sick and tired of lights burning out!

can anybody suggest a curtain type of buld to use with a desert scorp? in general im just tired of buying new ones all the time. are halogen lights ok? and do they last long? also would they be ok for my emporers?

Halogens are ok for daytime use.

Dude, just go get a cheap pack of soft white bulbs. I use them and have been for years. They're like 1.23 a pack so it's no biggie if they blow. Just use them during the day time and get you a bulb for night time if you run one.

My bulbs last a very long time and they're on a timer on off on off on off.. which causes more wear than continuous burning me thinks

You don't need a light unless you're doing it because you're having problems getting around 80F?

Also even with that you can do other things to raise the temperature of the tank.

I feel your pain. I use Night Glo bulbs, and the very low wattage bulbs burn out within a month. Seems the higher the wattage, the longer they last.

Desert species and the ones I have need well over 80 to feel right. When one is gravid it may very well be over 95+ in a room that doesnt get hotter than 65 degrees F.

With a light you can make basking spots, which will be appreciated by your animals.. providing a nice gradient in temperature.

If you dont get your temperatures up to 80-85 degrees in the room by normal heating (which I dont recommend, it is just uncomfortable), install a lamp. Forget about heat mats etc... unless you cannot go round them in specific cases.

Imho there is no substitute, as far as heating goes, for red heating spots.

what about ceramic heaters?

I use heating film. Much better and cheaper than commercial heatmats.

I keep my room in the 80's, 82 and 86. They actually live in my room with me but the hot temp doesn't bother me, I've more or less become accustomed to it.

You are hotness incarnate I'd lose all my body fluids the first 30 minutes..

pluto wrote:

You are hotness incarnate I'd lose all my body fluids the first 30 minutes..

That's why beer was invented

My room is usually mid 80's in the day by the heater. Things that need more heat go between 2 heaters that takes it up to 90, or a bit above, cooler stuff just goes further away. Night time drops take it down to around 70.

Most of the time though, my room temp is worked out in minutes.
After 10, 20, 30, whatever minutes it's too hot to be in there and I go out.
not very professional but it's done me for 20 years.

so this may be a dumb question but do halogen lights make a hot spot or raise the temp in the tank at all

Yes, and yes.

you have no idea how happy this makes me streettrash! no i have a new mini project

Halogens are the best alternative to regular bulbs. Watch out for the temps though, I get my beardies a 40+ celsius hotspot with just a 35w halogen.

I don't use them for my scorps though, I like to keep all my inverts in minimum light.

Halogens are good to bump up temps, but theyre really sensitive and break easily while on, therefor i don't ever recommend using them over the kitchen sink ets (off-topic i know)