| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| mrsT |
Posted - 07/07/2010 : 21:29:30
Just making a check list of everything we'll need for when we get our beardies!Hubby has built a 5ft viv all ready and waiting in the spare room!
Bit confused with the lighting and heating - what wattage i need etc.Can anybody help?
My list so far:
Ceramic bulb and holder - what watt would i need for a 5ft viv?
UV light - do i need a UVB and UVA,and does the bulb need to run more or less the length of the viv?Do I need a timer for the lights,or is it ok switching them on when we get up and off when we go to bed?
Dimming thermostat
Thermometers
Rocks,plants etc
Water and food bowls
Substrate
Food!
Calcium supplement
Sorry for all the questions just want to make sure i've not forgotten anything glaringly obvious! |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Fal |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 11:57:17
My oppinion only, but we have a dimmer thermostat on our ceramic heat emitter, with a white light bright bulb shining on our beardies basking spot as well to defuse the UVB rays from the strip light that can harm a beardies eyes (the main reason for a bright white bulb, so he looks at that and not the UVB strip, not because it gives off better heat. As far as I know 100c is 100c) and our house has very good central heating etc.. but in the height of summer, when the house's ambient temp shoots through the roof, the thermostat certainly helps the viv not to shoot through the roof too, by dropping the ceramic heaters output, but leaving the low wattage white light on, so he still looks at that and not the UVB strip. If you're room is central heated stopping it getting too cold in the winter + air conditioned stopping it overheating in the summer, then perhaps the stat wouldn't help, however, there's nothing stopping the heat source going wrong somehow (don't know how, i'm not a spark, but wouldn't want to take the risk) and overheating until it popped or overheated the vivs ambient temps, but a stat would stop that from happening.
If it works for you however, that's great, but not knowing everyone elses housing setups, it is safer, and I think thats why it's always recommended, to have some sort of stat to prevent any misshaps and to help maintain a more uniformed temperature gradient.
I also don't agree with sand, but I know that's another big topic so won't go any further on that lol, one debate at a time I think.
I must also say though, its always an idea, and works well for us, to have more than one basking level (like the photo above), so your beardy can choose where to bask at its correct temps. Its no good saying that the temp is correct on the one and only basking spot (a brick for example - I have seen it done) at 100c when thats the only choice the beardy has. Have a couple of logs or stones or a branch at an angle maybe, measure with a thermometer a few different spots in the warm end ranging from late 80's to 100 maybe even a little higher so the beardy can choose whatever he wants when he wants. I know ours basks in different spots sometimes, and I know they will move to thermoregulate, but its no good if he can only sit there for two minutes before having to go cool down, then come back and so on. He might want to find a happy medium and lounge there for a while before moving higher to a hotter spot later for whatever reason tickles his fancy :) |
| Stumpy |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 02:42:52
This is my latest viv
The black box at the end is one of these
it is the 500 watt. |
| leeoc1982 |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 02:18:41
well thanks for your concern. most of us maintain a very high standard and are very proud of our collections, its only a few that need addressing. however i dont think after four years of trouble free ownership i will be needing any luck! |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 02:08:39
In that case, I wish you the best of luck that everything stays good for you.
Unfortunately it was the advice to go without a stat that can cause issues that was my main concern. |
| leeoc1982 |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 02:06:11
appollogies, im just saying that all the temps ect are correct. there checked all the time be it day/night, winter/summer.
as for my corns, they both have Lucky Reptile Thermo Control 2 II Thermostats. |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 01:59:33
quote:
Originally posted by leeoc1982
....im not sum jumped up litte ***** who does thing by halfs, my animals get anything they need regeardless of time, cost ect. it was only 2 months ago i slipped with a stanley knife cutting myself from thumb tip to knuckle, threw the nail at 4.30 in the morning because i was building them bigger vivs in the night sos not to diturb them in the day!...........
My animals get all they need as well, but crucially they get the correct temperatures as well.
As for saying you are "sum jumped up litte *****" I did nothing of the sort.
I said you were an idiot for suggesting unstat'd heat sources for your lizards, a totally different phrasing to what you said.
Makes me wonder if you have a thermostat for your snakes as well, or are they just sat on a lovely 60c unregulated heat mat...... |
| leeoc1982 |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 01:54:22
they maintain these temps all day, i have air con, c heating ect to maintain the room temp so the vivs dont over heat. the bulbs go of at night and the room temp remains at 18 degrees.
im not sum jumped up litte idiot who does thing by halfs, my animals get anything they need regeardless of time, cost ect. it was only 2 months ago i slipped with a stanley knife cutting myself from thumb tip to knuckle, threw the nail at 4.30 in the morning because i was building them bigger vivs in the night sos not to diturb them in the day!
ive had my female for almost 4 years and my male for almost 3 they are in top condition, they also get the full vets treatment every year! |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 01:40:00
Because bulbs will not always maintain a perfect temperature.
A small draught blowing through the viv will decrease the temps.
A night time temp drop is impossible to do with a bulb plugged directly into the mains.
When the ambient temp gets to hot, an unstat'd bulb will only help to increase a already overheated viv.
My vivs at this exact time are set to 38c and the bulbs are dim, yet the room temperature that the vivs are in is at 18c.
why is this?? It's because the temps have reached a decent (the set) temperature and don't need to constantly be throwing out the max possible heat.
/quick edit
I just took these photos about 2 minutes ago.
