Habitat - Indoor :: Basking Light

[focus12221]

Well today my bulb broke and Im in the middle of changing the basking area anyway, my question is what is a good blub to use if its going to be 12" away and I want the basking area around 93? (well close to that) I cant seem to figure out what kind and what wattage to get that temp, oh and the fixture is rated upto 75w.

[marisa]

The heat light broke? You can use a regular incandescent lightbulb, whatever wattage will get the temp that you want it to be (a bit lower might be better, more like 90F). I've been using halogens and like them---they're a bit warmer than regular incandescents.

[scripta_elegans]

This is the regular bulb not the UVB bulb? I think 75 would be a minimum for 12 inches, and I would be suprised if that was enough. It depends on the platform, the ambient room temp, the size of the tank, the location of the tank, and other variables I am not thinking of right now. The best thing to do, is to get the platform set up how you want it, and then try a 75 watt bulb to see if it is warm enough, or too warm, or not warm enough. From there, you can continue to experiment to see what size bulb you might need to reach the exact temperature that you want.

[focus12221]

I have got a new bulb now, its the turtle turf 75w halogen lamp had it before but I dropped it by accident yesturday. they are 17.99 and i dont have a lot of money so i dont want to experiment as people say with 8-20 dollar bulbs, no thanks, but i guess ill make this one work, it was working before just hate to spend this kinda money. Thanks all have a good night

oh and as for scripta_elegans question ya it was only the heat, i dont like the mvb, hear to much bad about them with the whole distance thing. And I do have a uvb/uva light that is seperate

[octpusgirl8]

People were suggesting you experiment with different wattages of regular incandecents, the cheap ones for household use. There's really no need to spend that much money on a heat only bulb as far as i'm concerned.

[focus12221]

The incandecents arent hot enough to get the temp high enough at over 12" and my basking area the way I built it puts the bulb that high, when i first bought my turtle the sales guy told me that i should use this (the turtle turf halogen) so thats what i got then afterwards I did more research and than found out that household incandecents work just not that far away

[kgielda]

I got my 75 Watt at Home Depot. It was a pack of 4 for 1 or 2 bucks. You don't need to get the fancy ones at the pet stores.

[focus12221]

I understand that the regular 75w light bulbs are only a few dollars not only that but I have lots around the house that are not in use ....

but the regular ones dont work at over 12" away it does not make my basking area warm enough!!!!

[Bumby's Mom]

If the light bulb is close enough to the water that any little tiny drop can touch it, you NEED the turtle tuff bulb so it doesn't explode. At 12 inches I would say no water is getting to it. I don't like normal house bulbs because they burn out on a monthly basis so I just opt for those purple heat bulbs that are only 3-4 dollars and last quite a long time, also since they are purple they aren't as bright as regular household bulbs. I have had my 60 watt heat bulb now since May and it is still going strong. I also think the "heat" bulbs that are purple get warmer. I don't know if the 75 watt heat bulb would be warm enough at that distance though.

[focus12221]

I bought the 75w TURTLE TURF HALOGEN BULB, at 12" its more than enough, the turle loves it and it reaches around 93 which some people like cooler some like warmer thats where my turtle likes it and I leave it. As for water, no water could ever reach my bulb the way the basking area is set up. Not even if it spashed 2ft high. I was just wondering if there were other basking bulbs that would work well at 12" and I didnt want to use the incendecents they are simply not warm enough.