dontslaymydragons
Member
Hi. This question seems to involve multiple categories so I wasn’t quite sure where to post it. Here goes:
I own two bearded dragons, and each is housed in their own 4x2x2 enclosure that features a Reptisun T5 10.0. I recently got an opportunity to acquire several very nice and nearly new cages from a well-regarded company (Animal Plastics) from a reptile breeder that’s retiring soon. The dimensions of these very beautiful cages are the same as my current enclosures except for the height. The cages are 15” high, and I was wondering if this would be suitable for a beardie. Because the Reptisun T5 is an intense UV light, I contacted Zoo Med to ask for their perspective on the potential lighting situation. They advised me that a T5 10.0 would be too intense for this height and could result in potential health problems down the road (their statement that the Reptisun T5 10.0 isn’t universally suitable for all enclosures and could have potentially detrimental affects on a beardie if too close feels like it could be its own thread/discussion on this forum. I’ve posted their full response below in case it’s helpful). So I was advised to purchase a T8 if I did decide to purchase the new 15” high enclosures. I don’t have any experience with the T8s, and so I have a few concerns I was hoping anyone with a deeper knowledge of T8s vs. T5s could help me with so that I can make a decision whether to snap up these gorgeous deeply discounted cages or take a pass and stick with 24” high cages for any future beardies. I’d really love to make these cages work so any advice would be much appreciated!
1. A Reptisun T5 10.0 is one of the UV gold lighting standards, but would a T8 that’s in a 15” cage work equally as well (aka does the closer distance make a T8 comparable to a T5 that’s farther away)? I don’t mind replacing the T8s in the 15” cages more often than the Reptisun T5s in my other cages as long as the T8s produce a sufficient amount of UV.
2. Does anyone have an enclosure 15” high or in the ballpark of that height? If so, have you found it easy to light/heat/ furnish? One of my beardies loves to climb as high as you’ll allow her to while the other seems to prefer staying close to the ground. I suppose a 15” cage just requires a bit more decor planning to maximize space and ensure the beardie isn’t able to get close to the basking light. If anyone has suggestions for the best way to set up a cage of this height (or better—pictures) I’d love your thoughts.
These cages are typically fairly expensive so I’m being offered an incredible deal and want badly to snap them up, but only if they won’t compromise the quality of life for the beardies that will live in them. And if anyone has any experience with Animal Plastics I’d love your opinion on their cages. Thanks to anyone that can offer their advice and help me make a decision!
Zoo Med’s email response when I asked what a lighting recommendation for this cage would be:
“Thank you for contacting us. Being the first company that created the UVB bulb in 1993 we are the only company that recommends replacing our bulbs every 12 months, everyone else is six months. Both the T8 and T5 UVB bulbs will produce UVB for up to 12 months, however the output is going to be different. The T5 bulbs bring HO produce UVB that reaches further then the T8 bulbs. If your enclosures are 14-18 inches tall then I do not recommend using a T5 bulb inside them. Using a T5 HO UVB bulb on the inside of those enclosures may overexpose your bearded dragon to UVB which can cause health issues. If you get the 14 inch tall enclosure use the T8 5.0 bulb in it, if you get the one that is 18 inches tall you can use the T8 10.0 bulb in it.”
I own two bearded dragons, and each is housed in their own 4x2x2 enclosure that features a Reptisun T5 10.0. I recently got an opportunity to acquire several very nice and nearly new cages from a well-regarded company (Animal Plastics) from a reptile breeder that’s retiring soon. The dimensions of these very beautiful cages are the same as my current enclosures except for the height. The cages are 15” high, and I was wondering if this would be suitable for a beardie. Because the Reptisun T5 is an intense UV light, I contacted Zoo Med to ask for their perspective on the potential lighting situation. They advised me that a T5 10.0 would be too intense for this height and could result in potential health problems down the road (their statement that the Reptisun T5 10.0 isn’t universally suitable for all enclosures and could have potentially detrimental affects on a beardie if too close feels like it could be its own thread/discussion on this forum. I’ve posted their full response below in case it’s helpful). So I was advised to purchase a T8 if I did decide to purchase the new 15” high enclosures. I don’t have any experience with the T8s, and so I have a few concerns I was hoping anyone with a deeper knowledge of T8s vs. T5s could help me with so that I can make a decision whether to snap up these gorgeous deeply discounted cages or take a pass and stick with 24” high cages for any future beardies. I’d really love to make these cages work so any advice would be much appreciated!
1. A Reptisun T5 10.0 is one of the UV gold lighting standards, but would a T8 that’s in a 15” cage work equally as well (aka does the closer distance make a T8 comparable to a T5 that’s farther away)? I don’t mind replacing the T8s in the 15” cages more often than the Reptisun T5s in my other cages as long as the T8s produce a sufficient amount of UV.
2. Does anyone have an enclosure 15” high or in the ballpark of that height? If so, have you found it easy to light/heat/ furnish? One of my beardies loves to climb as high as you’ll allow her to while the other seems to prefer staying close to the ground. I suppose a 15” cage just requires a bit more decor planning to maximize space and ensure the beardie isn’t able to get close to the basking light. If anyone has suggestions for the best way to set up a cage of this height (or better—pictures) I’d love your thoughts.
These cages are typically fairly expensive so I’m being offered an incredible deal and want badly to snap them up, but only if they won’t compromise the quality of life for the beardies that will live in them. And if anyone has any experience with Animal Plastics I’d love your opinion on their cages. Thanks to anyone that can offer their advice and help me make a decision!
Zoo Med’s email response when I asked what a lighting recommendation for this cage would be:
“Thank you for contacting us. Being the first company that created the UVB bulb in 1993 we are the only company that recommends replacing our bulbs every 12 months, everyone else is six months. Both the T8 and T5 UVB bulbs will produce UVB for up to 12 months, however the output is going to be different. The T5 bulbs bring HO produce UVB that reaches further then the T8 bulbs. If your enclosures are 14-18 inches tall then I do not recommend using a T5 bulb inside them. Using a T5 HO UVB bulb on the inside of those enclosures may overexpose your bearded dragon to UVB which can cause health issues. If you get the 14 inch tall enclosure use the T8 5.0 bulb in it, if you get the one that is 18 inches tall you can use the T8 10.0 bulb in it.”