First is the stat'd image.
The second is where I plugged the lights directly into the mains as you suggest.
Now for the un stat'd
Now you can see a massive difference, now try to think what it'd do to the overall temperature.... |
| leeoc1982 |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 01:33:26
why would you stat a bulb that maintains the perfect temp? |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 01:31:07
quote:
Originally posted by leeoc1982
do you own any beardies my friend??
these vivs maintain 100 degrees at the basking spot and 80 degrees at the cool end. maybe your a bit to hot headed to be expressing your'e opinion on things you clearly no **** all about!
Actually, YES I DO.
I've been keeping them for years and have been breeding them for a fair bit of time as well.
Advice is nice on this forum, however advice from someone with fragmented beliefs and dodgy advice is not handy.
I would suggest a bit more research for you, and as for advice, try to think about what you question before you dish it out, I probably own shoes that are older than you!!!
/quick edit
Just to add, swearing isn't tolerated on this forum. |
| leeoc1982 |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 01:28:04
do you own any beardies my friend??
these vivs maintain 100 degrees at the basking spot and 80 degrees at the cool end. maybe your a bit to hot headed to be expressing your'e opinion on things you clearly no **** all about! |
| gmac |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 01:23:49
the point is, your beardie will bask wherever the hell he wants to bask not where you tell him to.
It is completely irresponsible not to provide the proper temps in he viv, you are suggesting just this. Lights MUST, will say it again MUST be statted. |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 01:22:11
quote:
Originally posted by leeoc1982
no need for a stat, just measure the temp at the basking spot, if its to hot move the branch/rock further away from the spot bulb till you get the rite temp
If you think that stats aren't required, then you sir are an idiot of the highest calibre.
We have this forum open for advice for cornsnakes specifically, but for other reptiles as well and for someone to suggest a stat is not necessary just screams "Take me out and shoot me, I know chuff all".
When I get to hot in the garden I just move my garden further away from the sun.....
Oh
Can you see a problem there? or are you to narrow minded as well as stupid? |
| leeoc1982 |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 01:19:48
 so if u place the basking spot/area a foot away from the bulb and it reads 100 degrees, why would u need a stat??
in youre opinion this is wrong is it??
beardies arent stupid, if they get hot they will move to a cooler area of the viv! |
| gmac |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 00:47:04
quote:
Originally posted by leeoc1982
no need for a stat, just measure the temp at the basking spot, if its to hot move the branch/rock further away from the spot bulb till you get the rite temp
so what d you do when you need to have the basking spot a foot away from the basking area, do you then need to block the are so your beardie cant get anywhere its too hot.
Your advice is rediculous to say the least mate. you NEED to have the bulb statted simple as that. |
| leeoc1982 |
Posted - 20/07/2010 : 00:41:43
no need for a stat, just measure the temp at the basking spot, if its to hot move the branch/rock further away from the spot bulb till you get the rite temp |
| DannyBrown91 |
Posted - 19/07/2010 : 15:14:46
I was thinking that aswell, other than the very basics, i don't know much about beardies but surely a stat of some sort would still be needed. |
| reptiledanny |
Posted - 19/07/2010 : 14:27:43
quote:
Originally posted by leeoc1982
hi, glad to hear you’re getting a/some beardies
just to put my 10p worth in, ive been keeping beardies for a few years now, i wouldn’t bother with stats, controllers or ceramics, beardies like a strong bright bulb for heat (this replicates the sun) i use a 60w spot bulb to heat a 48x18x24 viv, u you may need a slightly higher wattage for a 5ft viv, provide them with a basking spot at around 100 degrees, a bit warmer for babies, a 10.0 uvb and some branches so they can get closer to the uvb.
as for water, ever seen a waterfall in a desert?? water isn’t neededin most occations. generally beardes do not drink from standing water they get all the fluid they need from their food, if their food intake is low however a few drips of water on ther lips may be necessary. water will only raise humidity levels which can cause respiratory problems!
as for more that one beardie in a viv, some live together fine (although there will be mating with male, females) some don’t, i talk from experience here, i was given a male beardie to put in with my female, it wasn’t pretty a second viv was purchased the day after.
hope this will help you
are u advising not to use a thermostat?? |
| leeoc1982 |
Posted - 19/07/2010 : 12:48:48
hi, glad to hear you’re getting a/some beardies
just to put my 10p worth in, ive been keeping beardies for a few years now, i wouldn’t bother with stats, controllers or ceramics, beardies like a strong bright bulb for heat (this replicates the sun) i use a 60w spot bulb to heat a 48x18x24 viv, u you may need a slightly higher wattage for a 5ft viv, provide them with a basking spot at around 100 degrees, a bit warmer for babies, a 10.0 uvb and some branches so they can get closer to the uvb.
as for water, ever seen a waterfall in a desert?? water isn’t neededin most occations. generally beardes do not drink from standing water they get all the fluid they need from their food, if their food intake is low however a few drips of water on ther lips may be necessary. water will only raise humidity levels which can cause respiratory problems!
as for more that one beardie in a viv, some live together fine (although there will be mating with male, females) some don’t, i talk from experience here, i was given a male beardie to put in with my female, it wasn’t pretty a second viv was purchased the day after.
hope this will help you
|
| Fal |
Posted - 15/07/2010 : 09:25:02
Funniest thing I saw was a skink running on a hampster wheel!! Was really funny, but year, getting your beardy to do that would be cool!
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