Basking light size

mjhandy

New Member
I'm not worried about bulb wattage, not yet anyways. We just got our main light fixture from Light Your Reptile, a 4 unit T5 bulb 48" unit.

When I placed the light on the viv, I've got a limited amount of space for a basking lamp.

Here's two pics. One with the lights on, the other off.

On.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhandy/33675196953/in/album-72157680278151224/

Off.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhandy/34100011530/in/album-72157680278151224/

As you can see, I have almost 6" to place a basking lamp. Should I look for something with a shade/reflector, or not?
 
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If the cham will remain in the tank, i would get a wide flood halogen that has a built in reflector, and just dangle in a few inches above the screen. The lack of hood/shade/reflector will make the bulb run cooler and last longer.

Here is my setup, i just bought a ceramic "dome" and removed the dome.


View media item 45179
 
If the cham will remain in the tank, i would get a wide flood halogen that has a built in reflector, and just dangle in a few inches above the screen. The lack of hood/shade/reflector will make the bulb run cooler and last longer.

Here is my setup, i just bought a ceramic "dome" and removed the dome.


View media item 45179

am i seeing that right? the bulbs are IN the cage? as far as i know, you should never do that. they can get bad burns from it.
 
I'm not worried about bulb wattage, not yet anyways. We just got our main light fixture from Light Your Reptile, a 4 unit T5 bulb 48" unit.

When I placed the light on the viv, I've got a limited amount of space for a basking lamp.

Here's two pics. One with the lights on, the other off.

On.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhandy/33675196953/in/album-72157680278151224/

Off.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhandy/34100011530/in/album-72157680278151224/

As you can see, I have almost 6" to place a basking lamp. Should I look for something with a shade/reflector, or not?

the uvb should be touching the screen. basicly laying right on the mesh. as for as the heat lamp size, i just bought a regular ceramic dome from the pet shop. it's a tight squeeze, but it works fine.
 
here's how i have mine setup. UVB, then plant light, then heat lamp in the back right over his favorite basking vine.
 

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am i seeing that right? the bulbs are IN the cage? as far as i know, you should never do that. they can get bad burns from it.

"cage" is a relative term. Its 7ft tall and just has 2 walls and a roof. Its coral for a free range.

While it is possible (which is why i asked if his cham could get to the top of the cage), my cham would have to shimmy up at least 4ft of screen, then walk upside down 3ft, then walk down a foot of 18 gauge bare wire (it hangs the florescent), then shimmy 2ft foot along the fixture. Then walk down that few inches of wire. All for the sole purpose of giving me a vet bill...
 
"cage" is a relative term. Its 7ft tall and just has 2 walls and a roof. Its coral for a free range.

While it is possible (which is why i asked if his cham could get to the top of the cage), my cham would have to shimmy up at least 4ft of screen, then walk upside down 3ft, then walk down a foot of 18 gauge bare wire (it hangs the florescent), then shimmy 2ft foot along the fixture. Then walk down that few inches of wire. All for the sole purpose of giving me a vet bill...

well good luck with your setup. i would never try it personally. Especially because my cham is clumbsy as hell, gets as close as he can to his lights. and has fallen from the top all the way to the bottom, miraculously without breaking any legs. Ive got the 4ft reptibreeze.
 
Thanks guys. Is there an advantage on using a dome versus the bare bulb units you see?

The dome keeps the light several inches off the screen, which makes it a little "safer" and the dome sheilds the hot bulb, which makes it "safer". If your little darling gets on the screen directly under the bulb, it will get burned, but not instantly like if the bulb was directly on the screen. Same with the dome, while the bulb would instant burn, the metal dome would be only has hot as a rare burger.
 
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