Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! I know this has been discussed on this forum before, but I've had a look about and I just can't find any of the posts! So forgive me for asking questions that have already been answered.

So. I just transferred my baby girl from her 20 gal long tank into a big ole' 55 gal with a nice big hollow log and a concrete pillar (for the use of nail filing) and just a really nice set up. I know there isn't as much floor space as a forty breeder, but we had the 55 on hand with a screen lid and...okay, that's not what I'm asking. Lol

Obviously, the lighting set up I had for the 20 isn't enough. I don't have the UV range of the light she has right now because I can't find the stupid packaging, but it probably isn't more than 18", and the heat coming off the heat lamp isn't getting her basking spot high enough (only about ninety) and I KNOW this all has to change very soon.

So, my question is (FINALLY!) will a MVH bulb be appropriate in this setting? The tank dimensions are standard 55 (18" H, 12" w, 48" L), and I thought perhaps a MVH bulb clamped at an angle would work well for the hot side of the cage, with her regular UV light (no heat) on the cool side with the big log that'll get her close enough to the light except the hidey-hole in the middle. Is this enough distance for effective use of these bulbs, or is it too close still?

Thank you for your help!

Are you talking MVB? Mercury Vapor Bulb?

On of the biggest disadvantages of MVB bulbs is they have to face straight down or the filament will break and the bulb will burn out prematurely. The minimum distance differs by manufacturer.

Yes, Mercury Vapor Halogen bulbs. I'm looking at the 100 Watt ZooMed from PetCo. The online store doesn't give any more information than that, and as I remember reading that they are really intense bulbs and can burn lizards if they're too close, I wanted to know what the safe distance was. Thanks for the information about the filiments, I'd never heard that before and I could have broken a pretty expensive bulb! The spot I'm putting it on is abut eleven to twelve inches away from the light fixture. Is that enough?

I wouldn't recommend Mercury vapor UVB bulbs to be mounted less than 18" above the basking spot (from the dragon's back, not the top of the basking spot...so 20-21" above the basking spot would be best, to ensure your dragon is not too close.)

If you have a screen between the bulb and the basking spot, you could get a bit closer, as the screen will filter out about a third I think it is, of UVB rays.

On a personal basis, I think its more effective and cheaper to just use a custom built lid that is half solid and half screen (or less) then mount an under cabinet florescent fixture (remove the plastic covering these come with and the normal florescent tube, replace with an appropriate length UVB bulb (check on availability of UVB sizes first, buy a fixture that fits your cage and available UVB bulbs...most come in 18", 24", 36" and 48" You can also use single or double shop light florescent fixtures designed with their own plug (instead of the kind that you wire directly to household power, these are designed to be attached to ceilings and left there permanently, whereas the ones which have their own plug, you can suspend from the ceiling or top of the cage).

I like using these instead because they spread the UVB light the entire length (or at least 2/3 the length of the cage) and I like double fixtures as I can also include a full spectrum 'normal' florescent tube which gives much more brightness to the cage especially away from the basking spot.
-----
PHLdyPayne

I've never heard of a Mercury Vapor Halogen Bulb. Zoo Med's are just Mercury Vapor Bulbs. Here's a web address with good information about the bulb you are considering.

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/mercvapourfloods.htm#zoomedpowersun