Lighting question

[Razaiel]

I wondered what you guys use for lighting. I've currently been using ordinary light bulbs and think I ought to switch to halogen floods and have a choice of these but they all seem to have different degrees of beam etc - and when it comes to stuff like this I'm clueless

Here's a link

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:y...k&ct=clnk&cd=5

If anyone can help I'd be very grateful

~Sue

[mr~python]

i use a 45 watt halogen flood light on a dimmer. i would get two since savs need a bigger basking spot then an ackie.

do you have stores like home depot or lowes over in the UK? thats where i got mine.

[Razaiel]

Thanks, Marshall - yes I can get them easily enough, but I'm not sure what all the percentages mean, like in the link I can get them with either 38° beam angle, 25° beam angle, or even 50° beam angle - that's the part I'm not sure of. I know not to get a 'tight beam' as they concentrate all the light in one little spot.

~Sue

[mr~python]

oh i see. well i would try 38 first, but keep the receipt so you can return it and try a new one until you see what works best. im pretty sure the numbers mean how wide the beam is gonna be.

[fish21]

i just use a 150 wat bulb that makes the basking spot around 120 wich is perfect for savannahas. i am not talking about the air temp just the basking spot temp.
http://www.proexotics.com/care_ionides.html
good sheet on care.
matt

[elevatethis]

I always feel like tight beams work well for the captive environment. It gives the animal options as far as thermoregulating, considering they are in a relatively confined space. Most monitors are pretty good about finding the warm spot and hanging out there as long as they need to. Hope that helps.

[Razaiel]

Thanks for your input folks, much appreciated

[Kara]

We use a combo of 100 watt floods & the Active UV bulbs for heat & a little extra oomph.

Tight beams/spots with any reptile scare me...most of the time the critter will move, but if they're ever stuck in a situation where they can't get away from the light (accidents CAN happen), then they're pretty effectively screwed.

I guess I come from the "better safe than sorry, and if there's a way to do something stupid, someone will eventually find it" school of thought.

K~

[Razaiel]

Yeah, it's the spots that worry me too. The basking temps are spot on at the moment in his current viv. For his new one though I want to get a bank of white floods for day, and thinking of nearby (on a separate circuit) a bank of red lights for night of a lower basking temp down to 100.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

I used a red bulb a while back that worked pretty well. Now I just use a 150 watt halogen flood light hung from the ceiling. If the spot gets too hot I raise it, if it gets cool I lower it. He likes the 130 degree basking spot.
Heres the red light I used to use. Wasn't sure if It put off enough light that he needed so I trashed it