My set-up

[NaTasha Brinkley]

this is how I have my viv set-up

I made him/her a hammock to get it closer to the heat lamp, it's gets to 110 on the hammock and about 100 on the rock....

and this is a close-up of him/her sitting on the hammock... I think somebody likes it!

lastly, I wanted to share a picture of my lizards Dam b/c she is beautiful. Unfortunately I don't have a pic of the Sire; he died of gall stones shortly after the clutch hatched

 

[Germ]

Your enclosure 'Looks' very nice. I see a very serious issue with it though.

Your BD does not have access to any where in that setup close enough to the UVB bulb to receive any usable benefits from it, let alone at the basking spot where it should have it.

Just a heads up that needs to be rectified before serious issues arise.

 

[NaTasha Brinkley]

what do you suggest? How would I get the basking light and the UVB light in the same spot? My tank is only 12" deep and the hood light and dome light don't both fit in that space.

 

[Germ]

Use a smaller diameter dome fixture for the heat bulb that will fit the depth of enclosure you have to accommodate the UVB fixture also. There is not near as much UVB emitted off the ends of a tube as from more towards the center, actually very little, not enough to be strong enough to penetrate the screen to be effective even at very close access.

First I think I will have to explain how a UVB bulb is effective. I will use a 10.0 (10%) for an example as it is the recommended strength for being filtered through a screen. A 10.0's maximum rated effective reach for usable UVB is 20" from the center of a 'NEW' unfiltered Bulb (No Screen) & much less off the ends. This distance dissipates rather quickly as the emitted strength deteriorates over time as the bulb ages & is why we must replace them regularly. Even though they will still shed light, within 9 months to a year they will no longer emit usable amounts of UVB. Must be replace at least within 6 months when filtered through a screen.

A screen can & will filter\block\reflect as much as 40%-50% of the emitted UVB. Although the light will illuminate the floor, no usable effective UVB will. This seriously reduces the distance that the Basking spot can be from the UVB bulb. In order for a BD to receive usable amounts of UVB when mounted above a screen, it must be able to have access at the basking spot within 8"-10" from the UVB bulb directly below or at an angle of at least 25-50% of the bulb length. Even closer as the Bulb ages.

I suggest arranging the UVB fixture as far to one end as possible, the center of the basking spot approximately 12" from that end, at a height within 8"-10" from the UVB bulb with the Heat bulb in front of it, of sufficient type & wattage to provided a temperature in the vicinity of 110F directly at the basking spot.

I hope this helps, because the way it is set up now, your BD is not receiving any effective UVB at all.

 

[NaTasha Brinkley]

call me dense, but I'm confused... first you said that I don't have sufficient uvb in the basking area and then you tell me to put the uvb fixture all the way on one end of the tank and the basking area 12 inches from that end.... that sound like a contradiction. Maybe I'm just not reading or understanding it right. My UVB is also 10% and we have a reflector installed behind the bulb to intensify the bulbs power. Do I need to put anther item in the tank that is higher than my tallest rock... like a bridge or a ledge?

 

[Germ]

call me dense, but I'm confused... first you said that I don't have sufficient uvb in the basking area and then you tell me to put the uvb fixture all the way on one end of the tank and the basking area 12 inches from that end.... that sound like a contradiction. Not a contradiction, if your tube is all the way over to one end & you setup a basking spot 12" from that end, it would place the basking spot closer to the middle of the tube . Maybe I'm just not reading or understanding it right. My UVB is also 10% and we have a reflector installed behind the bulb to intensify the bulbs power. That will help somewhat, but your BD still has to have access much closer to the UVB. Do I need to put anther item in the tank that is higher than my tallest rock... like a bridge or a ledge? YES!

 

[Germ]

With the reflector you would likely be good with the Basking Spot within the 10" range from the UVB bulb.

 

[NaTasha Brinkley]

something like this? but with a smaller dome so it doesn't hang over the edge?

 

[Germ]

Now you have the idea

, if that is the side you wish to have the basking spot on. You could get away with moving the Heat bulb a little more to the right if you like. Now you have to setup a Basking spot within 10" of the Bulbs. If you had the proper temps where you have the thermometer, before, you will likely have to use a lower wattage bulb to achieve the proper temps (110F) at the higher basking spot.

 

[NaTasha Brinkley]

alright... thanks so much for your help!

 

[Pat B]

Hey Germ....I just bought a 24" uvb bulb and a fixture. The tank is 36" wide so we put it at the top of the tank in the middle. Also it is under the screen top....now Spike will get more UVB rays....right?

 

[Germ]

Yes, as long as the main part of the tube is covering the Basking Spot & if my memory serves me right, with your setup, it would be. Might be better to start your own thread .

 

[Pat B]

Yes, as long as the main part of the tube is covering the Basking Spot & if my memory serves me right, with your setup, it would be. Might be better to start your own thread .

naaa....i am good....thanks....