tegu noob alert

prolan · Member Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 24

Hey there. I will have my baby b/w arg. tegu in about a week. I have constructed a cage 6x3x3 (I will post pics soon. Real proud of it. Looks killer) and have some lighting placement questions..

I have purchased a Mega-Ray EB 60 watt Flood UVB Lamp Kit for one of the two basking areas in the enclosure. I have been sold on the fact that the tegu (to be named at a later date) will enjoy both a UVB/A and non basking site.

I plan to pair up the Mega-Ray EB 60 watt Flood UVB Lamp Kit with a thermo regulated (I am a big electronics geek) heat lamp for the UVB/A location. The same heating only solution will be used for the second basking spot.

I designed that cage after being inspired by the following thread: http://thetegu.com/postt6909.html

I have the same ramp system as pictured. The front is made from tempered 1/4 glass angled back at a 18 degree angle so that the entire enclosure can be seen. It also has a kewl assisted lifting mechanism. I can lift the entire span of 6 foot door with my pinky!

The "combo" head source will be on the top platform ~ 18" from the light.

Where should the second basking area be located? Looking for ideas.

What other lighting should be in the enclosure?

The non UVB/A basking site will be on 24/7 and the "combo" location will follow a day/night cycle.

Does the tegu require any lighting at night? Should I be using the good ol red head lamp or a ceramic non light emitting element?

I also plan to install a timed/regulated misting system in the enclosure to maintain humidity levels using multiple nozzles in key locations within the enclosure.

Thanks in advance!

This site is amazing. I have found answers to just about every question I can come up with.

Greg

greg@jacobsracing.com
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2 normal BPs (the kidz)
2 Orange Ghost breeder BPs (dadz)
1 five year old daughter who loves reptiles as much as daddy does!
1 very understanding wife

prolan · Member Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 24

no replies?

Wow....

Reddevil95128 · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject:

whoa very nice I would say ceramic heat fixture would go great with the 24 hour basking site I am a bit concerned that if the tegu has 1 of 2 areas to bask in and only one having a UVB source he/she might not get enough exposer to a UVB source other then that im jealous wish I could build those if so id have alot more monitors lol

prolan · Member Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 24

thanks for the reply!

I plan to share the plans or offer to build more for fellow herp owners. I will post pics once the finish work is performed. I have about a week until the little guy shows up.

The guys that sold me the lights were pushing for the basking spots, one with and one without the UVA UVB.

Should I just do the one at the upper platform and not worry about it?

I have been reading about the color spectrums and sounds like I should have the following:

5500 6500 kelvin florecent light - day
halogen flood - day
UVB/A light - day
ceramic at the second basking site 24 hours for temp maintenence with a drop cord for night time temp drop 10 deg?? Not sure on this one..

The plan is to simulate as best as possible the light spectrum outside and maintain the temp regulation.

Am I nutz here with the lighting???

Reddevil95128 · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject:

In a large encloser you can easly use the ceramic heat fixture as a primary basking since it doesnt emit light you can run it 24/7 your UVB light should span a good portion of the rest of the encloser a 48inch UVB tube light would be perfect all tho other sizes are avalible you want you tegu to be able to soak up lots of UVB rays wherever he or she is in the encloser as for the nighttime drop feature you can use it to lower nighttime basking if you like you might also use it when your tegu goes into hibernation but I dunno much on that im more of a monitor person

prolan · Member Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 24

since I am using the Mega-Ray EB 60 watt Flood UVB Lamp Kit and plan to place it over the 2nd floor basking area...

Should it be directly over the basking spot or centered in the enclosure? The product is described as having a narrow field limited to 20 inches of distance.

I am still a bit unclear as to placement of the lighting devices

The left side of the enclosure will be the basking/hot side. I figure either a ceramic lamp or the heat emitter from Mega-Ray (60w) paired up with the Mega-Ray EB 60 watt Flood UVB Lamp Kit will take care of UVB/A + heat in the basking area.

should I be concered over the 5k-6.5k spectrum? If so...is this one of those long florecent lamps? I can put in a 4 ft balast at the top of the enclosure to provide that spectrum.

So...I am looking at 3 lights? The Mega-Ray EB 60 watt Flood UVB Lamp Kit + heat emitter + 4 ft florecent?

I may need to build a nuclear reactor in the backyard to supply power!!

worldeater · Respected Member Joined: Mar 06, 2008 Posts: 593

yea, i learned the same thing from reptile uv, your spot on prolan, tegus can "see" uva and uvb, if they want it, they'll get it. they know which place to bask at, thats why i have a 75watt halogen outside groxys cage as a secondary sunning site.

sounds like you really are starting off great!

where do you live? i don't need any heat at night, and you may not ether.
_________________
1.1.0 Arg B/W Tegu Joker n Groxy
1.0.0 Australian Water Dragon "Spyro"
1.0.0 Red Eared Slider "Turdy"
0.1.0 White Dwarf Hamster "MiMi"
1.1.0 Black&Albino Kingsnakes "Pearl & Hannibal"

prolan · Member Joined: Sep 27, 2008 Posts: 24

i am in central california, east bay area. Temps are hot in the summer and not so hot in the winter. We east bay area people complain when it gets to be 40F. Damn thats cold!

Thanks for the feedback. I think I have all the datapoints needed to setup the enclosure.

Oh...we named him today..."Truman."

I said that I am a geek right? I just finished setting up the SNMP trending for heat/humdity. Working on feeding content into MRTG. Truman will also have a camera pointed toward the enclosure that can be controlled remotely. Pan/Tilt/Zoom...I can watch the Truman Show at work.

I have entirely too much time on my hands this week.

worldeater · Respected Member Joined: Mar 06, 2008 Posts: 593

lol, if you find watching a lizard pass out under a heat lamp for 4 hours before digging into the mulch for proper sleep entertaining, then yea, you'll have a blast with the truman show!!
_________________
1.1.0 Arg B/W Tegu Joker n Groxy
1.0.0 Australian Water Dragon "Spyro"
1.0.0 Red Eared Slider "Turdy"
0.1.0 White Dwarf Hamster "MiMi"
1.1.0 Black&Albino Kingsnakes "Pearl & Hannibal"