Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi.

I'm looking for info on heating adult tegus in large enclosures with Active UV Heat bulbs alone. For example, take a cage that's 6'W x 3'D x 1-1/2'H in normal room temps that might drop to 67 or so in winter.

Anyone doing this?

I'm currently using a 150-watt RHP (18 x 24" along with two 4' fluorescent UV lights in my 6-foot Neodesha custom cage with an adult male blue tegu. But I'm wondering if I can get sufficient basking and cool end temps with Active UV Heat bulbs alone. Basking -- 110 degrees, cool end about 80-82.

Is this possible? If so, how many bulbs and how far above the basking area?

Thanks!

Bill

I'm sure it can be done but my question is, why? In my experience the adult Tegus don't need large amounts of UVB and the MV bulbs are not only quite expensive but rather touchy also. Have you considered keeping your fluorescent tubes for UVB and then using halogen flood bulbs for heat? They are inexpensive and give off lots of heat at lower wattages than other bulbs.

Most of my MV lamps are used in freeroaming situations but I do use them to heat my Uromastyx in enclosures. I have to place a 100 watt PowerSun flood 10 inches from the basking spot in an open topped 50 breeder to get a 120 degree surface temp. For the freeroamers 160 watt floods are placed about 20-22 inches over the basking areas to achieve 90-95 degree surface temps.

I believe Russ uses PowerSuns or Actives on his Tegus. Maybe he'll help you out on this one.

I have not 0only a capture the sun 160 mercury vaper in ther cage I use 2 halagens for basking and a ceramic for ambiat.My cage is large(8'long-4'wide-3'tall on one side and2' tall on the other.The basking lights are on thermastats set at 85 degress to turn off, the ceramic turns of at 78-80 degress. in a cage that size the mercury vaper may get two hot. you might want to use a floresent with a basking light(thguis is what I do in my 5'7"l-2'w-2't cage that my gold tegu is in. I could send you a picture of this to show how I mount the two lights Thanks Russ

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