Eric
Senior
I'll cut you!
Posts: 201
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Post by Eric on Oct 1, 2004 11:31:25 GMT -8
today i went to pet supply and got the 5.0 uvb bulb. when i originally got lenard from the petstore i was told that all he needed was a basking lamp, which is all they use for the igs at the pet store . since i put the new bulb above his cage, he has been hiding from it under his plants. he never goes under the plants... he usually just chills in his basking spot. do you think he just needs to get adjusted to the new lighting??...........Eric
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Post by Yoda on Oct 1, 2004 13:04:40 GMT -8
Hey ..
Glad to hear you got the light ....(darn PetShop information)
Which light do you have ...."brand"
I dont think your Iggy is hiding from the new light ..probably just needs time to adjust to the added Brightness ....from the added bulb.
In smaller (Tank) style enclosures the lights are so close to the Iggy ..the brightness can be uncomfortable to the Igana ( soo much light in such a small area ) If you think this might be the case try swiching to a infer- red style heat light ..or even just a frosted (soft white) bulb. You can get blue,pink,green ...whatever you like.
James and Yoda
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Post by mar on Oct 1, 2004 13:28:03 GMT -8
Different igs react to changes in the cage differently. Don't worry initially but if this lasts more than a few days... Some igs I have read about will even go off food for the first few days in a new cage or highly redesigned interior.
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Eric
Senior
I'll cut you!
Posts: 201
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Post by Eric on Oct 1, 2004 15:04:20 GMT -8
funny that you say that mark, lenard hasnt eaten yet today, hopefully that doesnt last very long. yoda, you say i can have any color bulb as long as it is the correct wattage??
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Post by Yoda on Oct 1, 2004 17:05:52 GMT -8
Yes, you can choose whatever color you want ..you dont have to spend allot of money on a bulb you are using for a heat sorce ...it can be virtually any type bulb as long as it has enough output to provide enough heat .... you may want to play around a bit to find which wattage provides enough heat and is a color you like ....your new 5.0 flourecent will provide enough "Daylight"as well as UVB your "Basking Bulb" is simply to provide heat.
What are your current temperatures...
Does your current "set up" allow for a temperature gradiant? (cooler and warmer temps in diferent areas)
Iguanas need to thermoregulate...."be able to move from a warm area to a cooler area ...
Idealy you want a basking area to be around 90-95F
Provide a area that is around 80-85F as well as a cooler area that can be maintained around 75F
Providing only one temperature that is on the high end like the whole enclosure being kept at 90F will not do.
Trying to provide and maintain thes temp "Zones" can get trickyespecially if you have an aquarium style habitat.
Hope this helps. James and Yoda
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Post by mar on Oct 1, 2004 19:15:41 GMT -8
For years I used 100W reflector flood lamps as heat sources. Look for the type that sold as architectual accent lights for out door use -- with the real heavy glass fronts. ~$4 at a hardware store. I have used red, blue, and green variations. The blue worked well with a blue cage top as the cage top color "ate" much of the light, however red is probably the darkest of the three. Buy one with a CERAMIC based clamp light mount it well and watch the temps for a few days. If it is not enough I would rather buy a second 100W and base than a 150+ W blub as I think that starts to become a danger in a clamp base. For a little more money I am loving my new MegaHeat heat emitter from www.reptileuv.com. $25 dark heat source only running at 60 W.
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Eric
Senior
I'll cut you!
Posts: 201
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Post by Eric on Oct 2, 2004 18:56:04 GMT -8
thanks, currently i have one of those cheap stick on thermometers (the ones that change colors next to the number). it only measures up to 86 degrees, but it does get up to that temp, and the thermometer is stuck in the basking area. the tank is taller than it is long(actually it is a square enclosure). i live in michigan and the temperatures get pretty cold, especially this season. should i have a night time light, and would a blacklight bulb work?? blacklight bulbs give off a good amount of heat ( 75W, 150V)..
