Looking to upgrade my dome fixture

[Chance307]

Hi all!

I want to upgrade my dome to a dimmable one. My current size is 5.5" mini deep dome from ZooMed. I was wondering if I should get the same size or go bigger and get the 8.5"? I'm currently using a 50W zilla incandescent bulb (again). I've been going back and forth between the 50W and 75W Zilla ( the round ones, not the flat kind...I tossed the flat 75W one I had) cause Pablo keeps climbing higher up. I added a second branch today before lights out that brings him a bit closer to the lamp as he's shown that he's comfortable there and doesn't even use the branch thats 8" away from the lamp cause the temp is too low there I guess? He keeps climbing up from that 8" branch every day and chills there. So I added a branch in the area he seems to like so he can choose where he wants to bask. He better not be climbing today lol
Anyways, back to the dome. Which size should I get? Currently using the 18x18x36 enclosure till he gets a bit bigger.

 

[LizardLurkin]

I typically see domes like that first fixture atop enclosures. I never considered how much shape might play into the decision making, but I'm leaning towards one.
If I recall, these fixtures don't have an actual on/off switch, so that's something to think about. Not really the end of the world if you have it on a timer anyway!

 

[Chance307]

I typically see domes like that first fixture atop enclosures. I never considered how much shape might play into the decision making, but I'm leaning towards one.
If I recall, these fixtures don't have an actual on/off switch, so that's something to think about. Not really the end of the world if you have it on a timer anyway!

Same!!
I read that the smaller ones don't allow the heat to spread out a lot...or something like that like the smaller 5.5" are more of a focused heat. Just looking for some advice on that to make the right decision. Cause I'm kinda confused about it tbh!
The switch is definitely not an issue! My current one has a switch but I never use it cause like you said, timer

 

[LizardLurkin]

Ambient temps surrounding the basking area tend to call for lower temps, so I wonder if maybe the more focused dome and the designated basking branch is selected for this reason? Temperature gradients (higher is hotter and lower is cooler) is also a factor. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in.

 

[Beman]

Keep in mind they will go as high as they can possibly get in the cage. This does not mean he is not warm enough this means that is the highest spot. The closer to a fixture the higher the risk of a thermal burn. They do not know that their skin is frying they will just sit there and continue to burn. Make sure you have a temp gauge with a probe hooked in at the basking branch below the heat fixture. If it is sitting at 85 then it is going to be too hot where the cham rises closer. If it is sitting at 78 then it is going to be a perfect basking temp where he rises up off the branch. Looking for that sweet spot of 80 for a baby. Your range for a male adult still sits in that 80-85 max. Additionally your burn risk is higher with a stronger bulb wattage if it is positioned at the same distance so just be very cautious with these stronger bulbs even though they are a round incandescent this does not mean that they can not cause a thermal burn.

Deep domes are better as it allows the bulb to be pulled up and into the fixture further keeping it farther off the screen. I always preferred the 5.5 inch domes as they do their job heating a small area which is what you want. They also do not take up as much screen space allowing for more air flow. For your set up currently using the 18x18x36 cage by going with an 8.5 diameter fixture your now heating an entire half of the cage. you do not want this because they need the gradients. One area of warmth and the ability to move in and out of that higher temp zone into cooler ones.

 

[Chance307]

Keep in mind they will go as high as they can possibly get in the cage. This does not mean he is not warm enough this means that is the highest spot. The closer to a fixture the higher the risk of a thermal burn. They do not know that their skin is frying they will just sit there and continue to burn. Make sure you have a temp gauge with a probe hooked in at the basking branch below the heat fixture. If it is sitting at 85 then it is going to be too hot where the cham rises closer. If it is sitting at 78 then it is going to be a perfect basking temp where he rises up off the branch. Looking for that sweet spot of 80 for a baby. Your range for a male adult still sits in that 80-85 max. Additionally your burn risk is higher with a stronger bulb wattage if it is positioned at the same distance so just be very cautious with these stronger bulbs even though they are a round incandescent this does not mean that they can not cause a thermal burn.

Deep domes are better as it allows the bulb to be pulled up and into the fixture further keeping it farther off the screen. I always preferred the 5.5 inch domes as they do their job heating a small area which is what you want. They also do not take up as much screen space allowing for more air flow. For your set up currently using the 18x18x36 cage by going with an 8.5 diameter fixture your now heating an entire half of the cage. you do not want this because they need the gradients. One area of warmth and the ability to move in and out of that higher temp zone into cooler ones.

Thank you so much for this!!! I ordered the 5.5 it'll get here tomorrow.
So like how would I deal with him climbing to the bulb tho? I'm assuming probing the fixture off the screen? How many inches do you think? I have a switchbot thermometer/hygrometer by the branch and rn it's measuring 77.5 with 56% humidity. Didn't mist before lights on cause it was already at over 50% all over the cage.

 

[Beman]

Thank you so much for this!!! I ordered the 5.5 it'll get here tomorrow.
So like how would I deal with him climbing to the bulb tho? I'm assuming probing the fixture off the screen? How many inches do you think? I have a switchbot thermometer/hygrometer by the branch and rn it's measuring 77.5 with 56% humidity. Didn't mist before lights on cause it was already at over 50% all over the cage.

