Flood Light or Spot Light?

SunnySideUp

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As I slowly prepare to purchase a juvenile tortoise in the spring, I've thought up a question that some of you experienced tortoise/turtle owners might be able to help me answer. I just recently purchased a Zoo-Med Mini Deep Dome Lamp Fixture and one of those cute half logs from Petco with a Christmas giftcard (yay!). I've heard before that you can use the normal dome fixtures sold in hardwares stores, but I couldn't find any ceramic-based ones, plus I like the smooth black outside of the Zoo-Med fixture.

Anyway, I intend to use household bulbs in the fixture, instead of the overpriced basking bulbs sold in pet stores. I of course will be providing a seperate tube fixture to shine out those healthy UVBs, but I haven't purchased that yet. First off, is this okay? And secondly, if I were to buy household bulbs, should I buy those labeled under spotlight or floodlight? It didn't occur to me that there might be some considerable difference until I got home. I certainly don't want to hurt my tortoise with anything too harsh. Thanks for your time!
 

Yvonne G

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The mini-deep dome are ok for regular incandescent bulbs probably up to 100 watt, but check to make sure of the wattage the dome accepts. DO NOT use the mini-deep dome fixtures for spot or flood lights or for the Mercury Vapor Bulbs. For those type bulbs you need a bigger reflector. A 10" or a 12" - not a mini.
 

Tom

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I agree. Flood bulbs are the way to go. I use 65 watt floods and I adjust the height of the fixture to get the basking temp where I want it.
 

Yvonne G

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But guys...the mini deep dome fixture is only 5.5" wide. In my opinion, this is much too small for any light other than a regular incandescent bulb. The flood lights need more space so they don't overheat.
 

kbaker

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Caution is good and you always need to do what you are comfortable with.

I use halogen floods in those light fixtures. They are the new efficient 39 watters.
 

Tom

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Yvonne G said:
But guys...the mini deep dome fixture is only 5.5" wide. In my opinion, this is much too small for any light other than a regular incandescent bulb. The flood lights need more space so they don't overheat.

As long as the bulb fits and the fixture is ceramic, it should be no problem.
 

SunnySideUp

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The floodlight bulb I purchased fits in very easily. I'll turn it on for several hours and test the temperature of the fixture with my laser thermometer, just to be safe. If it gets too toasty, I'll return it for one of the wider domed fixtures.
 

mike taylor

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I'm with Yvonne on this . Fixtures go by wattage so they will not over heat . Believe it or not you can over heat these types of fixtures and start a fire . The bigger shades disburse the heat . you like christian
 

lisa127

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I never, ever use those 5.5" domes. They do not spread the heat, and they are not effective at all. A 60 watt bulb in an 8" or 10" fixture warms an area up much more than a 60 watt in a 5.5" dome. I'm talking regular incandescents, not floods or spots.
 

SunnySideUp

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Okay, I'm convinced. I'll see if Petco has any larger fixtures :)


Are "Fluker" lamp fixtures dependable? I won't use the clamps on them.
 

lynnedit

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Might be able to work an exchange or credit.

For the 10-12" light fixtures with ceramic bases, also try feed stores. AKA 'brooder fixtures'. They can often handle up to 250w.
I agree about using a flood light bulb rather than spot. That way your heat is dispersed over an area, rather than focused intensely on the tortoise shell.

I love the tube fluorescent bulbs like the Reptisun 10.0 for med tortoises. Make it as long as you can, close to the length of the enclosure.
 
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