UVB

[Iwantabeardie]

Hi, I'm a newbie to bearded dragons, and I want to get a baby beardie, but I wanted to know a bit about UV lights first. I have a 48" tank that is 14" wide. Can I please have a link to a bulb I can buy and a fixture with it? I don't understand much about how I put in the bulb and how I get a fixture to match my bulb. I am very confused and I just want to make sure the beardie I get will be happy and healthy.
Thanks.

 

[Crabs Mcjones]

For a 48" enclosure you'll want a 34" Reptisun 10.0 UVB Bulb as you want the UVB to cover at least 2/3 of the cage.
This is the bulb
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zoo-med-reptisun-100-uvb-t5-ho-lamp
And fixture is going to depend on how you want to mount. They make simple hoods that sit on top of the dragons cage, but one could argue that the screen top obstructs some of the UVB from reaching your beardie. The one I prefer is an inexpensive fixture 2 sided tapped to the back glass of the enclosure or bolted to the screen top such as one of these
http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/34-t-5-ho-fixture-high-output-base-unit-no-bulb/
For the basking bulb you can do a basking bulb in a dome fixture on top of the screen top.

Third option, and the one I personally use, is a combination fixture that Carolina Custom Cages makes. It does your basking and T5 and can be hung from the screen top
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JM8PG45/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

I hope this helps

 

[Iwantabeardie]

Thanks, now I have a tank and my fixture it coming. I ended up buying a 36 inch tank so I bought a 24 inch fixture instead. I'm just struggling of how to mount it. If I just leave it on top of the kid every time I go to take out the dragon it will be annoying. Can I mount the light an inch above the lid so the lid can slide off without needing to take of any lights?

 

[Crabs Mcjones]

Thanks, now I have a tank and my fixture it coming. I ended up buying a 36 inch tank so I bought a 24 inch fixture instead. I'm just struggling of how to mount it. If I just leave it on top of the kid every time I go to take out the dragon it will be annoying. Can I mount the light an inch above the lid so the lid can slide off without needing to take of any lights?

You could, but keep in mind that the screen lid is going to block uvb already, and the further you raise it away the less your dragon will get.