So if that is where it is measuring then that is optimal. I always lifted my heat fixture 4 inches off the top. Granted after seeing all the thermal burns when I was new it scared the heck out of me. I like the herpstats and used one of them for basking.

If you are giving him the only high point in the cage and that happens to be below the heat then that is where he is going to go. Add a few more areas for him to get high but away from the heat fixture.

Babies climb and this is the toddler stage, they get on and into everything you would rather them not. Depending on his size now there is also the question of is he growing out of the current cage size. They like area to move and explore and the smaller cages do not offer that as they get bigger.

 

[Chance307]

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[Chance307]

So if that is where it is measuring then that is optimal. I always lifted my heat fixture 4 inches off the top. Granted after seeing all the thermal burns when I was new it scared the heck out of me. I like the herpstats and used one of them for basking.

If you are giving him the only high point in the cage and that happens to be below the heat then that is where he is going to go. Add a few more areas for him to get high but away from the heat fixture.

Babies climb and this is the toddler stage, they get on and into everything you would rather them not. Depending on his size now there is also the question of is he growing out of the current cage size. They like area to move and explore and the smaller cages do not offer that as they get bigger.

Gotcha! Thank you so much! I'll still continue to make adjustments. I just want the best for him
The dimmable dome should help keep a steady temperature at the branch too right?

As of now he has one more high area but I never see him go to that. I have a lot more vines so I'll definitely keep adding some! Thank you!!

He's not as big tbh. My gf said he grew a bit but I dont see it he also hasn't shed yet since I've had him...its going to be 2 weeks on Thursday.

 

[Beman]

Gotcha! Thank you so much! I'll still continue to make adjustments. I just want the best for him
The dimmable dome should help keep a steady temperature at the branch too right?

As of now he has one more high area but I never see him go to that. I have a lot more vines so I'll definitely keep adding some! Thank you!!

He's not as big tbh. My gf said he grew a bit but I dont see it he also hasn't shed yet since I've had him...its going to be 2 weeks on Thursday.

So basking temp is a hard thing to get spot on without being hooked into a dimming thermostat. Mostly because more than just the fixture play into your temps. Your ambient temps do as well. For example if you let your house get warmer then the cage temp will get hotter due to ambient temps sitting hotter. Other things that can influence ambient temps is being in a room that gets direct full sun. This is why we always recommend cages be away from windows as that window influences temps season round.

A dimable fixture helps because you can dim down the bulb. So where this becomes helpful is say a 50 watt is not quite enough heat but a 75 watt is too much you find the happy middle by dimming the bulb down. Now this is manually done. I tried this route when I was new as well. Lasted a few weeks before I decided I was being obsessive because every day I was having to tweak it slightly due to ambient temps being slightly different in the house. That is when I got a herpstat to fully automate it. So thermostats that have the ability to dim are in my opinion the way to go. Takes almost all of the worry out of it.

 

[IrohtheVeiled]

Just feel the need to chime in here:

@Beman pointed me in the direction of a herpstat and it’s been a huge peace of mind thing for me. You don’t need a dimmable heat dome to use, it’ll pulse power to your heat supply to maintain a target temperature allowing you to provide an optimal basking zone.

I needed the extra control as my guy picked up a thermal burn when my ambient conditions changed with the seasons, especially if you’re running a hybrid cage that retains heat it’s a godsend in terms of peace of mind as a return of investment

I was going to get a rheostat and I am very happy I didn’t take the half measure here.

 

[Chance307]

Just feel the need to chime in here:

@Beman pointed me in the direction of a herpstat and it’s been a huge peace of mind thing for me. You don’t need a dimmable heat dome to use, it’ll pulse power to your heat supply to maintain a target temperature allowing you to provide an optimal basking zone.

I needed the extra control as my guy picked up a thermal burn when my ambient conditions changed with the seasons, especially if you’re running a hybrid cage that retains heat it’s a godsend in terms of peace of mind as a return of investment

I was going to get a rheostat and I am very happy I didn’t take the half measure here.

Do you happen to have a link for it?

 

[IrohtheVeiled]

Do you happen to have a link for it?

https://spyderrobotics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=25

For your purposes you should only need the base model - still a bit pricy but the peace of mind it buys is amazing.

Like Beman says, it has an input for your heat source and a probe that measures output

So you find a smart placement in your basking area where it won’t get shaded by your Cham and it’ll keep your basking temps right on target

I’m running a 60w for a year round bulb now. In the mornings it runs a bit warmer and once temps are hit I can see my output go down as low as like 30-40% as I have a hybrid enclosure the retains a lot of heat

 

[regal81455]

I'm just going to point out that if you ordered either of the units you originally listed the need for a herpstat is not needed. That dome has a temp. controller already. So no need for an another temp controller or dimmer, just a $15 smart plug to control when it turns on and off. That controller btw is really nice, works great. Set the temp to what you want it to be at the probe and forget it. I've had mine for going on two years now with no issues. You can purchase it separately as well for only $30 for those that have a dome already.