Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have my tank all set up and got my baby beardie last night!!! I only have one concern. The heat lamp on the top of the tank!!!! I have him starting out in a 20 gallon tank and am preparing my 55 for when he is ready. I am so paranoid about how hot that heat lamp gets on top of the tank screen!!! I cannot attach it inside the tank because it would be WAY to close to him. Since I have two smaller kids (8 and 5) I'm so paranoid that they are going to bump the light and it falls or touch it and burn themselves. I'm driving them crazy by saying every time they go to even look at the beardie..."DONT GET NEAR THE LIGHT!!!!" Is there any type of heat lamp that does the same job but does not get so dang hot?

Unfortunately there isn't really. Beardies need to be so warm that it is impossible to do without a heat lamp, and all heat lamps get really hot

Sorry, but good luck with your new baby!

P.S At least the UVB strip lights aren't hot as well!
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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

is putting the tank up against a wall where you can attach a small flat bracket into the wall. Get the clamp lights that you can clamp to the bracket so the hang just over the cage. Your kids still may touch it, but it's not enough to cause any lasting damage other than an owwy finger for a few minutes. They will probably never touch it again - I sure haven't! The clamp will prevent them from knocking it down. I once talked to another customer at a local petstore that won't use heat lamps anymore because they had a lizard in her son's room - I think he was 8 or 9 yrs old - and upon leaving for the day, the boy accidently knocked the light to the floor and didn't realize how dangerous that was. The entire house burnt down.

Even I am considering clamping the lights into the walls to prevent a dog or cat from kocking it over. So far, access to reptiles rooms is limited for the other pets, but there is still always the danger.
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1.0.0 Thoroughbred
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.1 Corn Snake
0.0.1 Milk Snake
1.2.0 German Shepherds
0.2.0 Cats
0.1.1 Birds (Conure and Cockatiel)
1.1.0 Rabbits
4 Fish tanks (SW and FW)

I know your problem all too well. I have a 4 yr old and a 17 month old who LOVE the beardies. I have the clamp lights tied to the tank with those elect. ties they work great the light can only move about one inch either way. Hope that helps some. And best of luck with the new baby!