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.