OK hello everybody. I'm pretty new here and pretty new to reptiles but I have been looking into getting one lately. I have decided to go with a green iguana. I have two books I read on green iguanas and I have read care sheets online and watched some pretty detailed videos as well and I believe I understand the basic except the most important thing which is lighting and heating. I wanted to ask you guys for some help. I know that in the enclosure there should be a cool side and a warm side. Now my question is, should there be any type of lighting on the cool side? For the warm side I know I have to keep a basking light that produces uvb. Now can anyone tell me which one of the mega ray lights I should get because they have two types and i'm not sure which one to get. Also the basking light is the one that stays on during the day time. I know that so is that the only light thats on during the day and is that all I need during the day? During night time if it gets too cold I know I need another source of heat so is the Mega-Ray® HP 60 Watt Heat Projector OK? I have a picture of a setup below, so is that correct in anyway? thanks.. sorry for the long post

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Kudos to you for researching FIRST! I'd like to know which books you've read... not all advice is equal. The book that we most recommend is: Green Iguana - The Ultimate Owner's Manual by James W. Hatfield, III. It's a huge book -- but don't let that scare you! It's full of funny stories and GREAT care advice.

I appreciate that you provided an example of what you're thinking of building as an enclosure. There are two things that catch my eye right off the bat: the hot/cold areas and the basking log.

When a heat gradient is discussed, it's meant that the gradient will be be horizontal, not vertical. What I mean is that at the height of the basking area there should be a warm side and a cool side. Of course the bottom of the enclosure will be cooler, but since igs like to be up high, there needs to be a cool area up high too.

By placing a basking log at an angle, the iguana doesn't receive the full benefit of the UVB you're providing because the rays become weaker at a distance. Ideally, the log or shelf would be level and span the length of the enclosure to allow the above mentioned warm/cool zones.

__________________
~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

Oh, and I'd like to encourage you to adopt instead of purchase your ig... there are so many iguanas that need homes!

__________________
~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

I have two books: Iguanas - Getting Started and The Guide to Owning a Green Iguana. OK, so I know I will be building a cage for it by its first year or maybe I start of building a cage even before that, but let's just say I start off in a 55 gallon tank and my left side is the cool side and my right is the warm side. My lights would be on the warm (right) side so which one of the Mega Ray lights will I be having there for basking and is there any other light that goes there besides the heat light for night time? And is that heat light appropriate the Mega-Ray® HP 60 Watt Heat Projector? Thanks.

I would really suggest that you pick up the book that Steph linked you too. The two books you mentioned are very basic quickie beginner's manuals and will not go into near enough detail on things.
And depending on when they were written they may contain seriously out of date and potentially dangerous information.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Tanks are difficult. They're simply too small to allow a proper heat gradient and too short to give the minimum safe distance with the Mega Ray. Both the 100 watt self ballasted bulb and the 60 watt externally ballasted bulb needs a minimum distance of 12 inches from the iguana.

If you can set up your tank to allow this distance, your best bet may be to choose the externally ballasted bulb. It emits little heat, and you can add the Heat Projector to produce the proper temperature.

__________________
~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

I am new here also but have had my Iguana for 4 years now, the book they linked is a great book with all the information you will need. I built a 8'L x 7' T x 3' W cage for my iguana, I keep a basking light on the left end of the cage at about 90 degrees and have a 48" UVB light to cover a good portion of the tank.

Like one of the posters above stated have a flat ledge under the UVB so the iguana can get full coverage from the light and set up your tank before buying the iguana so you can make sure you get the temperatures correct on the basking side and cooling side. I keep 4 thermometers in my tank (2 high on the hot and cold side & 2 low on the hot and cold side) this way in the winter or colder days I know if I need to adjust my thermostats more.

Sorry for the long reply, hope it helps

* For night there are red/blue lights made for night viewing that can help, my iguana did not like the blue one but does not seem to mind the red one

Thanks to all for the quick replies, I really appreciate it. It makes a lot more sense to me now. I will pick up that book as well... and I will pick up those two lights Steph has stated above. I guess I will trial and error in an empty tank first, see what temperatures I get before I put my iguana in there... from that I will figure out how close or how far my lights need to be from my iguana.