Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just purchased a Plated Lizard from the pet store that I work at, but I haven't brought him home yet. I'm setting up the cage before I do...so, I have a few questions. I will be putting him in a 75 gallon tank, and I was wondering what wattage of bulb would be appropriate for this size of a tank.... I was thinking either 100 or 150. Also, I was thinking of buying one of those Powersun bulbs by ZooMed with the UVA and UVB instead of buying two separate bulbs, which would be a flourescent with UVB and a plain old reptile light with the UVA. Does anyone have one of these, and, have you had luck with them? I'm trying to get a feel for what others have done with their set-ups. If you have any other information that would be helpful, please feel free to add it as well.

how tall is a 75 gal. tank? I was just wondering because i have one of the powersun bulbs and they are very good, but they give off a lot of heat also. i have it over my uromastyx with a basking bulb because they like it hot, but just the powersun bulb might be enough for a plated. i would keep it no closer then 1 foot above the cage top. i don't know, but would it make the cage too hot because it is a glass cage. i highly reccommend the powersun bulb, just check the temps first.

Thanks a lot...the 75 gallon is about 20 inches high...it's just your standard 75 gallon. I was thinking of getting a 150 watt bulb, and if I find that I need less heat, I'll just go ahead and buy a 100...or, if I find that I need more heat, I'll just buy an undertank heater. I have another question about the bulbs. If I use a calcium supplement with the vitamin D3 in it, is it necessary to use the UVB lighting? From what I understand, the purpose of the UVB is to manufacture the vitamin D3 in the animal's system so the calcium can break down in their system. Also, if I go with the powersun bulb, would it be better to stick with a plain calcium supplement WITHOUT the vitamin D3? I'm just wondering if too much vitamin D3 in their system would be unhealthy. As far as scenarios go... which do you think is the better way to go?....a plain calcium supplement without the vitamin D3 and a powersun bulb...or, just having a bulb that emmits UVA and supplementing with the calcium with vitamin D3?

Thanks in advance!

if i were you, i would use the powersun bulb without the calcium with D3. i doubt that using both could hurt, though. come to think of it, i use both for my uro. and he's just fine.