Regular Light Bulbs for heat?

Hey everyone! I love these forums! I am learning new stuff everyday!

I have a question. I need to get a light for the top of my tank. What wattage should I get for the warm side of the tank? I had a 150 watt on there for about 2 hours and it kept the warm side about 86 degrees. However, I believe that is too much. Should I go with a 60 watt or 100 watt? I have a 10 gallon tank.

Also, what about regular light bulbs? I was told you can use them but I pretty much don't believe him!

Thanks!

Under-the-tank heaters are prefered by most over the use of over-head heat. However, using a 60 watt regular bulb to add some heat to the upper air levels is what I added to my neice's set-up. Just remember not to leave it on all night (which is another reason to have another heat source).

howiet4702 said:

Also, what about regular light bulbs? I was told you can use them but I pretty much don't believe him.

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I already answered this on the onther thread. A normal bulb is fine. You're interested in the heat, not the type of light. I use 150w bulbs for desert lizards in a 90 gallon tank, so it is way too much for a corn's small tank.

I use red 50w heat bulb all the time and regulate temp by covering and uncovering the screen top accordingly. This serves two purposes for me, if I switch tanks I don't have to figure out how to get an UTH to stick someplace else and night viewing is great and the snakes can not see in the red light. You can't be cheap here, get a reptile heat lamp with true red light not a dollar store red bulb that give off other colors of the light spectrum. Also get a good thermometer and keep track of the temps. I keep an eye on humidity as well because the bulbs have a tendency to dry out the tank. Keeping the water bowl under the heat source works well for me.

I do not use any other lighting just natural day light.

This is just the way I do it, there are lots of other "corrrect ways".

Peace
Paul