lighting fixture

csfiend18 · Member Joined: Sep 29, 2006 Posts: 69

i went to my pet store today to get all the supplies i will need for a tegu and cockroaches. i picked up a 36" reptisun 10.0 but they didnt have any of the kind of fixtures i want. all they had were the kind meant for fish tanks. im looking for something like what johelian has in his/her tank, something that i can just screw into the wall halfway down and that wont really direct all the light to a small area. can anyone point me in the right direction or give me a link or something? thanks.

starion88esir · Member Joined: Jun 13, 2006 Posts: 42

Wal-mart, it's where I got mine. Just removed the cover off of it to allow the UVB rays through.

nicolerussell · Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 5:52 am Post subject:

when you say halfway down how do you mean? You can try reptiledirect.com
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csfiend18 · Member Joined: Sep 29, 2006 Posts: 69

i meant hang/screw the bulb halfway down the wall so it was close enough to the tegu to be effective.

nicolerussell · Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:51 pm Post subject:

IThe only reason I ask is that any bulb is better *over* the animal and not on the side of the animal..anything coming from the side is very unhealthy for the eyes.
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Yours,
NiColeRuSSell

"I'm gonna do what I should've done in the first place. I'll find her, wherever she is, tie her up, torture her... until she likes me again."
-Spike

csfiend18 · Member Joined: Sep 29, 2006 Posts: 69

oh really? ok ill just hang it from the ceiling of the cage then. thanks for that!

Johelian · Retired Mod Joined: Nov 22, 2004 Posts: 848

The bulb in the cage is suspended above the tegu along the back wall of the cage; since the cage is 2ft high, Im not keen on having the light dangling down in the middle of the cage for him to climb on and I dont want to fix it to the roof to have it over 18" away from the animal.
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nicolerussell · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:04 pm Post subject:

for a 2 foot height a MVB would be the only suggestion other then raising the basking slab up with levels. Having the light coming at the animal from a wall though really should not be a real choice, since it's so unhealthy for their eyes.
_________________
Yours,
NiColeRuSSell

"I'm gonna do what I should've done in the first place. I'll find her, wherever she is, tie her up, torture her... until she likes me again."
-Spike

Johelian · Retired Mod Joined: Nov 22, 2004 Posts: 848

That interests me, as I have never read that anywhere else. Im not saying youre wrong, but I wonder why that information hasnt been spread around more?
_________________
www.freewebs.com/johelian
www.freewebs.com/joslittleworld
---------------------------------
1.0.0 Argentine Tegu T.merianae
3.4.0 Monkey Tailed Skink C.zebrata
1.0.0 Crawl Cay Boa B.c.imperator
0.1.0 Royal Python P.regius

nicolerussell · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:26 pm Post subject:

As far as I know it has been main stream for some time...I no longer use tub lighting but even when I did (about 5 or 6 years ago) I was told never to use them vertically. Usually I direct people who would like to learn more about uvb to the meterreaders group at yahoo for any type of UVB question verification. I personally feel anyone who uses uvb lighting should be a member, as it supplements a membership to all the other forums.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/UVB_Meter_Owners/
_________________
Yours,
NiColeRuSSell

"I'm gonna do what I should've done in the first place. I'll find her, wherever she is, tie her up, torture her... until she likes me again."
-Spike

Johelian · Retired Mod Joined: Nov 22, 2004 Posts: 848

As far as mainstream, I must admit that I have never read that anywhere before (although it does make sense) - even now Im scanning through the 10+ reptile books I have to see if it says anything about it in there!

Incidentally, I think you may have misunderstood; I dont use the light vertically. Its clipped against the rear wall about 1/3 or so from the top of the cage. I have some pictures in the housing board if youd like to see what we're talking about.

I will enjoy perusing the link. Thanks.
_________________
www.freewebs.com/johelian
www.freewebs.com/joslittleworld
---------------------------------
1.0.0 Argentine Tegu T.merianae
3.4.0 Monkey Tailed Skink C.zebrata
1.0.0 Crawl Cay Boa B.c.imperator
0.1.0 Royal Python P.regius

nicolerussell · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:22 pm Post subject:

csfiend18 · Member Joined: Sep 29, 2006 Posts: 69

ok so i have the tank pretty much all set up. i tested my heat lamp today to see how it would work. the area directly under it is 100 degrees and the cool side is 80. right now i have a 150 watt heat bulb in a 10" dome. do you think getting a smaller dome would raise the basking heat and lower the cool side temp?

worleygurl · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:49 pm Post subject:

I have never had any luck with producing more heat with a smaller fixture. I have tried! You will probably just need to raise your basking area or lower your bulb. (Or get a higher watt bulb) Also, and unforutnately I can't remember which, but spots and floods do put off a different kind of heat. If you have a spot, try a flood. If you have a flood, try a spot.
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csfiend18 · Member Joined: Sep 29, 2006 Posts: 69

by the way...this is the light strip that i got. should work perfectly.

http://www.shop.com/op/~AMERICAN_FLUOR_CORP_ST130RS_36_Fluorescent_Strip_Fixture-prod-34541481-45103488?sourceid=3#_amos_main