one of the OP's other threads that he is using a temp gun... this is why I did not question how he was measuring the temps.

Tempusfugit.... You are still using the temp gun, correct?

 

[tempusfugit]

Yup, still using the temp gun. I think one problem I had was the cage was too close to the wall, not allowing the back vents to vent enough air/heat. I called WF reptiles where he and the critter condo are both from. They said they have their babies in the same cage and they're using the 25w zoo med basking lamp too, oh and on the same pine pellets. She also said the had a reptpro 40w mini spot that has a less direct basking spot and is a shorter bulb I might try.

On a side note, a wolf spider some how climbed into the cage last night and I couldn't for the life of me catch him in the pellets, not sure if it escaped the way it got in or if Bowser ate him - aside from random parasites do you think that could be bad? He's eating crickets this morning and acting pretty normal. Gonna get mesh for the vents today.

edit: my crazy brother(that keeps all the spiders) was over and the spider popped out from under the pellets. He just reached in and grabbed it out..

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Well there ya go! Maybe now that you have the ventilation part figured out... all will be well.
As far as the wolf spider goes... we have them in abundance here... there are so many kinds of that particular spider, some harmful, but most are not. If he did eat it he will probably be okay. Just keep an eye on him and if you see anything out of the ordinary, like having a hard time breathing, constant blackbeard, etc... then take him to a vet. He will probably be fine though. I'm sure in the wild they eat their share of spiders. :wink: