Can this type of bulb be used?

[Slbrlb]

I bought 65 watt incandescent flood bulbs but I can’t get the temp to stay above 80 so I’m trying to find something to produce more heat. I can’t seem to find 100 watt incandescent flood bulbs locally but I found these fluorescent heat bulbs from Lowe’s. Will this work for heating/basking or no?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

That's a pretty toasty hot light and its also pretty bright.
What kind of tortoise and how large is the enclosure?

 

[Slbrlb]

That's a pretty toasty hot light and its also pretty bright.
What kind of tortoise and how large is the enclosure?

40 gallon enclosure for 3 month old Hermanns. This is what the setup is like right now. Im
Trying to get my temps right before I get the tortoise in a few days. I have a govee thermometer at substrate level and with my 65 watt it won’t go much above 80. I did lower the light but I don’t want it too close to the tortoise.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

For just more heat. A CHE would be your best bet.
Is that an open topped enclosure?
Closing off part of the top can help contain some heat as well as humidity

 

[ZenHerper]

I bought 65 watt incandescent flood bulbs but I can’t get the temp to stay above 80 so I’m trying to find something to produce more heat. I can’t seem to find 100 watt incandescent flood bulbs locally but I found these fluorescent heat bulbs from Lowe’s. Will this work for heating/basking or no?

This is a fluorescent bulb (not incandescent) - it produces no appreciable heat.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

This is a fluorescent bulb (not incandescent) - it produces no appreciable heat.

Are you sure, @ZenHerper ?
It claims to be a "heat lamp"and it also says florescent.
(Which I didn't see)
It kind of contradicts itself.

 

[Slbrlb]

For just more heat. A CHE would be your best bet.
Is that an open topped enclosure?
Closing off part of the top can help contain some heat as well as humidity

It is covered with plexiglass except for where the double dome is. I do have a CHE but it says not to use it in the dome so I was trying to avoid it and thought for nighttime I could maybe find a black incandescent light. I’m trying to keep the top closed as much as possible so I went with the double dome.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It is covered with plexiglass except for where the double dome is. I do have a CHE but it says not to use it in the dome so I was trying to avoid it and thought for nighttime I could maybe find a black incandescent light. I’m trying to keep the top closed as much as possible so I went with the double dome.

The double dome is not well suited. You're correct.
But black heat bulbs are also not good.
That double dome also wouldn't work for a true incandescent 125 watt bulb.

 

[Slbrlb]

The double dome is not well suited. You're correct.
But black heat bulbs are also not good.
That double dome also wouldn't work for a true incandescent 125 watt bulb.

Why can’t it be used with the dome? Also what’s wrong with the nighttime black bulb? I keep getting conflicting info so I want to make sure my setup is good

 

[Slbrlb]

I’m trying to figure out the best way to do lighting during the day and heat at night that allows for the drop in temperature.

 

[ZenHerper]

Are you sure, @ZenHerper ?
It claims to be a "heat lamp"and it also says florescent.
(Which I didn't see)
It kind of contradicts itself.

GE claims they are appropriate for humid bathrooms, keeping food warm, and other soft-heat applications. I have my doubts as to the veracity of the scope of their claims.

But there will not be near the same heat generated as from an incandescent bulb.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

GE claims they are appropriate for humid bathrooms, keeping food warm, and other soft-heat applications. I have my doubts as to the veracity of the scope of their claims.

But there will not be near the same heat generated as from an incandescent bulb.

I agree.
Thanks

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Why can’t it be used with the dome? Also what’s wrong with the nighttime black bulb? I keep getting conflicting info so I want to make sure my setup is good

I myself used "black" incandescent lights for heat for years. Possibly decades. And it can still work. But these give off a purplish glow instead of replicating night time and they burn out at the least convenient time. Often.
THEY WILL fit into the double dome as long as the wattage is low. And they usually are.
An incandescent 125 watt flood light would likely be unsafe in that double dome. It's way too much heat for that type of fixture and that type of socket. And a true incandescent 125 watt flood light would be overkill as a light source in that small enclosure.
As @ZenHerper pointed out...The one in the photo is a florescent heat lamp. I am totally unfamiliar with these and I can't say one way or another if it would be safe to use, etc.
@Markw84 Do you have any idea if a florescent heat lamp is suitable?
I don't recommend the double domes because you're very limited as to what you can put in them. I love the idea. I have 2 or 3 put away in my garage because I bought them and couldn't use them on any of my animals.

