Exo Terra Dual Top UV And Basking light fixture

[fishcrazy06]

I am running this fixture on my Veiled's setup. I have a 2month old Veiled that is doing very good and very active. The only concern I have is weather this will supply enough heat into the tank. They state the two 35W Halogen bulbs are enough for the tank. However, I am not thinking there is enough heat being emitted into the tank. Does anyone have any experience with one of the fixtures? Or what should the Temp's be in the tank? I am also running two repti-sun 5.0 bulbs in conjunction with the halogen bulbs.

I am thinking of adding one more light to bring the temp up in the tank. Right now the temp seems to be maxing out around 76. I didn't put the thermometer right under the basking area yet but am more concerned about the ambient temp of the tank itself.

Thoughts or help would be appreciated.

Thank You,
Eric

 

[fishcrazy06]

No one has any tips for me or if the temp's I am running are fine??

 

[Solid Snake]

I am running this fixture on my Veiled's setup. I have a 2month old Veiled that is doing very good and very active. The only concern I have is weather this will supply enough heat into the tank. They state the two 35W Halogen bulbs are enough for the tank. However, I am not thinking there is enough heat being emitted into the tank. Does anyone have any experience with one of the fixtures? Or what should the Temp's be in the tank? I am also running two repti-sun 5.0 bulbs in conjunction with the halogen bulbs.

I am thinking of adding one more light to bring the temp up in the tank. Right now the temp seems to be maxing out around 76. I didn't put the thermometer right under the basking area yet but am more concerned about the ambient temp of the tank itself.

Thoughts or help would be appreciated.

Thank You,
Eric

Oy Eric! Somtimes things just get overlooked.
Welcome to the forum!
Its nice to have you here.
About the lighting, it can depend on quite a few variables what would work best.
Generally one UVB bulb, and one basking bulb is best.
What type of enclosure is it? Specificaly?

 

[mychamtini112012]

Tank.? Like a fish tank.?

 

[fishcrazy06]

It is an Exo-Terra Natural Terrarium Medium/Tall

24” x 18” x 24” (WxDxH)

Lighting is the one I stated aboved.

Veiled is Two months old eating fruit flys and crickets and drinking from the leaves when the little dripper drips. Currently looking at getting some of the Rep-Cal supplements as I have heard they are some of the better ones out there for dusting and so forth.

 

[Solid Snake]

You should change the lighting then.
One UVB bulb(5.0) and one plain white house bulb for basking.
I would start with a 60watt for basking, but you may need to go up or down in wattage to get the temp right.
Basking temps should be 85ish for that young of a veiled I believe.
Can you post a picture of your setup?

Rep-cal is good stuff.
You will need calcium with D3, plain straight calcium, and multivitamin.
These have to be given on a specific shedule.
Repashy makes an all in one that is highly recomended as well called Repashy calcium plus.

 

[fishcrazy06]

I was just taking pictures. For you too look at. So you're saying in the fixture which has twin fluorescent bulbs I should only be using one UVB in there? I will get a picture of the fixture for you as well. I started a seperate thread to keep things organized for cage/setup and nutrition.

Anyways here are a couple of pictures of the habitat. "Hercules" is normally not up that high but he just got done hunting down a couple of crickets and slaying them.

 

[Solid Snake]

Ok, I see what fixture your talking about.
Keep it all in one thread!
It will be much easier to answer questions and stay on track! Trust me!
Is it linear flourescent bulbs or compact that it holds? Are the two "basking" bulbs near the center of the fixture?

 

[fishcrazy06]

Here is a shot of the lighting on the Exo-Terra fixture. Right now it has two Repti-Glo 5.0 fluorescent bulbs in it and two 35w Halogen bulbs.

 

[Solid Snake]

Swap the front UVB for a daylight or plant grow bulb. Two uvb lights is too much, it can hurt the chams eyes.
Remove the left "basking" bulb altogether, and put a larger watt(60-75) regular bulb on the right. You want to create a tempurature gradient from a top corner (highest) to the opposite bottom corner (lowest). This will make the most effecient use of the space inside the terrarium.
You will also have a UVB gradient to take into account, but thats easiest as you just leave the rear bulb in.
If you focus on creating these gradients the chameleon will do what he is designed to do, and keep himself healthy.
I would recomend re-arranging the inside of the viv as well.
Instead of building from the center out, build from the walls in towards the middle. Leaving a somewhat empty area in the center. Then put horizantal climby things across, top to bottom, all over. I use sticks and vines from outside.
I also recomend putting in a small pothos plant.
It will hold lots of water droplets for him to drink, and help with humidity and give oxygen. They are cheap, grow fast, and you can just run the vines wherever you need them.
You will need to mist the viv 3 times a day, for a few minutes each time as well. This gives the chameleon drinking water, and keeps the humidity up.
Those terrariums have glass bottoms, water is going to build up in there fast. Drilling drain holes in the bottom, or knocking the bottom out entirely and replacing it with something easier to drill holes in are your best options there.
Have you read about gutloading feeders?

