Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK if I go to a hardware store to buy a bulb as a heat source for an ackie, which bulb to get?

hardware stores sell like two kinds of bulbs. Halogen is low heat, but it lasts longer or something like that. You should get just a normal 60 watt light bulb for a small tank, and if you need a lot of heat just get a 100 watt bulb. Stay away from spot lights and colored bulbs. If you just want heat and no light, you can go here http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11291&N=2006 22787 man this site is for pimps. they sell the same bulb they sell you in the petstore, but it costs half as much...if the bulb breaks, the manufacturer replaces it for free...I know because they replaced mine.

Do not use halogen spot bulbs!!
Halogens produce hight heat, and some bright light with lower wattage, but do not work as long in turn sometimes. A halogen outdoor flood bulb such as the 45 watt bulbs I use in most cages is enough to heat a decent size area. you end up with high basking temps, decent ambient temps (have to experiment) and a good temp gradient.
I also use incandescent flood/spot bulbs of 30 watts only, they heat decently, and need to be mounted closer to the surface (6-7 inches vrs 12 inches), I use them on smaller cages.
Always use a solid top cage, vent from the sides, it prevents dehydration as all of the heat and moisture escapes through the top with a screen top.
I like halogen outdoor flood bulbs for my larger monitors as it allows me to mount them higher, use low wattage, and the heat is localized, the bulbs are tough, hard to break, and they are around $4-7 each, I get them for $2.96 each in bulk.
The incandescents are between $1.99 each and $2.99 or so each.