18X18X18 for a Pacman. Lighting ?s

[WatchTimes]

OK
I want to try and avoid the UTH (looks ugly on the side)
I am likely going to use lights and timers to provide the heat.
I was thinking of using two of the Zoo Med 18 in Naturalistic Terrarium Hoods.
One for AM which would have a florescent and a heat bulb and then one for
PM with a night heat bulb?

Whats your thoughts on this? Is there something else I should look at?

What bulbs would you suggest?

My room with the enclosure is about 66 degrees on average.

I plan on running these on timers and would also get a fogger.

Sometimes I have to run out of town for 2 or 3 days at last minutes notice
and I want this guy to be as comfortable as possible when that happens.

[Mentat]

Guess this one felled through the cracks ! Where are you with enclosure set-up right now? Presuming if you are using the Zoo Med 18 (two?) the enclosure is a Zoo Med 18 in. cube or similar. My thoughts depend on what type of Pacman you are planning to house. If an albino; the fluorescent tube light is not going to be good for it's eyes; so I would not use it. If regular Pacman would use fluorescent tube for observation only. Can use a either a red bulb or black (moonlight type) for heat (your choice); think that top can handle up to 60W bulbs. I use a black "moonlight" bulb 24 hours on to warm my albino Pacman enclosure.

With the room at 66F and no heat pad, you might very well need the two tops to heat the enclosure; but I would start with one and a maximum wattage red bulb (60W?) and see where that gets you. To conserve heat and humidity; I would recommend sealing the unused screen half temporarily with saran wrap (taped to plastic edge). If that is enough; you are done. If not; remove saran wrap, get the second top, and then test with several different wattage bulbs on the second top until find one that will keep the temp where you want it. Once you get enclosure set; time to get or transfer your frog to it's new home. Good luck !

[Lija]

that is what I'm using for similar enclosures:
- hydrotherm with plugged in 75W infrared spot lamp ( exo terra) and fogger.
- just regular energy saving lamp ( 13W i think) in 18" exo terra black canopy - that one is on a 12h on/off timer.

do that and all you ever need to worry is to feed the guy

i hate UTH too looks ugly and doesn't heat enough.

[Sidius]

I use Night Black bulbs on all my tanks, with a 2.0 uvb bulb, 26watt I think which hangs between almost all the tanks about 3feet above. Sort of gives that "shady part of the forest" look to the tanks. Their colors are alot brighter than when I had a day bulb directly above each tank.