 

[Miss Lily]

I kept my first female in an Exo with that dual top light fixture. I found that the Exo Terra heat bulbs that are meant to go in that fixture were too hot for her. Even 'normal' lower wattage ones were too hot. I switched off the heat bulbs switch and just used the flourescent one. I don't think you can run them with just one tube as it doesn't work. They tried it at the shop when I was looking into heating for my cresties. I used to have a 10.0 and a 2.0 in my fixture and my girl was extremely healthy. However, now with Monty (Jackson) I am not using the light fixture and I only need a single 5.0 for him, so he has that and a separate desk lam that provide just enough heat. For a baby you need temps in the low 80's at the most in the hot/basking spot.

 

[Solid Snake]

/\ There you go! First hand experience! /\
I didnt figure it would work with one linear bulb, but they could use a daylight or plant light in the front one safely.
Is it special "little" bulbs that fit into the incandescent sockets?

 

[fishcrazy06]

Swap the front UVB for a daylight or plant grow bulb. Two uvb lights is too much, it can hurt the chams eyes. Would the plant grow bulb be a better choice if I add the Pothos plant?
Remove the left "basking" bulb altogether, and put a larger watt(60-75) regular bulb on the right. You want to create a tempurature gradient from a top corner (highest) to the opposite bottom corner (lowest). This will make the most effecient use of the space inside the terrarium. This was my plan after thinking things through. Which is why I posted in here. I was just going to add a dome fixture and then use a regular bulb in there.
You will also have a UVB gradient to take into account, but thats easiest as you just leave the rear bulb in. When I put the other dome fixture on the tank I will actually be moving the fixture I have on the tank now from the back of the tank to the front of the tank. Should I still leave the rear bulb in?
If you focus on creating these gradients the chameleon will do what he is designed to do, and keep himself healthy.
I would recomend re-arranging the inside of the viv as well.
Instead of building from the center out, build from the walls in towards the middle. Leaving a somewhat empty area in the center. Then put horizantal climby things across, top to bottom, all over. I use sticks and vines from outside.
I also recomend putting in a small pothos plant.
It will hold lots of water droplets for him to drink, and help with humidity and give oxygen. They are cheap, grow fast, and you can just run the vines wherever you need them. Where can one find one of these plants? The center is somewhat open right now however, hard to tell. What I have is a catch basin in the middle of the tank which catches the water from the dripper. Would I place the plant on the bottom? Do I need to do something to cover up the soil of the plant?
You will need to mist the viv 3 times a day, for a few minutes each time as well. This gives the chameleon drinking water, and keeps the humidity up.I read not to mist very much to begin with when the Veiled is so young. Is this wrong? Should I be misting?
Those terrariums have glass bottoms, water is going to build up in there fast. Drilling drain holes in the bottom, or knocking the bottom out entirely and replacing it with something easier to drill holes in are your best options there.
Have you read about gutloading feeders?

 

[fishcrazy06]

I kept my first female in an Exo with that dual top light fixture. I found that the Exo Terra heat bulbs that are meant to go in that fixture were too hot for her. Even 'normal' lower wattage ones were too hot. I switched off the heat bulbs switch and just used the flourescent one. I don't think you can run them with just one tube as it doesn't work. They tried it at the shop when I was looking into heating for my cresties. I used to have a 10.0 and a 2.0 in my fixture and my girl was extremely healthy. However, now with Monty (Jackson) I am not using the light fixture and I only need a single 5.0 for him, so he has that and a separate desk lam that provide just enough heat. For a baby you need temps in the low 80's at the most in the hot/basking spot.

I wonder if I am better off selling this fixture and getting a different one all together. I also have an exo terra compact top that although not the same width of the tank it accepts two screw in bulbs. This fixture is only 18" wide but if put on the tank it would still be completely over both screen area's of the tank. Would this be a better option for me? Here is a picture of the other fixture I have and could use.

Thank you for all the help and information.

