Bearded dragon UVB?

Question

Hi,
I am getting a bearded dragon,and i was looking up many websites and some of them say something about uvb they need......if you have/had a fully grown healthy bearded dragon could you please tell me if they need a mercury vapour bulb.....as these cost like a 100$ for one....if they dont need one and you have/had a fully grown one can you tell me what lighting and heating you used.....Thanks.

Answer 1

Mercury vapor bulbs provide both UV light and heat...and are very nice if you want to spend that much. You can however just buy the regular fluorescent-type UV bulbs for around $20, depending on the length you need. I always use the 10.0 bulbs, and replace them at least yearly.

Here's a link to a good example of what you are looking for.

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/-/zoo-med-18-repti-sun-100-fluorescent-bulb/

Answer 2

Use a plain lightbulb, 75-100watt for basking/heat source. Mine are in an aluminum light reflector/fixture. Use a lamp dimmer to adjust temperatures to around 100F for adults, 105 for babies. Use a digitl indoor/outdoor thermometer to measure temps...stick on and dial thermometers are not accurate. Use a reptiglo 8.0 or a reptisun 10.0 no farther than 12 inches away. Leave on above basking area approx. 12 hours a day with heat source. No heat at night is needed if house doesn't go below 60 degrees. Check out the care sheets on www.reptilerooms.com (click on forums on the left and go to the Bearded Dragon section). Change your UVB every 6-8 months, as the UVB will diminish even if the light doesn't.

Answer 3

rollin in da hay is tottally right, and lllreptile is the best/cheapest place to get all your reptile stuff, and serioulsy do you want to spend a lot of money powering a high wattage bulb all day every day that heats the hell out of your house, or have a 75-100 watter heat/uva and a 15 watt uvb. it is much better and cheaper, and better for not melting greenlanf and antarctica. plus you can set up the different heat zones in your cage alot easyer, and the cheap uvb bulbs give off no heat so they can sit right under them for a long time and not get too hot, with the merc vap's one side of the cage is cold and the other way hot, it is jsut too much trouble.

Answer 4

Your gonna need both of them. I would also reccomend a UVA light. The UVA and UVB lights imitate the natural vitamins given off by the sun. By using both of them it will help your bearded dragon stay the healtiest and have the best looking skin. You'll also need a heat lamp. The heat lamp provides heat so that digestion and absorbtion of energy can take place.

Answer 5

hi best thing to use is a heat mat under the tank and a heat bulb or cermamic heater connected to a timer and rheostat.a uv tube costs about $15 and you can put that on a timer aswell over all for all that your lookin at $75.you can use the mercury but are way more expensive and do the same job as above except its all in one.

Answer 6

Hello...am always seeing the Mercury vapor bulb stuff, but no idea what it is ..in American definitions, they need UV light - plant grow light, bulbed or tubed/florescent, but they are in no way a $100 bucks .. they need about 90 degrees of warmth which can be provided with regular household light bulbs or under tank heat pads ( NO HEAT ROCKS - EVER !! ) All bulbs MUST be on Dimmer switches, plug in types is what we use, easiest, safer & best to install, ya just plug them lamp into them - like an extension cord..others wire into the electical cords of the light fixture...but wow $100 bucks for a bulb !! Take Care :)

Answer 7

The bearded dragon is a heat tolerant basker. Body temp of basking lizards may exceed 95'F (35'C) when they are cold they are inactive. Lizards tend to be housed in a enclosed vivarium, supply heating by means of a spotlight. Ceramic infrared heaters, with a reflector round them are a popular choice, emitting no light. The heat output can be controlled quite easily by means of an adjustable thermostat, enabling you to lessen the heat output overnight, for example. Using ordinary light bulbs to provide heating is possible but the constant resulting light output can be harmful to the lizards well-being, while the bulbs themselves tend to have a shorter lifespan when hanging down. Ultra thin heat mats in various sizes and wattages, can also be used for heating. Although these mats are traditionaly placed under the vivarium, they can be attatched to the sides. Another option is hot rocks, check temp control method prior to buying. You could use a heat lamp for the lizard to bask under but you have to make sure he can't bask too close to it as it may harm him. A special flourescent tube is available that emit the vital ultraviolet rays necessary for the lizards calcium metabolism and growth.

Answer 8

you really do need the $100.00 bulb try looking on reptile supply.com if they have them they will be alot cheaper than anyone . but remember these bulbs need 15 minutes to cool before you cut them back on or they will mess up & there goes all your money dont hook them up to a thermostat best thing is to experiment on the distance from the tank at least 2-3 foot from the top of your aqarium any closer will melt the rim of it and might catch fire

Answer 9

hey I have my pet bearded dragon i got him when his was 6 months old and I went out and got him a Heating pad they cost from around $75 but they really work