Having horrible luck with lamp and bulbs help!

[Kara Bellamy]

I've had one lemon great choice 5.5 lamp returned it got another it's unscrewing from base ugh but works and less than a week after got new bulbs and it I've lost my night bulb this is getting agrivating and costly ant tips on a solid lamp or dual lamp so I'm not doing bulb dance and reasonable priced bulbs for my 2 dumpys and American green

[Mentat]

Not sure what brand and model you are having problems with Kara. I've used domes made by Flukers (one with dimmers) with no issues. Also used the longer fixture by ZooMed with two bulbs and independent switches and they work fine too .

[SqUaReJeLLy]

I agree with Carlos. I love my domes with dimmers. It makes it so much easier to get the temp correct. You can get one wattage bulb and if it's too hot just dim it down instead of having to get a different watt. If it becomes too cool just turn it back up some. No more playing and guessing which wattage is best. I have never used that brand fixture before so I don't know how reliable it is. I use several different ones, most I have had for so long I don't even remember the brand. Maybe Flukers, Zilla or other brand made for reptiles. I also have one I got from Home Depot for a few bucks. Home Depot also sells cords with a dimmer switch on them that can be used to dim the bulb, just make sure you get one that can handle the amount of watts that will be plugged into it. That also goes for the fixture, they all have a max bulb that can be used and anything higher is a safety hazard. I also have a longer style one made by Zoo Med that can hold 2 bulbs, each with their own switch but only one plug. I know there are others that have a plug for each bulb which I think is a better idea so you can either have them on dimmers or timers or whatever.

The bulbs themselves may also be the problem. In my experience spending a little more for a better brand normally last longer then the cheaper brands. That of course doesn't mean all of them will and you can always get a lemon with them as well. I have also had to do the bulb dance when I didn't have enough domes that is why I bought the dome from Home Depot. I was planing on replacing it but it works just as well as the other domes I have so I have decided to just keep using it for the time being.

[DigitalPunk]

I use a ceramic heat emitter and a wire frame dome to heat the terrarium (controlled by a Zoo Med HydroTherm). and use LED Ultra bright lights from Fluval to light it.

[Kara Bellamy]

Im just using as I stated the Great choice 5.5 and at the moment flukers day bulb (no heat) and was using night as well but it died last night for heat I had been using I belive all living things ones but ive been having a rash of thoes blow to >.< I just want to match up a reasonable price dome and reasoable price lights

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Another thing to keep in mind that these UV bulbs have automatic starters in them and don't do well with controllers or dimmers.
I know for a fact that some of the zoo med power sun UV bulbs state on the box not to be used with controllers or dimmers.
just FYI.

That is why I went with ceramic heat emitters for my whites.

[Kara Bellamy]

the other thought I had was just to get a heat pad for under the tank and use the lamp for a light source what is the thoughts on this ? I figure it would maby avoid risk of any burns etc? atm my lamp sits on top of the mesh top, I do not have a clamp or such to extend it above the tank. (I could look into that but if I do Id rather wait till get a better lamp etc _

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

the other thought I had was just to get a heat pad for under the tank and use the lamp for a light source what is the thoughts on this ? I figure it would maby avoid risk of any burns etc? atm my lamp sits on top of the mesh top, I do not have a clamp or such to extend it above the tank. (I could look into that but if I do Id rather wait till get a better lamp etc _

I have my ceramic heat emitter in a zoo med mini deep dome fixture on top of the top screen of my exo-terra with no problems.
I do have a mini heat pad under the enclosure but it is stuck to a ceramic tile and not the glass and it is on a separate controller and the temp sensor is inside the
enclosure under the substrate and set to 75F max cool I want the surface to be.
Since I keep a Pacman frog when it burrows it won't get burned or the glass won't get too hot and shatter if any water comes into contact with it.

[SqUaReJeLLy]

What are your daytime temps like? You have only been using a bulb for light during the day, no heat, correct? I'm just trying to understand what your setup is like. I thought you were using a bulb to heat during the day then switched to a night time bulb, also for heat, at night. If you only need to heat your enclosure at night a heat pad may work. I wouldn't put it under the tank though. Depending on your substrate it may do nothing more then be a fire hazard since anything too deep will just trap the heat under the tank. Most people who use them put them on the back or side of the tank to warm the air. The thing with heat pads is they put out very little warmth, at least in my experience with them so if you need to raise your temps more then a few degrees it probably won't work and a bulb will be a better choice. They shouldn't be able to burn your frog unless the wattage is way too high and your temperature within the tank is dangerous. Being on the outside of the tank they should never be able to touch it anyway.

Your fixture could be perfectly fine but it's just the screwing and unscrewing the bulbs that could be the problem. Also if you are using your bare hands I heard that the oils from your skin can make bulbs blow faster. Once you figure out if you want another dome, a dual fixture or a heating pad then your problems with the bulbs should go away.