We recently moved 3 juveniles from a 10 gallon tank to a 30 gallon that is 36" long by 18" high. I had a 60 watt basking bulb on the 10 gallon and that did fine for heating purposes. However, it is not strong enough to adequately provide the necessary heat for the larger tank. Should I go with a 75 or a 100 watt bulb? I don't want to cook the little guys but they have slowed down their eating dramatically the last few days and I am sure it is due to the cooler temps. in the larger tank. Do most of you use an actual "basking" bulb or just an incandescent light bulb in a reflector dome? Also, do most breeders use the 10.0 UVB desert bulbs, and if so, are they the fluorescent tubes or the compact coil bulbs? Please help.
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what size basking light to use
kenmare
Sep 23, 2009 01:19 PM
Replies (2)
Boost
Sep 23, 2009 02:13 PM
You could go with the mercury vapor bulbs, 100watt to 150watt they provide both heat and uva/uvb, would just need one on one end of the tank.
PHEve
Sep 23, 2009 02:28 PM
If you don't want to spend the 40 or so bucks for the Mercury Vapor bulb, than what I use on some of my 30 or 40 gallon breeder tanks are 75 - 100 watt halogen floodlights ( I even use outdoor ones if my dome is deep enough. The halogen floods are warm and last longer than regular house light blubs. I do use house bulbs too on smaller tanks, 75- 100 watt by revel the bright daylight ones.
I use ONLY the zoo med 10.0 UVB flouresants. I personally feel the MVB are a bit much for smaller enclosures and babys. But thats just my opinion.
Or my kids are out all day weather permitting. Best wishes with your new juveys, send us some pics 
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PHEve / Eve
