Basking light question???

[matt b]

I dont want to sound like an idiot but i always assumed that you needed an actual basking light i.e prorep or a bulb designed for reptiles. but iv read on numerous sites now that a normal household bulb is fine to use?? assuming you can get the temperature right. is this true as my electricity bill is brutal at the moment and i could replace it with energy sving bulbs would make a big difference
Thanks

 

[Fearaffect]

Yup....go to Home Depot or other similar place and get a wattage you want......I like the 50w floods for most....and 25w for montanes

50w at 6" distance will create a 120deg. basking temp....if u need it(monitors, dragons....etc) so go from there on distance for temp u want

 

[AZJ0SH]

I use a standard 60w soft-white bulb, cost $2 for 4 bulbs. I get 84-85 degrees at 10".

If your basking spot is any closer, I suggest a 40w.

50w at 6" distance will create a 120deg. basking temp....if u need it(monitors, dragons....etc) so go from there on distance for temp u want

A 50w bulb will not hit 120 degrees at 6", maybe at 1/2" from the bulb.

 

[Fearaffect]

I use a standard 60w soft-white bulb, cost $2 for 4 bulbs. I get 84-85 degrees at 10".

If your basking spot is any closer, I suggest a 40w.




A 50w bulb will not hit 120 degrees at 6", maybe at 1/2" from the bulb.

I used them for my dragons n monitors....my temp gun registered 115deg on average.......not regular lamp style bulbs though...outside flood bulbs where all the heat energy is directed forward...(shouldve mentioned that....lol)

 

[Bernie]

40w Spot Bulbs for me using a Zoo Med Deep Dome lamp fixture. Provides really good heat.

 

[AZJ0SH]

I used them for my dragons n monitors....my temp gun registered 115deg on average.......not regular lamp style bulbs though...outside flood bulbs where all the heat energy is directed forward...(shouldve mentioned that....lol)

Ahh that makes sense, sorry I thought you meant just regular light bulbs.

 

[heartben]

i dont think anyone else said it but - you cant use an energy saving bulb (cfl spiral type) as a basking bulb because they dont get hot enough but some people use halogen, most use the standard incandescent bulbs..some use spot lights, some use flood lights..

i think to get the lowest wattage possible some sort of spot light might be best..in theory it will focus more of its heat in one spot rather that all over.

 

[Fearaffect]

i dont think anyone else said it but - you cant use an energy saving bulb (cfl spiral type) as a basking bulb because they dont get hot enough but some people use halogen, most use the standard incandescent bulbs..some use spot lights, some use flood lights..

i think to get the lowest wattage possible some sort of spot light might be best..in theory it will focus more of its heat in one spot rather that all over.

Yup....the GE brand bulbs..IMO..last the longest....Id buy the halogen flood and spot bulbs and I'd get a full years if not more(never really did pay attention) on them.....and those mercury vapor ones that they sell for reptiles never lasted me more then a month.....why I switched over to the GEs and that they are much cheaper......

 

[matt b]

Awesome thanks a lot. at the moment iv been matching the wattage until i achieve the right temperature, i heard the best thing to do is get a high wattage bulb and connect to a thermostat so it drops to the right temp this will overall save power?? do you all use thermostats??? i live in the uk so it can be quite cold sometimes, so dont know what to do
Thanks

 

[Bernie]

I am in the UK, I dont use a thermostat. I just raise/lower the lamp to adjust the basking spot temperature. If you want to use one though then go for it.

 

[Rich P]

I purchased a zoo med professional series clamp lamp which has a built in dimmer switch. I use a 75 watt bulb and just turn it down till I get the right temp.

 

[matt b]

cool cheers mate. so when the time comes for our lovely uk winter lol, what do you do about your ambient temperature? because i know you are meant to shut everything down at night

 

[Rich P]

I purchased a zoo med ceramic heat lamp which gives off no light just to keep it a little warmer if it gets to cold at night. I have read on here all different temps that they can handle at night from 55 degrees to no colder than 65 degrees. My house gets down to 60 at night so I thought I would warm it up a little for him.

 

[Fearaffect]

The only prob. with relying on 'stats is they can fail, and that "accident" can kill.......plenty of breeders out there(especially rack users) have lost entire collections cause their 'stats went out on them. Best thing to do is get a high quality one....and get a cheapy as a backup. I used zoo med 'stats as my backups.
Also, theres the type that cut off when temps are reached and have a programable(the digital ones) temp variance. You can set them for pretty much any degs that they will allow temps to drop b4 turning back on(if the back up isnt digital, it will override this)
The proportionate ones are the ones that will reduce the electrical current till the set temp is achieved and keep it at that setting.

Saying all that, I never felt the need to use one for a cham....with the cages being rather tall.....they can thermoregulate rather easily......but say for my dragons, monitors and boas.....being in a melamine enclosure...it heated up fast and kept heat in....so used them for those and hovabators........