Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I have built an enclosure for my bearded dragon. I am using a 100watt repti bulb in the basking site. Problem is, the wood that it is mounted to is getting really hot, and I am worried that it may be a fire hazard. Anyone have any ideas? This is the cage set up, and the angle that the lamp is at seems to work pretty good for the temps, both hot and cold, so I was wondering if there is anything I can put on the wood around the bulb where it is hot to prevent it from catching fire. I was testing it last night (my bd is not in it yet), and after only 3 -4 hours the temp of the wood was like 128 degrees, so I know during the day, it will rise. Here is the setup:

vent holes near the fixture...If done in a small pattern it would now mess up the look of the top...

Great set up BTW!

you might want to try a heat shield. Galvanized steel with a space between the metal and wood or coragated steel for even greater heat disapation.
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Bennett

Home Of The Florida Orange
www.beardiedragon.com

Thanks guys. BeardieDragon, I will talk with my dad about that tomorrow (he owns a sheet metal fabrication shop, so he should know). I was also thinking about maybe rewiring the light that is in there and putting a reflector (small one) on it. I would have to rewire it as the part where you screw the bulb into is connected to everything. Obviously I won't be the one doing it! I will check out the heat shield first though. Thanks!!

Not only do you have to worry about fire but the heat will dry up your wood so it will crack, warp etc. I would redo the light but the set up looks great now you just have to go for practical Good luck let us know what you come up with.

nice enclosure! If you can keep the heat shield close to the wood but not touching (it'll need to be folded into a box, or corrugated as already stated, to keep it from drooping) it won't increase the temperatures underneath too much.

Another option is to cut the top out around where the fixture is located and put some stiff hardware cloth into the opening, and mount the fixture on the hardware cloth. That's assuming it's the fixture that's heating up the wood, and not direct radiation from the bulb. It is the former, correct?

No, it is the radiation from the bulb. I am having my dad work on getting me a heat shield. I also am going to put a reflector around the bulb, I tested it today, and it doesn't come very close to the wood, so there will be room for the heat shield. Thanks guys for all your help! Thank you for the compliments as well.