theTegu.com - Tegu information, photo gallery, forums, caresheets, diet & nutritional info, taming tips and more for the argentine black and white tegu, argentine red tegu, blue tegu, colombian black tegu and the colombian gold-phased black tegu. Tupinambis merianea, teguixin & rufescens.
so, i'm getting a monsterous tank soon, and the dude making it asked if i want him to install radiant heat panels on the roof of the inclosure, he said it'd be $100 per panel and the panels are like 3foot by 1 foot. the inclosure is 8'x3'x30" so i'd need 2 most likley.
this seems like alot of money what i want to know is does anyone think i can use this:
http://www.amazon.com/ThermoSoft-Electric-Radiant-Heating-System-TT5-120/dp/B000G6XF0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1209058559&sr=1-1
exposed on the roof of the tank? i allmost want to think it'd be a fire hazard and the stuff needs to be inclosed.
what do you think?
Radiant heat is the best way to heat any type of Reptile, however an in-floor heating system is just for that, being incased and protected from physical damage. So I do think you've answered your own question.
Joined: Nov 01, 2007 Posts: 224 Location: Harrison, ME
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject:
We researched the same exact product for Tegster. We were going to put it under his burrow floor for extra warmth.
We were talked out of it by several people on this site. And I am glad.
One General Electric "saf-t-gard" Shatter Resistant 150 Watt Floodlight gives Tegster the 115 degree basking spot he needs. And it heats up his entire 6x4x3 foot enclosure. We have a two socket light fixture in his enclosure. The floodlight points directly at his basking spot. Another 75 watt reptile basking bulb points down at his soaking bin. And he has a 24" 10.0 Reptisun UVB bulb.
This gives him all the heat he needs and then some. _________________ Renee
Joined: Apr 11, 2007 Posts: 197 Location: Chicago area
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:37 am Post subject:
If you're looking for the "cool" factor and have lots of money to blow, go with the big dollar setup. Otherwise buy a simple socket and halogen bulb and point it at some slate rocks and you'll have a PERFECT basking spot for your tegu. On the other hand, I would (and DID) spring for a GOOD (aka Megaray) UV bulb setup. The difference between a good one and an average one is BIG. Here are some links to where you should get the UV setup. The guy who runs the company is VERY knowledgeable and will get on the phone with you and ask very specific questions about your enclosure setup (and what type of reptile you are keeping). This is time and money well spent. For simple heat, stick with the $7 halogen bulb and a $2 socket for it.
Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 2219 Location: San Antonio,TX
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:14 am Post subject:
Warner.I don't want to be rude but I just looked at the site you posted and how can he give you any advice on Tegus when he doesn't even have it listed under lizard care sheet.I was just wondering.
Joined: Jul 15, 2007 Posts: 170 Location: Wildomar, CA
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:47 am Post subject:
I've used these bulbs on all my bearded dragon set ups. They put out good levels of Uv and a fair amount of heat to boot. They are self ballasted and I have had some that lasted well over a year and a half , metering the levels with a UV meter of course. Not by telling when it burnt out.
One must remember just because it is putting out light does not mean its putting out UV. The deteriation of the bulb inside gets a heavier and heavier coating from the mercury that keeps dropping the UV that is allowed to escape.
But here is a good warning for you, these lights get VERY hot to the touch, be sure have a cage around it so the animals will not touch them. Remeber if your cage is 2ft tall, the light at the bottom will only be about 17" from the floor with no substrate under it.
Just something else for one to consider, well you all have a good day, I'm going riding today. Its suppose to be in the 90's today here.
Joined: Apr 11, 2007 Posts: 197 Location: Chicago area
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:28 am Post subject:
txrepgirl wrote:
Warner.I don't want to be rude but I just looked at the site you posted and how can he give you any advice on Tegus when he doesn't even have it listed under lizard care sheet.I was just wondering.
Well, I didn't check his care sheets, but I can tell you for SURE that he knows a LOT about Tegus. When I was on the phone with him (last year when I bought my setup) he told me that a close friend of his had just come back from a trip where he went to study Tegus in the wild and had all kinds of information about them. He knew how much UV they got in the wild, knew the correct temperature range to have for them, and how much humidity they required. I believe he's the one who told me the average humidity should be around 70 percent. Try to get him on the phone some time and ask him some Tegu-specific questions; I think you'll be impressed. Although he may not advertise it well, he definitely knows about Tegus. And their lights are at the top of the heap quality-wise. They're not that much more than a cheapo light (maybe two times what the cheapo ones cost) and work MUCH better. It was under $100 for my setup and if it lasts a year that's a reasonable cost I think. Al was basking under his just moments ago after sucking down a couple of rats. Hehehe.
Joined: Apr 11, 2007 Posts: 197 Location: Chicago area
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:35 am Post subject:
All_American wrote:
I've used these bulbs on all my bearded dragon set ups. They put out good levels of Uv and a fair amount of heat to boot. They are self ballasted and I have had some that lasted well over a year and a half , metering the levels with a UV meter of course. Not by telling when it burnt out.
One must remember just because it is putting out light does not mean its putting out UV. The deteriation of the bulb inside gets a heavier and heavier coating from the mercury that keeps dropping the UV that is allowed to escape.
But here is a good warning for you, these lights get VERY hot to the touch, be sure have a cage around it so the animals will not touch them. Remeber if your cage is 2ft tall, the light at the bottom will only be about 17" from the floor with no substrate under it.
Just something else for one to consider, well you all have a good day, I'm going riding today. Its suppose to be in the 90's today here.
Ed
Good point about the heat...they DO give off some heat. And you make a great (and almost always overlooked!) point about the UV deterioration....just because a light puts out light (or works) doesn't mean it's putting out the proper UV. I remember doing a lot of research on the UV lighting when I was buidling my enclosure and the Megaray stuff was by far the best quality stuff out there. After talking with the guy on the phone (or a lenghty time) I was more than impressed with his knowledge of both UV lighting and various reptiles and their care. I gave him the dimensions of my enclosure and he wanted to know how far from the top of the substrate my light would be before making a recommendation. I have the 60 watt setup in my enclosure.
Warner
PS - What kind of "riding" are you doing? It's cool here in Chicago today...only going to be in the 50's if we're lucky!
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