Mounting uvb

[Angelaelebron]

On my 5th day with my Beardie, lady. Yesterday my husband finally mounted her uvb light inside her tank for me. We have the slimline fixture replaced with a reptisunT8 10 bulb & the hard plastic removed from fixture. He mounted it in the center of the tank, along the back. However, he couldn’t find the hardware he was planning on using to mount it, so he went with heavy duty Velcro that is supposed to hold and support 10 lbs. He says it will hold fine and is secure but I’m a worrier. I went ahead and tied string around one side and attached to mesh lid and used duct tape to do the same on the other side (so it can be opened, we have a hinges lid) just Incase the Velcro fails to avoid it falling. How does everyone else have theirs mounted?

 

[PatsyB]

I think most people use the heavy duty velcro. I'm like you though, I would have put some strings or zip ties around it to make it more secure.

Not to scare you but to explain why I would have also used the string or zip tie, I have a bookcase next to my frog tank and my frog tank is pretty high so the cords for the lights don't reach the floor. I took some heavy duty velcro and attached it to the back of the bookcase and to my light timer strip so that I could plug in my lights. Everything was fine for months and then one time we went away for a few days and came home and the basking light was on the carpeted floor. The velcro detached from the bookcase pulling the light off the tank. Luckily it happened right before we got home because the floor wasn't even warm yet. But completely freaked me out. We have now made sure that all the dome lights are attached to something so they won't fall to the floor. We have also figured out a way to put the light timer on top of the bookcase so the cords aren't pulling on it.

 

[Angelaelebron]

That’s what I’m scared of. Right now it seems very secure but it’s over the course of time I’m worried. I wanted to get the UVB light in the tank as soon as possible, so I’m happy it’s in.. I’m going to look into securing it better though, ease my mind and prevent an accident.

 

[Janelle]

I used screwed in metal brackets to mount mine.

 

[Angelaelebron]

I used screwed in metal brackets to mount mine.

Where did you get them from, that’s what my husband was looking for but he couldn’t find what he would need, did you order online?, we tried menards, Lowe’s & sears hardware.. then gave up and went with Velcro.

 

[Janelle]

I guess bracket is the wrong word. We used perforated metal straps.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/100396917

 

[Angelaelebron]

I guess bracket is the wrong word. We used perforated metal straps.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/100396917

Hmmm.. okay I’m going to show that to him when he gets home. Thank you!!

 

[Angelaelebron]

It has now been almost a full day of her having her uvb in the encloser. What are the noticeable benefits/differences? The first 4 days she mainly just stayed in her basking spot but today she has been exploring every inch of her tank, climbing and hiding and being fairly active. Coiencidence? It is her 5th day. She hasn’t ate anything though but a wax worm, which I know isn’t a good choice but I was desperate for her to eat, I just gave her one with her salad and I coated it in her vitimans since today is the day for that & she had a roach. With all of this moving around I’m hoping she really chows down on her last feeding. she is on the small side, about 5 inches.. petco said she is 2 months but from what I’ve been looking up, I’m thinking more like 4 weeks. I’m hoping this lighting change helps with the appetite.

 

[PatsyB]

Getting more UVB does give them a little perk. I remember when I used the Reptisun T8 bulbs, mine would get real lazy and sleep a lot around the 5 month mark. As soon as I changed the bulb they were up and running!