Lighting Temperature questions

[campas1]

I am having some trouble heating my cage for my chameleon.
We bought a small hood that held one bulb that we used for the UVB and paired it with a dome lamp to provide a heat source for the terrarium. Do to lack of space on top of the terrarium we purchased a double lamp hood to hold the UVB light and another heating bulb. This worked great but the temperature only reached 76 degrees. Because temperature wise it was not getting as hot we had to return it to the pet store and now they are saying to switch back to the dome light with a basking bulb not a heating bulb. Now we are back to square one were we don't have enough room for both the UVB and Basking lamp. We have spent 100+ dollars on lights and at this point are unsure of the next move. We are being led in different directions which has cost us way to much money in lighting and still unsure if were getting the results we are suppose to.

Any suggestions on lights?

 

[carol5208]

how big is your terramium that you cannot fit a dome and the tube light on the top? How old is your chameleon and what kind? you may have to go with a combo heat and uvb in the dome.

 

[mcleodschams]

murcury vapour exxo terra has a good one i use you will have to raise your dome till you find the desired temp only one dome and it provides lots of uvb and heat

 

[campas1]

9 gallon square tank bought at a reptile expo two days ago. She is a pox. 3 months and is a Senegal. Thank terrarium is very well vent on the sides is all wire and top just the door is glass. Since putting on just the dome with the 25W basking light the temp has dropped to 73.

 

[carol5208]

honestly 9 gallons is just too small. what are the demensions? I would have your cham in something like a 16 X 16 X 30 at that age. What temps are you trying to achieve and what are you measuring them with?

 

[campas1]

Right now I'm using an eco-terra theremometer with a humidity monitor that measures heat at the top of the tank. I use the same device to measure temp on floor of the tank. I can maintain a 76 degree temp on top and a 72 degree temp on bottom but I feel like that is too cold. It sounds like hoods are also the wrong way to go. Are there any light fixtures for a hood that will provide heat and UVB? Other wise I have a hood with a UVB thats positioned perpendicular to the tank so I can also fit a basking dome light. I looks awful and I can't believe there isn't a set up for tanks that provide both. My tank looks like the most boot leg set up because I basically have lights just draped in all different directions to get both UVB and heat. There has to be an easy way to keep my little guy comfortable.

 

[EvilLost]

I agree that a 9gallon is too small, what are the dimensions?


The domes are what focus the heat in one spot. An incandescent bulb generates a fair amount of heat on its own though; what bulbs are you using exactly?

 

[carol5208]

Right now I'm using an eco-terra theremometer with a humidity monitor that measures heat at the top of the tank. I use the same device to measure temp on floor of the tank. I can maintain a 76 degree temp on top and a 72 degree temp on bottom but I feel like that is too cold. It sounds like hoods are also the wrong way to go. Are there any light fixtures for a hood that will provide heat and UVB? Other wise I have a hood with a UVB thats positioned perpendicular to the tank so I can also fit a basking dome light. I looks awful and I can't believe there isn't a set up for tanks that provide both. My tank looks like the most boot leg set up because I basically have lights just draped in all different directions to get both UVB and heat. There has to be an easy way to keep my little guy comfortable.

bottom line is it is too small. If you had a bigger tank, you would have plenty of room for the lights. JMO