Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm making a cage for my beardies that will measure 4 feet long, two feet deep, and 1 1/2 feet high. How many, or what kind, of UVB bulbs will I need? I'd prefer to mount flourescent bulbs.
Also, will two standard 75 watt basking bulbs suffice for daytime warmth and light? I have similar wattage red light/heat bulbs for night.
Also, I read in someone's post before (can't find it now) about a good place to get sliding glass/acrylic door fixings (that is, the rails to mount the glass in). Can anyone help?
Thanks for sharing your expertise.

Buy a 48" uvb light that is 5.0 or above. You can find them for less than 25.00 shipped in several places on the net.

Yes, the bulbs should produce suffecient lighting and heating. Be sure to check the temps.

Unless your cage will fall below 60 at night you don't need the red lights for them.

You have 2 dragons, right?

Here is a picture of a cage I constructed in 1 hour with odds and ends around the house. It is 4x2x2. I've got 2 basking sights that reach 115 peak daytime temp and the cool end stays below 85.

I've got 2 sub-adult females housed in there now.

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Jeff
A Dozen Bearded Dragons
A Dozen Frogs and Toads
0.1 Wife Unnamed....J/K Jenifer
1.1 Northern Pastel Skinks
1.1 Cats (Siamese and Tabby) Hulk and Mighty Mouse
1.1 Chihuahuas Arnold The Governator and Lucy
2.4 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Cali. Kingsnake
Arnold8169@charter.net

Thanks for the info. Nice setup you have. Do you have a drawer in the bottom to aid in cleaning? I was thinking about doing that.

No, but I'll be getting a shop vac for x-mas. I can just vaccuum it all up ever few months. I clean all their cages very well on a daily basis.
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Jeff
A Dozen Bearded Dragons
A Dozen Frogs and Toads
0.1 Wife Unnamed....J/K Jenifer
1.1 Northern Pastel Skinks
1.1 Cats (Siamese and Tabby) Hulk and Mighty Mouse
1.1 Chihuahuas Arnold The Governator and Lucy
2.4 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Cali. Kingsnake
Arnold8169@charter.net

the numbers on the bulbs mean nothing when comparing different companies. Zoomed's 5.0 bulb is the standard, and really the best flourescent UV bulb (that's trusted at least). An ESU desert 8.0 supposedly actually gives off less UV than the zoomed 5.0 bulbs.

I agree. I trust all those brands and just bought 3 of the esu 8.0's for 14.00 a piece. I think they will work fine.
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Jeff
A Dozen Bearded Dragons
A Dozen Frogs and Toads
0.1 Wife Unnamed....J/K Jenifer
1.1 Northern Pastel Skinks
1.1 Cats (Siamese and Tabby) Hulk and Mighty Mouse
1.1 Chihuahuas Arnold The Governator and Lucy
2.4 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Cali. Kingsnake
Arnold8169@charter.net