Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ive been around dragons for quite a few years now so i do know all about the UVB and heat for a dragon...so its not another typical question about that.

this question is just about basic lights....ive heard and seen alot of people out there using extra lights for their dragons. i am building melamine cages as we speak and im getting ready to put in my florecent fixtures for my UVB. i use reptisun 10.0 bulbs. should i use the double light fixture and add 2nd light, just being a normal florecent light, along with my UVB, to add extra lighting in the cages? and what is the bonus to doing so?

just curious
thanks
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Beach Beardies

3.4.11 bearded dragons
1.0.0 Turquoise x Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
1.1.0 Sugar Gliders
0.1.0 Miss Queen Athena (Cat)

Adding a second florescent light to your double fixture is perfectly find. THe only real benefit is it does increase the overall light intensity of the cage in a more disfuse manner (as oppose to spot lights or flood lights used for basking). You can also add a second UVB producing bulb or a full spectrum bulb (like those used for growning plants or aquariums).

However, the second florescent tube cannot be used to replace a basking light. Figured you know that but decided to clarify for other readers.

In the bearded dragon I had built several years ago, I used the double light fixture to provide extra light in the cage and it did very well. THe light wasn't supper intensive or anything like staring up at the sun during the day, but did brighten the cage nicely overall, making it more evenly distributed. (this could simply be due to the fact the cage was 5' long and the light fixture was 4' long).

I included a picture of the interior of my dragon cage, you can see the double fixture (in the reflection at the back you can tell which one is the UVB bulb by the blue tint). It lights up the cage nicely.

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PHLdyPayne