Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi

I'm really confused in regards to the mercury vapor lamps. If it's my sole heating source. Should I get flood or spot? Also, 100 or 160 watts? I'll be using it in a 30 gallon tank and will probably upgrade to a 55 or 75.

Hi there,
I dont know about tank sizes in gallons, but I have a 6 foot by 2 foot by 2 foot viv for my beardies, I use a 100 watt mercury vapour lamp and I also use a UV strip light, not because I need the UV strip but because it lights up the whole viv as oppose to having a light end and a dark end!
I do find though that in the middle of the summer over here it does get a bit hot.
I am about to build a new viv I am going to make that 6 foot long, 2 foot deep and 3 foot high to get a bit of extra height on the lamp.

I hope this has been of some help. I will add though that those mercury vapour bulbs are fantastic, they work out cheaper in the long run than using a strip and a spot. I have noticed a definate differnece in my chaps since getting one of those bulbs. I use them on the monitor lizard as well.

i use 100 watt flood bulbs for my 50 and 40 gallon tanks---works great