What is the best and most cost-effective solution for providing day/night environment for your Chinese Water Dragon? The bulbs are about $10.00 each at the pet stores. I have one of those clamp on fixtures and it was $35 or $40 so I just have one and have been changing the bulb every morning and evening. Should I just get another one and set up both fixtures on timers to simulate day/night? Of is there a better solution? Is there a cheaper source for these bulbs because $10 each is outrageous and 2 have blown out already (is that typical or is just b/c I'm changing them all the time?) and I've only had my Chinese Water Dragon about 5-6 weeks. FYI: I have the UVB in addition to the clamp on thingy.

Thanks in advance for any advice you all may pass my way!

The price is about the packaging, you can use normal household bulbs for heat.

You can get a cheaper clamp lamp at the hardware store too, just make sure its a porcelain socket so the light doesn't melt it.

__________________

Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it.

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

I bought a clamp lamp the other day that cost $17 at petsmart which is 10" in diameter. I forget the brand but I'll tell you when I get home. I didn't buy the exo terra ones because they were $30-$40. The only difference I really got were that these lamps were "glow in the dark" on the insides.

Or you can get a desent lamp for a desent price if you shop at Pet supplys or Petsmart and get the Fluker's kind, I got 2 10" ones and sometimes you can find them as cheap as $7. but most of the time they are around 13-18 not bad though.

As Moshpitrockchick said, you can use heat lights and fixtures from a hardware store. The "reptile heat lights" are rip-offs. As you have found out, they blow in very short time (from my experience with these lights, the shortest-lived one lasted one day and the longest-lived one lasted six months). A heat light from a hardware store will last you for a much longer time. Just avoid the lights with a hexagon shape in the center on the surface of the bulb.

It would be better to use two fixtures with a timer - one for day and one for night.

If you need night heating, use a ceramic heat emitter rather than a light bulb. Ceramic heat emitters are water resistant and will last you a good, long time.

What type of UVB are you using? If it is a fluorescent light, is it linear or compact?

"What type of UVB are you using? If it is a fluorescent light, is it linear or compact?"

I'm using a repti-sun 10.0

I suppose I can get timers at any hardware store?

Thanks for all the replies everyone! You guys are great!

Yes, timers at any hardware store for about $5.

For night, you can use a ceramic heat emitter for heat. It produces no light. Its very important they get 12 hours of lights out time.

__________________
My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.