Reptile & Amphibian Forums

After looking at Jumbo's pictures, the subject-line question came to mind. I really like those enclosures, but there's always "dark spots" in the cages, and nothing ever looks like "natural light."

In addition to basking lights, UV lights, etc., does anyone use supplemental lighting to "fill in" the spots the basking/UV lights don't cover and make it look more like the outdoors?

I STILL don't have any collareds, but I did finally get some lizards--a bushel of banded geckos of various species and subspecies. Nocturnal, so this question is more academic for me than practical at this point.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I fell that the shade gives them the psychological escape from the heat,a bit like going into the shade to escape the heat.Another point is the spotlights will always make it seem like unnatural lighting.I have a friend who uses a radiant heat panel for a basking spot for his blackrat snake and i've noticed baal (the blackrat)doesn't really bask uunder this-this is what got me thinking about those spots and the psychological heat,i put the uv light on half an hour before the spots and they don't go near the basking site's but when the spots go on they rush over and bask away.
just my opinion
see yah
jason

JOke eve

Hheheheheh funny guy, no sauce , just a movie with Hubby !
Oh you insinuating I'm on here alot? YEP, Somebody has to watch you, make sure you PLAY NICE Laughing my A__ off ! Eve

In my opinion the quality, rather than the amount, of lighting is of most importantance when it comes to the long-term health of collared lizards kept in indoor enclosures. I imagine the need for supplemental lighting indoors likely depends largely on the size of the enclosure. I generally house my collareds (pairs or trios) in 40-60 gallon cages, positioning a UVA/UVB fluorescent bulb (e.g. Reptisun 5.0) directly (6-8 inches) above a heated basking site at one end, and a 100-150 watt flood UV/heat emitting bulb (e.g. Active UV Heat) roughly 18 inches above a basking site at the opposite end of the enclosure. This method seems to provide my collared lizards with an adequate balance of lighting, temperature, and proper heat/UV exposure - at least in terms of an indoor arrangement. Ideally, collared lizards and other diurnal desert-dwelling reptiles should be allowed safe outdoor exposure to natural sunlight from time to time whenever possible.

Brock

n/p

...screw-in flourescent type bulbs which are made to screw into a standard incandescent light bulb fixture, as there are some that are rated at the same number of lumens/output as a 100w standard bulb, but they run on like 22 watts and produce very little heat. I have a couple of them in use around the house, and the light output is very 'white' compared to an incandescent bulb. Trouble is, these dudes are LONG and extend past the guard of the largest aluminum reflector fixture I have. I may get around to modifying the fixture's reflector with some kind of extension, being a machinist and all LOL. This seems like it would fit the bill for supplemental lighting in the darker "cool end" of an enclosure without taking the temps up to 115 LOL. You could do a search on "Where's that guy from West Texas with the yellow females" or see if there is a shorter bulb of that type at Wally-World, etc.

DC
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I've got the blues...LOL...Them screamin' no-yellow-head blues...

The woman that has the yellow females, hehhehehe LOL what was here name? Evey ? ROFL Eve

n/p
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I've got the blues...LOL...Them screamin' no-yellow-head blues...

After the replies regarding what's qualitatively best for the lizards, I realized I wasn't very clear in my initial message.

I'm not saying I want to substitute one kind of lighting for another. I'm talking about additional lighting for aesthetic purpose ON TOP OF the requisite UV and heat. I'm sure the "most correct" response would get technical into the "color temperatures" and so on; I was just looking for someone who had an easy/practical yet satisfactory solution.

DC--what was that about the "West TX guy with the yellow females?"
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I'm talking about additional lighting for aesthetic purpose ON TOP OF the requisite UV and heat.

And I thought that's what I suggested that type of cooler bulb for. An easy way to backfill all the shadow areas in the *darker side* without taking the cool side temps through the roof. I picked up a "60W" of that type today while out and about; it uses 15w and is short enough to fit in a reflector type fixture. Almost no radiated heat, but the "color temp" is not all that spiffing. A bit of the 'warmer' reddish spectrum, but still not as bad as an incandescent. What are your requirements? Are we talking about some type of fussy super-accurate photographic color rendition, or just something that looks nicer in the den? LOL

DC--what was that about the "West TX guy with the yellow females?"

You don't remember about that guy who's card you couldn't find? Ahh, Nevermind.

DC

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I've got the blues...LOL...Them screamin' no-yellow-head blues...

i used to use another flourescent fixture (a small 6 inch strip, costs $5.99 @ home depot) to fill in the dark side of my 30gal long.

I understood your initial question as well, but given the chance I felt compelled to weigh in on the all-important topic of cage lighting in general. Unfortunately I've never had access to an enclosure for my collareds large enough to necessitate supplemental lighting for aesthetic purposes, so I can't provide any input in that area.

Brock