Quick fix for too hot of a light due to spotlight effect

[Gumball Machine]

So, my 60w went out the other day and I had spare 75w that I had gotten a while back but never liked using because it had a very hot focal point and because both my heat and UVB share a fixture, I didn't like taking the UVB up further away for the heat to be ok.Also, at the moment, I'm tired of going out to buy things when I already have what I need, I just need to figure out a way to make it work! Well, I found that the area around the "death ray" was a rather perfect temperature for my little female. So, I put a metal cap from a seasoning jar right where the death ray hits on top of the cage. Voila! No more super hot death ray to potentially burn my girl. Although I still have the lighting fixture hung up so it doesn't touch the cage to heat the wire fabric... the death ray I'm sure will heat up that metal jar cap so I just have to keep on eye on that. I don't think it should be a problem. Anyway, just a little idea to throw out there if a situation arises where you have a bulb that has one of those death rays.

 

[Scout]

Helpful tip thanks! What size cage did you implement this idea on?

 

[Gumball Machine]

The medium reptibreeze 18"x18"x30"! (My chameleon is 3 1/2 - 4 months old) So soon she will be upgraded, but you can see how a 75w can be so hard to work with on a cage that size! Especially since it's a strong light in my opinion.

 

[Scout]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Carlton]

So, my 60w went out the other day and I had spare 75w that I had gotten a while back but never liked using because it had a very hot focal point and because both my heat and UVB share a fixture, I didn't like taking the UVB up further away for the heat to be ok.Also, at the moment, I'm tired of going out to buy things when I already have what I need, I just need to figure out a way to make it work! Well, I found that the area around the "death ray" was a rather perfect temperature for my little female. So, I put a metal cap from a seasoning jar right where the death ray hits on top of the cage. Voila! No more super hot death ray to potentially burn my girl. Although I still have the lighting fixture hung up so it doesn't touch the cage to heat the wire fabric... the death ray I'm sure will heat up that metal jar cap so I just have to keep on eye on that. I don't think it should be a problem. Anyway, just a little idea to throw out there if a situation arises where you have a bulb that has one of those death rays.

One of several reasons I don't like combination fixtures. I want my heat source separate from the UV so it is more adjustable (both location and distance, and I can move the light seasonally if necessary) for specific cages. There may be a non-metal material option available at a hardware store. What about a flat stone?

 

[Gumball Machine]

I could use a stone, it really isn't a problem unless I touch the metal cap while it's been heated up - it cools down within seconds of taking it out of the light source and I'm able to comfortably do so with my fingers. I will eventually get the lighting fixture that I want, however... it didn't come with the set-up and I really don't feel the need to buy something while I have something that does work for now. When she needs her cage to be upgraded to a larger size, I will buy UVB/heat tube bulbs and entirely new lighting fixtures as her new cage will be a permanent setting. Right now, with what I already own... this is a nice quick fix to a temporary situation.