heat lights for beardies

[Cat071770]

I am a new owner of a beardie. I was just wondering what kinds of lights everyone is using for them? I am keeping the temps up for her and she is eating well. I just want to be sure to use the right stuff to keep her happy.

 

[TNT Bearded]

Beardie Lighting

Welcome to the world of the Bearded Dragons. I myself being a private breeder am a slave to many bearded dragons. For heat I use a standard GE light bulb. The wattage will depend on the enclosure size. As for the UVA/UVB bulb, there are a wide selection to choose from. You can use ones made by Zoo-Med, ESU, or many others. I myself, I use a sunshine bulb (its full spectrum UVA/UVB) made by GE. You can purchase them at Wal-Mart. Hope this helps to answer your question.
Andy Walker TNT Bearded Dragons
www.tntbeardeddragons.com

 

[smart_ask]

Sunshine bulb?

I have never heard of a sunshine bulb. Is it a Fluorescent t-8 or t12 type of fixture and bulb or like a self ballested type Compact Flourescent light?
I have been using the ESU Reptile Fluorescent fixtures for a year or so. They are quick and easy with bulb and fixture and they offer them with the 7% bulbs now. Although they can get expensive because it seems like they are lucky to last a year before they need to be replaced (bulb and fixture).
As I have time and money I have been replacing these with a standard Fluorescent Strip Light fixture and using a 7% desert bulb with them. The strip light fixture lasts 2 or 3 years but I still replace the bulb yearly.
With either UVA/UVB setup I still use a standard incandescent bulb for daytime basking heat and a undertank heater for nite time heat with inline dimmers on both.


Respectfully,

 

[TNT Bearded]

Sunshine Bulbs

Well I hope this will answer your questions. The Sunshine Bulb is a "full spectrum" light. I purchase the 48" lenght ones.
Avg. life 20,000 hrs
Avg. initial lumens 2250
Color temp 5000 k. 90 CRI

I use these a fixture that holds 2 of them and I replace the bulbs every 6 months. It basicly does what the Zoo-Med and ESU and Flukers lights do but for half the price. I have never had any problems with them. As my dragons still get pure sunlight twice weekly.

Hope this answers any questions you have.
Andy Walker TNT Bearded Dragons
www.tntbeardeddragons.com

 

[smart_ask]

Sun Shine Bulbs

I went on the GE site and did a search for these bulbs after I made my above post.

UVA and UVB output of fluorescent lamps, specifically Sunshine bulbs, is minimal and comparable to other standard fluorescent lamps that you would find in places such as office buildings. A paper by NEMA explores UV from fluorescent lights. It points out that a study was done that determined that UV exposure from sitting indoors under fluorescent lights for an eight hour workday is equivalent to just over a minute of exposure to the sun in Washington, D.C. on a clear day in July. UV is minimized because the glass used in manufacturing fluorescent lamps absorbs some UV radiation.

I understand that the more expensive higher UV output bulbs (ESU, ZOO-MED, and ...) is made of a more expensive glass to absorb less of the UVA/UVB emitted by the bulb. Thus giving them higher output at an increased price.

Respectfully,