Quote Originally Posted by python baller View Post
setup: 50G terrarium (36x18x18). beardie is an adult female (w/ some citrus). not using night time heat since tank is 70 degrees. I also have a thermometer with probe inside tank and i'm constantly checking temps.

I have a 150w neodymium light but it gets her basking rock too hot (high 120's). I then tried a regular 90w house light but I think her colors look drabby with this (temps were about ok).

-is there really a difference in using regular light bulbs compared to more expensive heat lights as far as bringing out your pet's colors?

-should I use a 75w red infrared bulb (that I already have) and a low wattage house bulb combo?

-if there's no difference in my 1st question, should I then buy a flood lamp for heat?



also i'm shopping for a uv light. I've read the compact uv bulbs are dangerous (too bad since I have a hood that can fit them).

-the tank height isn't very high so is a reptisun 10.0 too powerful since I plan to mount it inside the tank?

-are the zoo med brands the only brands worth a crap?
First, temps over looks. The neodymium lights look great but if it might burn her when she tries to bask, how is that helping? Get a lower wattage or lift the light a bit higher so that her basking area isn't a safety risk.

The difference you are seeing is merely how you perceive her colors. The light doesn't change how she physically is. It merely changes how your brain perceives it.

Don't worry about combos unless it's needed to get the temperature right. The flood light is up to you.

Ok, now for the UV light: I'm not sure where you read that compact uv bulbs are dangerous (please feel free to link the info as I'm actually curious) but the main thing you need to ensure is that your dragon can be within 12 inches of the bulb itself. Brand-wise, I've actually been using plant UV lights (make sure that they have UVA and UVB) for years as they've always lasted longer than the reptile ones I tried. The basics are you need a light that puts off both UVA and UVB that the dragon can have access to. If you use this as your heat lamp, that's fine. I only run one light on my dragon and have done it that way for years without any issues. Along with this, however, she also gets access to natural light during the warmer months and enjoys basking in front of the door when we have it open (with screen in) so she does get UV that way as well.

Hopefully this helps a little but overall, try a few things out. Some lights may work better for you than they did me. I also would recommend checking Amazon's reviews on certain bulbs. I've noticed some of the reptile bulbs have consistently bad reviews for longevity. Others are the opposite. See what works best for you and just make sure that you change your UV light regularly as they do lose the ability to produce adequate UV light over time.