Please can I get some advice on lighting set up.

[Reno]

As the title suffers I’m looking for advice. My viv is 4 foot long and 16 inches high. I had an Arcadia d3 100w bulb at the basking area and a t8 10% desert running 2/3rds the length. I have been advised by the reptile shop to change the Arcadia d3 for an 80w deep heat halogen and replace the t8 for a t5 12% desert running the full length of the viv. The basking area is 12 to 14 inches height from the bulb (depending on which bulb I use). Does anyone believe these suggestions are ok. It is a 7 week old baby Rankin dragon. Many thanks

 

[Hadenuffyet]

T5 is better than t8 but still run 2/3 of tank. Dragon needs a cool, no uvb spot to go if wanted.

 

[Sadie]

As the title suffers I’m looking for advice. My viv is 4 foot long and 16 inches high. I had an Arcadia d3 100w bulb at the basking area and a t8 10% desert running 2/3rds the length. I have been advised by the reptile shop to change the Arcadia d3 for an 80w deep heat halogen and replace the t8 for a t5 12% desert running the full length of the viv. The basking area is 12 to 14 inches height from the bulb (depending on which bulb I use). Does anyone believe these suggestions are ok. It is a 7 week old baby Rankin dragon. Many thanks

Your little Rankins is similar to the standard bearded dragon its the silkies that require different care - beings the tank is only 16" high I would stay w/ the T 8 the T 5's require a higher distance and since its lower than 18" for a T 5 stay w/ the T 8 - if you ever upgrade the tank to a higher height then go w/ the T 5 or Arcadia 12% bulb - what kind of basking temps are you getting now - and from what bulb are you talking about 12-14 inches? If its the UVB basking decor piece should be 6-8 inches for a T 8 and it needs to be inside the tank or the screen taken off -- T 8's are not strong enough to go thru the screen --- and if staying w/ your T 8 please change the bulb out in 6 months I recommend 5 -

 

[Reno]

Your little Rankins is similar to the standard bearded dragon its the silkies that require different care - beings the tank is only 16" high I would stay w/ the T 8 the T 5's require a higher distance and since its lower than 18" for a T 5 stay w/ the T 8 - if you ever upgrade the tank to a higher height then go w/ the T 5 or Arcadia 12% bulb - what kind of basking temps are you getting now - and from what bulb are you talking about 12-14 inches? If its the UVB basking decor piece should be 6-8 inches for a T 8 and it needs to be inside the tank or the screen taken off -- T 8's are not strong enough to go thru the screen --- and if staying w/ your T 8 please change the bulb out in 6 months I recommend 5 -

This is my tank set up. The t8 you can see the end of hanging down as I need a new clip. The basking end is in the last below the slate. The height from basking to deep heat bulb is 12 inches or with the d3 bulb it is 14 inches

 

[Reno]

View attachment 29496
This is my tank set up. The t8 you can see the end of hanging down as I need a new clip. The basking end is in the last below the slate. The height from basking to deep heat bulb is 12 inches or with the d3 bulb it is 14 inches

Temperature at the basking end is 37c on the slate and 35c in the ground

 

[Sadie]

Temperature at the basking end is 37c on the slate and 35c in the ground

Ok the basking temps are ok --- the UVB fixture does it have a reflector on it? If not please get one - those rays are going to be bouncing all over the tank w/ out it - you want the reflector to direct the rays downward toward him - here is a website you can find one for the fixture
https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/arcadia-t8-fluorescent-reflectors/
I see stick ons are you using a digital probe thermometer for the basking temps?

 

[Skybug]

in the front right corner, is that a water fall? Did your previous dragon have one? And did it drink from it? I like your enclosure alot does ur dragon have anything soft in there? This is my dragons setup.

 

[Reno]

Hi no it

Ok the basking temps are ok --- the UVB fixture does it have a reflector on it? If not please get one - those rays are going to be bouncing all over the tank w/ out it - you want the reflector to direct the rays downward toward him - here is a website you can find one for the fixture
https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/arcadia-t8-fluorescent-reflectors/
I see stick ons are you using a digital probe thermometer for the basking temps?

doesn’t have a reflector but I can get one. Thanks for link. I have stick on temps in the side but have digital temp and humidity sensors too which I rely on, not the stickies (they just came with the viv)

 

[Reno]

Thanks for the like

in the front right corner, is that a water fall? Did your previous dragon have one? And did it drink from it? I like your enclosure alot does ur dragon have anything soft in there? This is my dragons setup.

, yes it is a waterfall and my previous dragon would drink from it occasionally. The softest thing in there is the hammock although I wouldn’t say it was that soft.

 

[Reno]

in the front right corner, is that a water fall? Did your previous dragon have one? And did it drink from it? I like your enclosure alot does ur dragon have anything soft in there? This is my dragons setup.

Love your set up too (finally my phone loaded the pic) lots of different textures

 

[Reno]

This is skit (nickname as it doesn’t have a real one yet)

 

[Skybug]

Thanks for the like

, yes it is a waterfall and my previous dragon would drink from it occasionally. The softest thing in there is the hammock although I wouldn’t say it was that soft.

I thought so, thats really cool your offering that to lil skit, that’ll be good entertainment for everyone lol, and you should try putting one of ur old shirts in there and see if the lil lizard likes it.

 

[Reno]

That’s sound s like a good idea with the shirt. And many thanks for all the replies from everyone.