Lighting Help Needed

Karen B · #1 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 05:26 PM

A new story entry has been added:

LIGHTING HELP NEEDED

Quote:

My son has an Exo Terra tank with Fire Bellied Toads in it and would like to get a light unit, but we are unsure as to which bulbs to buy. Can anyone help please as the bulbs seem quite expensive and we don't want to get the wrong ones. Also, any suggestions as to where to buy light unit and bulbs? We do have some live plants in the tank too. Many thanks

Jumpshot724 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 10:33 PM

Hello there. FBTs don't really need any special lighting, I just use a regular house lamp and bulb over the water portion of my set-up and they seem to be happy and fine.

Pavel · #3 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008, 05:14 PM

If the bulbs are the only source of light, then you will have to worry more about satisfying the plants' needs more so than the frogs'. It will also depend on the plants you are using. In my large terrs (55 gal & 90 gal) I use 23W cfls as they aren't too terribly expensive. With really low light plants you could very likely get away with a lower wattage yet. Depending on the size of the tank and you handiness or ability you could try to make you own light hood If you instead utilize the tore bought ones for fish tanks you will need some sort of long/straight tube light. & yea some of those are pretty expensive. For the plants you would likely need 2 tubes.

What kinds of plants are you using?

How big is the tank?