 

[Slbrlb]

I myself used "black" incandescent lights for heat for years. Possibly decades. And it can still work. But these give off a purplish glow instead of replicating night time and they burn out at the least convenient time. Often.
THEY WILL fit into the double dome as long as the wattage is low. And they usually are.
An incandescent 125 watt flood light would likely catch that double dome on fire. It's way too much heat for that type of fixture and that type of socket.
I don't recommend the double domes because you're very limited as to what you can put in them. I love the idea. I have 2 or 3 put away in my garage because I bought them and couldn't use them on any of my animals.

The dome says each socket can hold up to 165 watts but only 300 combined if using both sockets at the same time. Do you think this is stretching what it can actually do? I do not want any fire hazards which is why I’m leaning against the Che in the dome.

I've asked @Markw84 for assistance in this matter.
He knows more about lighting than most members combined.

 

[Markw84]

The 125 watt bulb you are looking at would work, but you need a different dome. It is a BR40 so it is much bigger than a more standard BR30 flood bulb. (A 30 is 3-3/4" in diameter, a 40 is 5" in diameter.) Also those deep, double domes burn out bulbs particularly fast. Heat is the biggest enemy to a bulb and the heat builds up too much in those domes. The marketing geniuses mismarked that bulb -as "Fluorescent" does not belong on that package. It is a true incandescent and will provide plenty of heat (very possibly too much.)

I don't like the black light either. It is an incandescent bulb and produces mostly near IR-A, which is hard on the tortoise's carapace. A CHE produces IR-B and IR-C and is a "gentler" heat with its longer wavelengths. As @ZEROPILOT mentioned, it also still gives off a dim, purplish light which is well withing the tortoises visible wavelengths. The bluer wavelengths also inhibit melatonin production in most animals - which aids in sleep. Tortoises have better night vision than we do and things dim to us are brighter to them.

To solve your heating issues, you really need to close in your enclosure and get the heat and lights inside the enclosure. maybe go with a greenhouse type cover over everything. The UVB plus flood bulb - plus a CHE on thermostat is the best choice to make work in your situation.

 

[Tom]

I bought 65 watt incandescent flood bulbs but I can’t get the temp to stay above 80 so I’m trying to find something to produce more heat. I can’t seem to find 100 watt incandescent flood bulbs locally but I found these fluorescent heat bulbs from Lowe’s. Will this work for heating/basking or no?

That label doesn't add up. It says its florescent, but it also says its 125 watts. That can't be.

 

[Slbrlb]

The 125 watt bulb you are looking at would work, but you need a different dome. It is a BR40 so it is much bigger than a more standard BR30 flood bulb. (A 30 is 3-3/4" in diameter, a 40 is 5" in diameter.) Also those deep, double domes burn out bulbs particularly fast. Heat is the biggest enemy to a bulb and the heat builds up too much in those domes. The marketing geniuses mismarked that bulb -as "Fluorescent" does not belong on that package. It is a true incandescent and will provide plenty of heat (very possibly too much.)

I don't like the black light either. It is an incandescent bulb and produces mostly near IR-A, which is hard on the tortoise's carapace. A CHE produces IR-B and IR-C and is a "gentler" heat with its longer wavelengths. As @ZEROPILOT mentioned, it also still gives off a dim, purplish light which is well withing the tortoises visible wavelengths. The bluer wavelengths also inhibit melatonin production in most animals - which aids in sleep. Tortoises have better night vision than we do and things dim to us are brighter to them.

To solve your heating issues, you really need to close in your enclosure and get the heat and lights inside the enclosure. maybe go with a greenhouse type cover over everything. The UVB plus flood bulb - plus a CHE on thermostat is the best choice to make work in your situation.

Thank you! This is very informative. I do have half of the enclosure covered with plexiglass. So I think I will get the 125 “wrongly labeled fluorescent” bulb, a CHE and just get different fixtures for them and return the double dome. Do you have an example of the correct fixture for the 125 watt bulb?

 

[Markw84]

Do you have an example of the correct fixture for the 125 watt bulb?

You want the one rated for 300 watts. It will have a ceramic base. Do not use the clamp to hold it in place. Use the hanger that is also attached to the fixture. Amazon, Home Depot, or you local feed store.

 

[ZenHerper]

...The marketing geniuses mismarked that bulb -as "Fluorescent" does not belong on that package. ...

So weird.

 

[Markw84]

So weird.

They may have been trying to get into some stores and sold in some areas banning incandescent sales, except for "specialty bulbs". They label it a heating bulb, and leave Fluorescent on the package. May get by some of the bulb police!??