Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i'm in the process of building an 8 x 4 x 6h habitat for my 6 year old male iguana. i've run into a problem with the lighting. it seems all the recessed lighting at the hardware store is rated max 150w (most much lower), and i'm going to be using lights at least slightly more than that. my question is, what do others use for fixed lighting for heat / light in large habitats, and where can i buy it?

I'm said to say that if you don't have electric skills you will probally have to buy lower wattage bulbs.

However, if you have some electrical know how you can build your own light fixtures. My lights for my enclosure will be custom built, sadly I have no pictures or diagrams. Menards does have everything I need to build fixtures up to 250w.

If you want a reflector hood it gets tricky but not impossible.

Good Luck, and feel free to ask anymore questions.
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

are there any plans or directions for constructing a custom light fixture you can point me to? i'm building this with someone who's quite handy although he hasn't brought up the possibility of a custom fixture so maybe that's a bit too much. what's involved here? no company makes recessed housing rated for higher wattage bulbs? those heat lamps often used in bathrooms come to mind.

this looks like the only fixture that should suite my needs. anyone see a problem with using this housing? we plan on keeping the top "open", so there won't be any cover on top of the lighting fixtures to trap the heat in and cause a serious fire hazard (should be no worse than one of the dome housings used more commonly in herp cages?)

OOPS, forgot the link. here it is:

http://www.thomaslighting.com/catalog/proddetail.asp?cno=DY6415

"For new Construction. Thermally protected recessed heat lamp housing. For use with 250W R40 infa-red heat lamp. Furnished with BH6 Sure-lok adjustable bar hangers. U.L. listed for Through-Branch Circuit Wiring. Kit includes TR40W trim"

I don't see a problem with the fixture you linked. Had I infact realized you wanted that type I probally would have mentioned it, seeing as though I use them in my current Iguana cage. The one problem with the fixtures I found was the insulation properties. All that heat generated by the bulb is wasted above the cage.

My new cages are designed around my "custom" fixture which is completely within the enclosure. It also allows me to change the heigth of the fixture within the cage itself so that I can position it as needed within a proximity to the animal that is still safe.

For example my 2 new enclosures are both 80" tall 73" interior, while my Green Iguana will have branches position throughout the entirity of the enclosure. The Rhino Iguanas being more terrestrial will need a light source closer to the ground. By adjusting the heigth I can postion the light where needed without redecorating.

I will be sure to post pics when it is complete, sometime in the next few months.
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-