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Lighting and UVB

roger310 Dec 20, 2004 07:49 PM

I was wondering if it matters which way a heat lamp is pointing. I know most people have it set up to face straight down (vertical). I have mine set up side to side (horizontal) at the top corner of the enclosure. The UVB bulb is placed on top of the enclosure.

My question is will this set up effect the UVB coming from the top of the enclosure?

Replies (6)

lele Dec 22, 2004 04:50 PM

I am a little confused as to your setup. do you mean it is in a corner on top or on the side of the cage? Also, are we talking about a basking light and a separate UVB lamp? Are they strip (fluorescent)or in clamp lamps?

The things to consider is that for UVB you want it within 12" of where the cham spends time. For basking you just need to control the heat (wattage variations) and that the cham can't burn itself.

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

roger310 Dec 22, 2004 10:21 PM

I have a strip light on top and a basking bulb in a clamp fixture at the top corner, which is facing sideways. My concern is that this could be preventing the UVB, put out by the strip light, from making any impact.

lele Dec 23, 2004 09:05 AM

Oh, I get it. I don't think so but I am no expert on UVB. Is there a reason you don't have the basking light on top as well?
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

roger310 Dec 23, 2004 11:00 AM

Thanks for your help. I appreciate the help. I don't think so either, I just want to be sure. For now I'm housing a 4 month old panther in a 24x12x24 enclosure and I feel that if the basking light if facing straight down, it could make the rest of the enclosure too hot. This is also the best way I could set it up to have proper temps. I have it there because I feel it gives the enclosure a better range in temp. The far side of is the coolest while it heats up the closer you get you the basking site. The lower areas of the cage are left fairly shady this way to give a nice range in temp. When I move him to an adult size enclosure I'll probably face it down since I'll have more room to play with.

lele Dec 24, 2004 06:58 PM

sounds logical. A range in temps is key so your plan sounds good. So long as he spends a good amount of time within 12" of the UVB you should be fine
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

roger310 Dec 24, 2004 08:04 PM

Oh he does!! Thats for sure. I have his main branch sitting about 7 inches below the UVB light with some a little closer. He spends the majority of the time up on those branches.

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