 

[Solid Snake]

Swap the front UVB for a daylight or plant grow bulb. Two uvb lights is too much, it can hurt the chams eyes. Would the plant grow bulb be a better choice if I add the Pothos plant?IMO yes. I would use one 5.0, and one plant bulb in the linear parts of the fixture
Remove the left "basking" bulb altogether, and put a larger watt(60-75) regular bulb on the right. You want to create a tempurature gradient from a top corner (highest) to the opposite bottom corner (lowest). This will make the most effecient use of the space inside the terrarium. This was my plan after thinking things through. Which is why I posted in here. I was just going to add a dome fixture and then use a regular bulb in there.You mean just use the current fixture for the linear bulbs, and a seperate basking lamp? That sounds great to me.
You will also have a UVB gradient to take into account, but thats easiest as you just leave the rear bulb in. When I put the other dome fixture on the tank I will actually be moving the fixture I have on the tank now from the back of the tank to the front of the tank. Should I still leave the rear bulb in?I say put the UVB bulb close to the basking. So leave a UVB in back, and rear corner for basking
If you focus on creating these gradients the chameleon will do what he is designed to do, and keep himself healthy.
I would recomend re-arranging the inside of the viv as well.
Instead of building from the center out, build from the walls in towards the middle. Leaving a somewhat empty area in the center. Then put horizantal climby things across, top to bottom, all over. I use sticks and vines from outside.
I also recomend putting in a small pothos plant.
It will hold lots of water droplets for him to drink, and help with humidity and give oxygen. They are cheap, grow fast, and you can just run the vines wherever you need them. Where can one find one of these plants? The center is somewhat open right now however, hard to tell. What I have is a catch basin in the middle of the tank which catches the water from the dripper. Would I place the plant on the bottom? Do I need to do something to cover up the soil of the plant?These plants are very common and can be found everywhere from grocery stores, to walmart, to lowes and homedepot, to nurseries. I would put it on the bottom yes, considering your setup. It can be hard to cover the soil in a pothos as much of it will be covered in leaves. Baby chameleons can fit into the small leaf spaces though, so I would say try to yes. It being a baby and being in close proximity to the plant pot due to the cage size, its more likely to eat the soil IMO. If you can find smaller river rocks, yes use them to cover it.
You will need to mist the viv 3 times a day, for a few minutes each time as well. This gives the chameleon drinking water, and keeps the humidity up.I read not to mist very much to begin with when the Veiled is so young. Is this wrong? Should I be misting?
Those terrariums have glass bottoms, water is going to build up in there fast. Drilling drain holes in the bottom, or knocking the bottom out entirely and replacing it with something easier to drill holes in are your best options there.
Have you read about gutloading feeders?

Yes you will need to mist, perhaps more so because it is so young. 3 times a day at least, for a few minutes each time. I would run a dripper for most of the day as well.

 

[fishcrazy06]

Thank you for all of the feedback. It is being very helpful for me. Well after reading on here everyone prefers the fluorescent tubes over the Compact Fluroescent bulbs. So I am thinking I will stick with the fixture I am currently using and switch off the heat lamps and just add a dome fixture and a bulb to that. I am going to go to menards and look for a 18" grow light bulb as well.

In the time being I lowered where he could get to with the basking light I am currently using. Secondly, when you state a 60-75w bulb am I just better off using a plain jane light bulb as it is only being used for heat. Or is there something else you would recommend?

Thank you again for all the info.

 

[Solid Snake]

Yes plain jane is the way to go.
I agree that your better off with the different fixture.
You can put a CF UVB in one side, and the plain jane in the other. I would just say pay attention to the heat, and give lots of climby things.

 

[fishcrazy06]

I read that the CF UVB bulbs were bad and not the way to go. Or was this something from the past? I will wait on an answer until I know for sure which way to go. The reason the other fixture would be nice is its small and compact and I would be able to keep it towards the back like I have the one now.

One other question I have is am I suppose to be using Repti-Glo 5.0 or Repti-Sun 5.0?
What is the difference between the two?

 

[Solid Snake]

The brand name, generally speaking. Reptisun gives off more UVB for longer from the comparisons Ive read. Both are fine, reptisun is more desirable.
The CF issue is real, but mostly in the past. I say mostly because the old bulbs COULD still be being sold somewhere. The company that had the issue(I dont remember which) has since fixed the problem. Many people use them with no ill effect.
IMO a linear UVB is better, as it gives off consitent UVB all the way across the cage. In that small of an enclosure I would think a CF would be just fine though.
I say I think the twobulb fixture would be better because it would just be simpler and look cleaner. You could use the existing one, and add a dome light for basking though. Just whatever works best for you.

 

[fishcrazy06]

Alright thanks for the reply. Does anyone else have an opinion on which fixture I would be better off with? I kind of like the thought of the two bulb fixture for cleanliness and so forth. However, I want what would be best for the Chameleon.

I ended up picking up a Pathos plant today as well and will work on redoing the cage tomorrow. I will have to figure out which fixture to use soon though so I can get the right lighting on there and get the habitat to as natural as I can.