Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wondering if any of you out there have this issue as well. My Blue tegu likes to jump at my flourescent light. I moved it to the top of the cage since I am afraid she will break the light. She likes to climb on any and every thing in the tank. My question is this I know for uvb to be beneficial it needs to be as close as possible. I know have it 4 feet away from the floor of the cage. I am sure I am overlooking a solution here but as of yet it still is escaping me.
Any one out there have any ideas for mounting the light back at the level it would be of more bennefit to them in a way that would protect the light as well as the Tegus? I am using a 48" zoo med 5.0. I also have a capture the sun mercury vapor bulb in there that is a 160 watt. I am just looking for a solution to give them the very best. They also get about 20 min outside play time each afternoon. Any ideas would be helpfull. Thanks
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Beau W.

"There are no athiests in foxholes. It is not an argument against athiesm but rather one against foxholes." James Morrow

My red tegu used to do that a lot because my UVB light is very close to the ground. She even climbed up onto the outside of the lighting dome a few times when she was very small and climbed her way out the top.

The first few times that she jumped at it I took her out of the cage so that she would stop, but that just taught her to jump at the light to get out.

My blue never jumps at the light, and after a few months my red she has calmed down and doesnt jump at it either anymore. She is big enougn now that she could just stand on her hind legs and play with the light, she just doesnt have the interest.

In short, taking your tegu out of the cage when they jump at lights will only encourage them.

This is something new for her as she is always out when we are home. She ignores the basking light all together it was some thing about the flourescent light that she liked. My red and my argentine b&w ignore both lights. I am just afraid of her damaging the light or herself. Thank you though. My guys are already spoiled they know when its time for us to be home and boy do they let us know if we are late. Just another example of thier intelegence. Thanks again
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Beau W.

"There are no athiests in foxholes. It is not an argument against athiesm but rather one against foxholes." James Morrow

My red, Rufus, will climb on top of the flourescent lights. I don't know why? Maybe boredom? Sure seems to be pleased with himself when he does. I think he is doing this less and less now that he is getting bigger, 6.6 lbs.

Mike B

Thank you, I hope mine outgrows it also. The other two in the tank could care less about the light it just seems to be the one blue who is obsessed with it. She is about 5 pounds or so now and so much more active than I would have guessed. My wife says now that they are getting ready to hybernate she is slowing down a little so I might be able to have her move the light back down where they will bennefit more from it.
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Beau W.

"There are no athiests in foxholes. It is not an argument against athiesm but rather one against foxholes." James Morrow