Reptile & Amphibian Forums

http://www.reptilesupply.com/popup_image.php?pID=471

I don't plan on getting that one which is a 5.5inch but probably the 8.5" one

Will that be able to set on TOP of my screen without the light sticking out to far?

Is it cheaper to buy lights online than in the pet store?

Recommendations?

Sorry just compiling all the information I can and google works, but your personal experience is more worthy to me.

Man, if it were ME (and it is sometimes) I'd buy one from Wal-Mart or Home Depot. I saw one tonight at Wal-Mart that was about 8.5", extra deep, and with a ceramic fixture for about 9 bucks. I got a similar one from Home Depot for little more than that. They're not black like the pet store ones, but aluminum instead, which actually reflects the light better than the painted inside of the "fancy" ones.
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0.9.0 Ball Pythons
0.1.1 Leopard Geckos
0.0.1 Egyptian Tortoise
0.0.1 Bearded Dragons

Surprisingly that's not any cheaper than the 8.5" Flukers. They are only $7.79.

>>Surprisingly that's not any cheaper than the 8.5" Flukers. They are only $7.79.

What? Really? I was thinking all the one's I've seen in the stores were around $20. I figured they'd be near that online. Good to know.
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0.9.0 Ball Pythons
0.1.1 Leopard Geckos
0.0.1 Egyptian Tortoise
0.0.1 Bearded Dragons

I still recommend the walmart kind but it is more because I refuse to buy anything made by Flukers. I won't get into why here because if I did, I would have to pull my own post.

Any hooded ceramic fixture will do though sitting on top of a screen, they don't project heat downward quite as well, as the screen will diffuse the heat somewhat. So higher watt may be necessary. It is all a matter of fiddling with bulb wattages and raising and lowering the basking spot till you get the basking spot a temp between 95-115F, with the higher end better for babies. A wide tapering basking spot works best, as it allows more surface area to be exposed to the bulb and more room for your dragon to 'spread out' and heat up. Having lower slops and levels of the basking are work great as they give more areas for the dragon to choose that can have varying temps.

In observing my bearded dragons, I do notice they take the warmer temps first thing in the morning and after they eat, and moving to cooler basking areas afterwards, in between stomping all over the cage.

Another reason why I recommend an adult cage of at least 4'x2' in size, with 5'x2' being better for a single adult. Gives them much more room to move around and get exercise, especially if taking them out of the cage and letting them run around in a dragon safe area of your home, isn't possible on a regular basis.
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PHLdyPayne

alright thanks for all your thoughts...

I'm going to check out walmart to see if they have any that are useable around here

So far I've determined that this is a expensive setup to do it properly, but still not all to bad.

I have been looking at cages online and I found one that is $76.99 which beats out the $100 at petco.

https://www.animart.com/product.php?productid=324

Where as the one at petco is the bottom product at this following link

http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/critter-cages.htm

I was also having a problem finding a floresent tube light thing (like aquariums have) i figure ill need one of those to light up the WHOLE cage with UVB/UVA light and then the basking one can just be a smaller dome fixture UVB/UVA basking light

Where can I find something that aquariums might use?

I've never looked for them but people have said that Home Depot, Walmart etc. sell what they call "shop lights" that are a single fluorescent fixture. Just take out the lens and use a UVB bulb. Distances greater than 12" need a Zoo Med Reptisun 10.0 UVB.

you can buy an acquarium hood with a light fixture at any aquarium supply store or basic pet shop..but these will cost alot. At any home improvement type store, you can get florecent fixtures for much less. Shop style fixtures come in single and dual and can be suspending from the ceiling on a chain, or just lain directly ontop of the screen. Or, you can make a top for the tank yourself and mount the fixture underneath (this works great for adult cages made out of wood instead of glass tanks).

I like using the double fixtures myself, which gives you the option of putting in a regular full spectrum green house type florescent bulb in addition to your UVB bulb or you can even use two UVB Bulbs. I find this ensures better full tank lighting and adds more UVA as well. Not really necessary but it works for me.

Home hardware stores will also carry single under cabinet style fixtures as well, which mount directly on the lid via screws *only good if you have a solid top, or partial solid top on your cage). These tend to have a regular florescent tube and a cover...which you remove and put a UVB bulb instead (keep cover off).
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PHLdyPayne

I don't use that brand but figure they're all about the same. A household or reptile basking spot shouldn't stick out too far to lay it on the screen. I use the Hagen Exo Terra Glo in the Dark ones.

As far as prices. Generally online is much cheaper than pet stores. Other good online suppliers are petmountain.com (often best prices and free shipping over $150), herpsupplies.com and lllreptile.com.

yeah I use that exo terra glo in the dark one too...what a waste of money that was....but unfortunately i couldn't find any other hooded fixture at my usual areas...and didn't have the time to check every store in the city...it would have cost me just as much in gas. But I have to say, what is the point of the glow in the dark coating anyway? A really stupid gimmick but that was all they had at the petstore. Never going to wait the last minute to buy light fixtures again...my fault for waiting the day before the reptile show to buy the last thing I needed before getting the dragon (didn't want to risk not finding any at the show to wait till then either).

What really burns me, is in a week, I won't even be using it as I will be moving my dragon into her adult cage and in there, I have a different light fixture for the basking spot. Maybe i will set it up outside on my balcony so I can read outside in the cool evenings...
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PHLdyPayne

Wow. What made you so bitter today? lol. Issues with Exo Terra and Flukers. I love the glow in the dark light. I have at least 12 of them. They allow me to check on the dragons after the lights go out. Plus I only pay 11.99 for them. The walmart ones are cheap for a reason. Their clamp is too weak and the dome's too thin. Plus the Exo Terra lights have a swith on the cord.

Glow in the dark light?

What si the purpose of this?

Do they not get disturbed by the light? Just curious because now I want one. Are they just like black lights or something?

Do you just put them in a normal dome fixture?

The Exo Terra Clamp Lamp has glow in the dark stuff inside the reflector. When the light goes out it still puts out some light for a little while. I guess the dragons think it's the moon. It allows you to see them somewhat after the lights go out. Like all glow in the dark stuff it's brighter when the lights first go out but gets dimmer as the night goes on. Herpsupplies.com sells them for 11.99 and I have seen them at shows for 13.99. A pet store will probably jip you for 20.

heh, guess I was a bit bitter.

My apartment is never pitch black, so I have no problem checking on my bearded dragon at night. I just don't see any use for the glow in the dark coating...if it only cost me $11 to have it, I wouldn't care...but up here, at a pet store, that stupid thing is more like $50. Hence why I really don't get it....but I know from now on, when I plan to buy a lizard which needs a basking light, I am going to buy the light months ahead (then again, now that I have the Exo Terra thing..I won't need anymore..will have that still kicking around LOL).

Another issue I had with it was how it connects to the clamp...doesn't seem very secure to me...the light keeps tilting down till it hits the side of the clamp...no matter how tight I try and get that wingnut. It will hold for awhile but eventually sinks down... be glad when i finish the adult cage, then i can put this hood light away till I decide to buy either another bearded dragon or a uro or something else.
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PHLdyPayne

I never tried to clamp them on the edge of a cage and can see that could be a problem. Especially if it is a larger hood. All mine are 5.5". In the old days I used to put a floor lamp next to a terrarium and then slide the clamp lamp up and down the pole to adjust the basking temp. as the ambient temps. in my house changed. Today I have shelves above and clamp the lights to that on dimmers.