|
|
Post by Brujah on Apr 8, 2004 20:56:03 GMT -8
ok here we go.... I'm new to ig's and we got our first 2 days ago from a friend that didnt have room anymore. We also got the cage they built and lights(what little they had..). So here is a pic of the cage(yes its wire mesh right now... but i plan on putting something up to keep her off of it till i can build another house for her...)  the lights show are what i have right now, and they are just temped on there now... gonna set em up inside tomm while she has her bath and stuff, along with a timer and a digital indoor/outdoor therm/humidity guage. Just wanted some imput for where to put the lights and stuff. So here is a list of what i have light and heat wise so far..... 4' 1bulb fixture w/reptiglo light(they didnt have a reptisun 5.0) 100 w CHE (should this have a sheild on it?? or is it ok to put in w/o as long as it is in a place where she cant touch it?? ) 60 & 100 w full spectrum (just for heat and uva) 100 w red heatlight for night and a normal 100 w bulb for heat just wanted some imput on what you guys (and gals) think would be the best placement for starters then i can adjust as needed when i get the therms in to moniter it all. Feel like ive taken up 4 pages and still have questions..lol but if that's what it takes to keep her healthy and happy then so be it...lol thanks in advance for any info/sugg/imput...now on to the housing section for my next question.... Blain |
|
|
|
Post by SurvivorSteph on Apr 8, 2004 22:47:47 GMT -8
I'd have to say that the two most important factors are getting enough UVB to your ig and having the proper temps.
It looks like you've got plenty of lights, and I'm wondering how that translates for a heat gradient. Igs need a gradient to self-regulate their temperature (called thermoregulation).The basking area should be between 90 to 95 degrees F. The ambient air temp in the enclosure shouldn't be lower than about 80 (a little cooler at night is OK). I think this will be tough to maintain in a mesh/wire enclosure.
There is a huge debate on what's the best source for UVB light, but I'd stick with the Reptisun or Iguana Light 5.0 (same light, different marketing), but it needs to be fairly close to the ig, like no farther than 12 inches. That means you'll have to mount it so she can't accidentally break it with her tail (don't remember how big she is). Don't use any glass or plastic light covers because they filter out all the UVB making that 40 bucks you spent on the light pointless and putting the ig in danger of MBD.
I know that I in NO way covered a small percentage of what needs to be said, but I do know that others will add to this in the morning.
Glad you're doing the research and doing what you can to take great care of her!
|
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on Apr 9, 2004 3:42:29 GMT -8
The lighting I use is a four foot 2 tube flourescent shoplight fixture. I use 2 Iguanalight 5.0s. Every 6 months I change 1 of them. If you shop around on the internet you can find them for about 20 bucks.
Depending on the temps in the room you may have way too much heat. You need as Steph said a range of temps. Of course with the mesh this may not be a problem but when you cover it make very sure of the temps before you put the ig in. You may roast the poor thing! Also it is not good idea to put any heating device inside the cage where the ig can come in direct contact with it. They are capable of some astounding jumps and they don't feel heat the way we do and don't realize they are getting burned till its too late.
They seem to be genetically wired to get themselves in trouble! I sometimes wonder how they ever survive in the wild!
|
|
|
|
Post by prism_wolf on Apr 9, 2004 15:02:32 GMT -8
Merlin...how right you are. I just posted on my guys escape in the Gen. Disc. area.
As for lights, Bruujah...don't go wtih the expensive ones for heat. Use housebulbs...and as long as your home doesn't get below 70...you won't need anything at night.
I have a UVB meter to measure the output of the UVB emitting from the tubes. So far I haven't had to change my Reptisun's since April of last year! Every 6 months is suggested without the meter.
|
|
|
|
Post by mar on Apr 9, 2004 17:42:38 GMT -8
The guys above are correct. With the bulbs you listed off you have enough wattage to put a nice heat gradient in my whole bedroom.
If you close off part/most of your cage you have to watch the thermometers very closely. You will be surprised how much heat a single 100W cool white bulb puts off. I have my thermostat set to about 92F at the closest my ig can bask to the heat lamp and right now it is only on about 10 hours a day. Make the $22 investment in a thermostat (mine is made by Alife and I bought it from lllreptile.com) and $5 for a timer and you have fully automated lighting and heating.
