Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[captainmerkin]

I know half of you hate the exo terra tanks but I am a big fan of them..

For my young chameleons I will be using an exo terra tank to house them and then larger mesh vivs or perfecto vivs (3 sides mesh 3 glass).

Im all sorted on viv, substrates, plants, ventilation and humidity as well as a fair idea of tempterature (just deciding on basking bulb now).

But I want to get some lighting that will move across between the vivs easy enough and the exo terra hoods seem very good for the mesh roofed perfecto and other vivs.

Does anyone use them?

Ideally I want to put in two of their compact uv10 bulbs and some sort of blue light for nights, but am unsure of the fitting and if I can get another bulb type to use for the blue light?

Also with the basking light I figured a 100w - 150w bulb on a dimmer thermostat would do the job in bulb holder above the tank.. but I am not sure if this is the best spot for it and if there are better options. Most set ups I have seen are for adult yemens and are very large with the bulb inside the viv rather than outside.

This is the largest exo-terra if thats any help.

cheers again, hopefully wont need to ask again as thats all.... ya right

[kroakykaren]

Hi, i can only say the way i do it, others will do it differently i am sure
I use exo's for my babies with no substrate and live plants,I only use a very low wattage bulb for them, babies like it cooler than adults and i think a higher wattage would be to hot in an exo. For UV i stretch a large tube across the top of a few vivs, so no lighting is inside the viv at all, this way i have no fears of burns. Hope this helps a bit
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[H.S.]

I do not keep Chameleons (yet), but I did look ino the Exo-terra hood for another animal. I notcied that there is a limit on the wattage of bulb, and it was really low, something like 35watts.
I have a purpose built metal hood for the Exo Terra, I have yet to use it, but I have ssen them used and it isn't too bad.
Others will be able to confirm or make me wrong with regards the Exo Terra hood wattage.
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31August2008-Kent Reptile Show (Amphibians & Inverts welcome) for more information & Booking e:mail: mrac@sky.com

[captainmerkin]

I can see the pros of using a strip light across they do a decent job.

I am happy to pay for some of the exo terra hoods with a few of their bulbs as they do seem really stylish and "completes" the exo-terra's, so I really want to use on for the very least of lighting my tank. Can I put in one of the exo terra night lights into this hood as well is an important thing to me?

but for heating would a dimable lamp clamp be good on top of the mesh with a 100w bulb (obviously with a thermostat set to decent temp for day time).

[kroakykaren]

Why will you be putting in a night light? chameleons need total darkness to be able to sleep, as i said i wouldnt use a 100watt bulb it would be to hot in a exo and a dimmer would dim it too dull for the chameleons as they like it nice and bright i would go for a 40watt on a dimmer
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[captainmerkin]

I understood that a blue light would be invisible to them and be simular to moonlight..

if it affects their sleep then I will skip that part, but am not sure why everyone keeps telling me blue and red light are invisible to reptiles?

40w ok.. then a 60 - 80w for the larger viv in the future... can you recommend a bulb or are the ones like zoomed basking just fine (they are cheap as chips anyhow).

thanks again your a great help!

[kroakykaren]

I dont know if its invisible or not i just know they like darkness, i use normal spot bulbs and light bulbs nothing fancy in the smaller vivs in the bigger vivs i use halogen bulbs about a tenner from B&Q
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