Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a question about the lighting for my dragons. I use the reptisun 18" 5.0 bulb, I was going to switch to the compact bulb that fits into a regulat light socket. then i heard you can use the regular flourescent bulbs you use to light your house instead. anyone know if this is true? Thanks

you are mixing up two different kinds of lighting. The house hold bulbs used with bearded dragon tanks is for Heating, not to provide a UVB source. Hence, you need two bulbs, one that produces a high level of UVB and one that produces heat and light. The UVB bulb you bought is great for UVB. The coiled incandescent bulb that fits in a normal light socket, is I beleive, the zoo med UVB light that recently came out. This should still provide the same level of UVB but what it lacks is it will not cover the same amount of area, thus meaning there is less change your dragon will be exposed to the UVB light.

Having the light near the basking spot will ensure your dragon does get the best exposure to the UVB rays from a coiled incandescent UVB light but personally, I feel you can't get that light close enough to the basking spot without exposing it to the high heat from the basking light which may over heat the UVB bulb or shorten its life (I don't know this for a fact but the logic of it makes sense to me). Thus, having the long tube style UVB lights covers more of the cage, doesn't have to be right beside the heat lamp just close enough it does expose the basking area with UVB rays.
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PHLdyPayne

LdyPayne is exactly right in what she posted, I would just like to add... in the original post you mentioned household fluorescent lights. That is absolutely not true! I believe LdyPayne thought you meant a standard incadescent bulb which, yes, that can be used, but not an ordinary fluorescent bulb. Oh how I wish that were true, and the money we could save! LOL. Anyway, your Reptile Sun 5.0 bulb is a great bulb for beardies so stick with it! Cheers!