In the absence of drafts only heating from above creates a wonderful gradient as heat dissipates proportional to the square of the distance. I have a 100W flood and 75W cool white at the top of my 6’ tall 4x4 cage and the upper is about 92F, his food dish at waist high is in the upper 70s, and at the floor it is room temp.
You do want the UV lights much closer to the ig, no further than 10 inches from the skin. Florescent bulbs put off little heat but the UV dissipates within 12 inches of the bulb. With that cage I would move to using two 24" bulbs inside the cage. Make a mesh cage to protect these from getting hit or climbed on but don't use a plastic shade as it will filter out the UV.
Mark
|
|
|
|
Post by mar on Apr 9, 2004 17:46:15 GMT -8
For settings I have:
Reptisun and a 75W white light on from 8am to 9pm
100W blue tinted flood light on a thermostat @ ~92F
Mark
|
|
|
|
Post by Tesa on Apr 10, 2004 4:34:04 GMT -8
I would suggest mounting a shelf (or two) in there for her to lay on that is 12 inches or less from the top of the cage. Chances are she will spend most of her basking time there, then you have the UVB distance taken care of. ( I'm assuming the UVB is laid across the top?)
That cage looks plenty big for her right now.
I can't see inside well enough to know for sure, but it looks like she doesn't have any place to stretch out flat and relax. They love flat places for basking! (another good reason for a shelf near the top)
You have to remember too, when you go measuring temps, measure at the exact spot the iguana lays. If the light is shining directly on her, and the thermometer is 6 inches away stuck on the wall, you don't get an accurate reading of what your girl's actual basking spot temp is.
You dont need as many heat lights going as what you have in the pic. Just make sure her basking spot is in the low 90's. Unless you keep your house freezing, the gradient temps will probably take care of themselves, but add a couple of thermometers (near the middle and near the bottom) so you can watch and adjust lighting as necessary.
Good Luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyn on Apr 10, 2004 5:03:42 GMT -8
Yes Tesa is right. mount a shelf approx 12 inches below the top of the cage and use her log as a "ramp" to get to it...All my cages are set up that way . It is basic, but it works and easier to clean IMHO. Where she is sitting now...a UVB bulb will do her no good...she is just too far from it...good luck....Lyn
|
|
|
|
Post by Merlin on Apr 10, 2004 6:54:07 GMT -8
Also I would stay with the 48 inch UV flourescents. This will put the UV spread out over the entire top of the cage and will give you the most bang for your buck. For some reason that is still a mystery to me A 24 inch UV costs as much as a 48.
Flourescent tubes also put out more light near the center of the tube and as you get closer to the ends of the tube there is not as much produced. By using a longer tube you are getting more light. Another plus is that you can go to lowes or home depot and get a 48 inch two tube shoplight fixture for about 10 bucks! We don't even want to talk about what that would cost you if bought in a pet store!
|
|
|
|
Post by Brujah on Apr 10, 2004 7:53:54 GMT -8
ty all for the info... I had a nice long descriptive reply yesterday and when i went to post I had been logged out...grrrrr hate when that happens..lol So Ill give a go at it agian...For starters I have a 2 bulb shop light but the pet store only had 1 4 ft bulb, so ill be ordering another bulb online soon. My temps are looking good so far, i got my therm/hum set up temperarly yesterday (hung the probe to aprox. where i will be putting her basking spot today and it was between 91-94) and the mid lvl was 82-86, and around 73-75 in the bottom. Were in Orange County NY so its still a little cool here in the hills, but when summer gets here, should be easy... that room doesnt have AC so should be easy to keep the temp and hum alright. She does have a flat place to lay , where the top of the door is has a plywood bottom with a hole in it w/the tree coming through it, and after today she will have her basking spot and others to roam and stretch out.. gonna do a little remod on the cage..so ill let you guys now how it goes and try and get so pics up of the remod digs...
Blain
|
|
