Lighting for tall cage - uroplatus and plants

[Fumbles]

For members using a taller cage for larger leaf tail geckos with live plants - what kind of lighting do you use? My cage doesn't radiate enough light to reach the substrate very well, and the plants suffer as a result. Since plant life is secondary but supplemental to the health of a uroplatus, I'm curious to know what people are using given the wattage restraints because of the geckos sensitivity to temperature.

 

[Phantasy]

My recommendation would be to use the typical 26 watt 5.0 bulbs and simply plant your vivarium keeping light tolerance in mind. Many plants that are typical ground covers and understory plants will be relatively shade tolerant, and will grow well in a low light situation. Haha, I know that isn't exactly the answer you're looking for, but I think it's a better bet than messing with more powerful and/or more bulbs.

Cheers,
-Matt

 

[adamkwas]

I use the 6500K CFL's available in stores like Lowes, Walmart, etc. They emit a very intense white light that allow plants to thrive. I've used these in my Phelsuma cages for years, and would imagine that you would encounter no problems if you were to employ this in a Uroplatus enclosure.

 

[Fumbles]

I use the 6500K CFL's available in stores like Lowes, Walmart, etc. They emit a very intense white light that allow plants to thrive. I've used these in my Phelsuma cages for years, and would imagine that you would encounter no problems if you were to employ this in a Uroplatus enclosure.

Thanks for the info. Do you mean this:

Amazon.com: 19 Watt - 85 W Equal - Full Spectrum Daylight 6500K - CFL Light Bulb - 1 Piece PAR38 Reflector - TCP 2P3819-65: Home Improvement

or this:

TCP 2894265K SpringLamp 42W 6500K Compact Fluorescent Lamp

Also, thoughts on UV? I have a 13 watt reptiglo compact in there right now...its mounted inside the cage to negate the effects of the glass blocking the uv. That also makes heat even more of a critical factor in selecting a bulb as far as I've seen.

 

[Fumbles]

My recommendation would be to use the typical 26 watt 5.0 bulbs and simply plant your vivarium keeping light tolerance in mind. Many plants that are typical ground covers and understory plants will be relatively shade tolerant, and will grow well in a low light situation. Haha, I know that isn't exactly the answer you're looking for, but I think it's a better bet than messing with more powerful and/or more bulbs.

Cheers,
-Matt

I've heard this as well, but I have two trees (dracaena mass.) planted in there and they take the entire length of the vivarium - one is half as tall as the other. Since they're arboreal animals I figured there's gotta be a way to accommodate both the trees and the geckos ...... economically ;-)

 

[miguel camacho!]

While it's not as attractive of an option, you can light from the side. I am soon going to set up my first viv in several years, 2'x2'x4', and I plan on using a 4' strip fluorescent bulb to light from the back. I very well may decide I don't like this lighting (although I've used it in the past), in which case I'll try to stick with the more shade-tolerant plants (ferns, pothos, philodendron, etc.) for the lower story, and then use sticks for a mid-story, and some broad-leaf light lover for the upper story. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

But an important question for you is what are the dimensions of the cage and what species of Uroplatus do you plan on putting inside?

 

[adamkwas]

Thanks for the info. Do you mean this:

Amazon.com: 19 Watt - 85 W Equal - Full Spectrum Daylight 6500K - CFL Light Bulb - 1 Piece PAR38 Reflector - TCP 2P3819-65: Home Improvement

or this:

TCP 2894265K SpringLamp 42W 6500K Compact Fluorescent Lamp

Also, thoughts on UV? I have a 13 watt reptiglo compact in there right now...its mounted inside the cage to negate the effects of the glass blocking the uv. That also makes heat even more of a critical factor in selecting a bulb as far as I've seen.

You'll want the second option. When I had mine I used 23 watt bulbs.

Back to the original note, why don't you just select plant that require little light (perhaps, pothos) for the bottom. However, if you get 6500K florescence (linear or CFL) , i'm sure you'll have no issue with light penetrating to the bottom of the enclosure.

 

[Fumbles]

Miguel - I have a 48" x 16" x 18" tall on a stand. Substrate and drainage is about 10" so about 35" from top of substrate to the light. The geckos are male and female uroplatus fimbriatus. Theres a background so I cant do the backlighting but good idea.

They like the trees so I'm trying to keep them. They spend almost 100% of their time there. If I don't need a uvb I'd get rid of it for something else, but I've been reading different opinions about this.

I wouldn't want the bulb to hang out of the fixture, so what about something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/13-Watt-Spectrum-Daylight-EarthTronics/dp/B003YNYEQQ

 

[Fumbles]

After reading through the replies and doing some more research I decided to get another light to supplement the compact 13 watt uvb in there right now instead of replacing it. An 18" fixture on top of the glass would fit just right and would take a 15" bulb.

Does anyone have info on the ideal color temp to promote plant growth thats also ok on the geckos eyes? 6500 seems to be the advertised norm for daylight but the store I go to also offers 10000k.

 

[Ozymandias]

i know in the planted tank world (aquariums) we tend to use 6,500K-10,000K so i would think any where in between there should work fine.