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Post by mar on Oct 2, 2004 19:19:11 GMT -8
I lived in Traverse City MI until recently seeing as you cited Farmer Jack as your food source that limits you to no closer than 200 miles south-sout-east of TC. I also still kind of live near you when I decide I still live in St Clair Shores (11 miles N of down town Detroit right on the lake) -- being a moble student gets so confusing.
Yes you will need a night heat source. I would not use a black light though -- they just seem too weird and change color too much. Two main choices here. (1)ceramic heat emitter, some have had great luck with these but I have not (2) colored flood lamps, for a long time I used a 100W blue or red tinted flood ~$4 at a hardware store
mark
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Eric
Senior
I'll cut you!
Posts: 201
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Post by Eric on Oct 3, 2004 6:13:55 GMT -8
thanks mark. thats very weird how you would know that i live in south east michigan because i said i buy my food a farmer jack lol. i live about 15 miles south of detroit. i will look into the colored flood lamps...
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Post by mar on Oct 3, 2004 7:06:24 GMT -8
Once you leave the lesser Detroit Metro area Farmer Jack no longer exists. They are a rather small chain owned by A&P (I think). Another place to watch for greens is Meijer, they usually have a great produce section, dandilions year round in Traverse City.
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Post by Merlin on Oct 3, 2004 9:26:18 GMT -8
What you have is a thermometer for aquariums full of water. There are two problems. One as you note it only registers up to 85 degrees. Anything above that and you are guessing and that is not good. You may either not be giving your ig enough heat or even roasting him! Two those tape thermometers register the temp of the glass wall not the air in the tank. In a tank full of water the entire tank becomes one unit and the glass wall holds the temp of the water inside. When the tank is empty except for air it doesn't work like that. Its of like when its cold outside and you touch the window glass it feels cold. But that is not the temperature in your home.
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Post by prism_wolf on Oct 3, 2004 11:50:19 GMT -8
Merlin is very right! Those stick-on thermometers are not for reptile use. The ONLY thermometers that give the best readings are the digital ones. You can get them from any home improvement store or Wal-Mart/K-Mart and the likes. $10 for indoor/outdoor and $5 more for one that measures humidity, too.
I have only one of these in the cages. Some use 2-3 for instantaneous readouts in all areas...which is the way I will go when I remember to get extras when I'm at the store next.
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Eric
Senior
I'll cut you!
Posts: 201
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Post by Eric on Oct 3, 2004 14:13:57 GMT -8
thanks, i will invest in one of the digital meters. hey i like the new pic prism wolf . i knew that the stick on meter was crap, but i didnt buy it. the girl i bought the tank for my veiled chemeleon had that stuck to it....when i get some extra money, i am going to be buying an enclosure from mark. and i am going to get a humidifier. any suggestions on what kind of humidifier to buy? ...Eric
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Post by prism_wolf on Oct 3, 2004 14:37:04 GMT -8
Thanks Eric.
A warm mist vaporizor made by Vic's works great. Get the larger volume capacity tank. Leave it on a timer that runs more at night than in the day. In the rainforest, this is when they recieve most of their body moisture from the higher humidity levels nighttime brings...then they are allowed to dry out during the day with intermitent showers.
Set timer to: 8-11pm 1-4 am 6-9 am 12am-3pm
Something along that line...doesn't have to be those exact times...just more on at night than in the day. Make sure you have some kind of barrier...like a milk crate over the top of the vaporaizor. It can burn/scald.
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Post by mar on Oct 3, 2004 21:44:26 GMT -8
For humidifiers I like the type of timer where there are 48 tabs around the dial, each being 15 minutes, you pull the tab up for the timer to be on and push it down to turn the timer off. This allows you to have it go on for a short amount of time many times through out the day helping to maintain a more constant humidity level.
I also use the hot mist humidifiers. When running these as much as we do you have to clean them off regularly. Water carries with it many minerals (Detroit water is some of the cleanest in the nation compaired to major cities) and those minerals will coat the heating element degrading efficiency, just like a coffee maker. Once a week take the heating protion and put it in an acid bath, there is no need to run it while doing this, I usually use cheap vinegar but when it gets bad I use something like lemon-lime pop. Let it sit there for 30 minutes to two hours or more.
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