Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone ever used radiant heat panels instead of ceramic heat emitters or heat bulbs?
I right now use cermamic heat emitters for my beardies and I am wondering if heat panels really cost less to opperate than the heat emitters and if they are worth it... Thanks

Ok, what size bulbs do you mercury vapor users use? What brands?

for 75 gallons i use 160 watt, for 40 breeders i use 100 watt. I use the 10" ceramnic domes as they hold the merc vapors properly. I use the big apple herp ones. I have read that the solar brites are crap.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

Yeah I was looking into the big apple ones. If all their claims are right they look like a good deal.
Typically how do mercury vapor bulbs compare to regular heat bulb for cost of opperation? I use ceramic heat emitters now for heat source. I'd probably still be using them anyway because i like to give my dtagons some warmth at night if they desire it.

a 100 watt bulb draws 100 watts. But I must say that a 100 watt bulb only throws about as much heat as a 60 watt standard bulb. biggest down side is that they are hand made and can break.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

so a 100 watt mercury bulb will not give off as much heat as a 100 watt CHE. gotcha.

Anything has to be better than those DayGlo and NightGlo brand regular heat bulbs. I've used those at work and every single ones breaks with the glass part breaking off the metal screw part. Sound's really safe eh?

Now do you find the mercury bulbs produce much healthier beardies than a fluorescant bulb? What is the safe distance the bulb needs to be from the beardie?

I didn't notice a difference in my dragons when I put them under merc vapors, and that was coming from regular house lights as the heat and light source. I maybe crazy I just didn't recognize it. I do feel they are beneficial though. Most manufacturers recomend 12 inches away. Some of the spot lamps even further.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

so a 100 watt mercury bulb will not give off as much heat as a 100 watt CHE. gotcha.

Anything has to be better than those DayGlo and NightGlo brand regular heat bulbs. I've used those at work and every single ones breaks with the glass part breaking off the metal screw part. Sound's really safe eh?

Now do you find the mercury bulbs produce much healthier beardies than a fluorescant bulb? What is the safe distance the bulb needs to be from the beardie?