Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am so confused about lighting and heating. I have read so many different sites and posts on this forum about the correct lighting. There have been a lot of different kinds discussed but I'm not sure which ones can be alternatives and which ones are vital. I know that they need UVB lighting and a basking light, but then there are people mentioning mercury vapor lighting, incandesant, undertank heaters, and ceramic heaters. I am not sure which combonations they have to be used in order to provide the right lighting for the dragon. It would be a lot of help if someone could tell me what forms of heating and lighting they use for a 40 gallon breeder or 55 gallon. Thanks
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3 dogs,1 cat, and 1 leopard gecko ...**TARZANA**

i forget whether mercury vapor provides heat or uvb. incandesent (SP?) is the basking light, flourescent provides uvb. ceramic heaters provide heat without light. and undertank heaters can be used to supplement the ambient temperature of the tank and can be used at ngiht to keep the temperature up, but dont do much in terms of providing a basking 'spot'. basically you need at least one form of heat and one form of uvb. in my 30 gal, i have a basking bulb and flourescent light on timers during the day, and at night to keep the temps up i have a purple nighttime basking bulb (the color doesnt disturb their sleep like a regular bulb). hope this gives you SOME clarity until one of the experts here can help ya
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proud mama to:
1.0.0 ball python
0.0.1 albino florida kingsnake
1.0.0 leopard gecko
0.1.0 colombian rainbow boa
0.1.0 bearded dragon
1.1.0 colombian redtailed boas (on the way!)

Thanks a lot for the help. It is a lot clearer about what I need to get. I just didn't want myself going to a pet store and having to rely on them because the people in the reptile section are absolutely clueless!
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3 dogs,1 cat, and 1 leopard gecko ...**TARZANA**

hey, if you know theyre useless youre off to a good start
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proud mama to:
1.0.0 ball python
0.0.1 albino florida kingsnake
1.0.0 leopard gecko
0.1.0 colombian rainbow boa
0.1.0 bearded dragon
1.1.0 colombian redtailed boas (on the way!)

Mercury vapor lights give heat and also provide the uvb. This is like a basking bulb and fluorescent uvb bulb all in one. Throws uvb rays up to 36 inches or more. Mercury vapors give off more uvb then fluorescent lights like repti-sun.

Fluorescent bulb like repti-sun provide no heat, and uvb for only 12 inches. This means to get the beneficial light the dragon has to be closer then 12 inches away from the reptisun bulb. The closer the stronger the uvb, but never as strong as a mercury vapor would be.

The basic setup would be a regular incandescent bulb for heat, and a fluorescent like repti-sun for uvb. So you would have the uvb reptisun running the length of the cage and on one side a regular incandescent bulb for heat over the basking spot.

My setups consist of the mercury vapor bulb plus the cheap home depot brand fluorescent lights for added light. So the basking spot is on one side with the mercury vapor above it giving the dragon below both heat and uvb. I use another long cheap fluorescent light to add light for the whole length of the cage.

Hope this helps a bit.
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Mystical Dragons