What's your light set up and ambient room temperature?

Hi guys,

Sorry I figured I would try this again, I think my last thread was a little too specific so not many people chimed in. I am getting ready to receive my first fid, a WBC, in two weeks. The cage is ready to go and in my daughter's room, but I am missing a couple of pieces of the puzzle.

I am in Montreal Canada, so freezing winters and boiling summers... right now of course we're all freezing our butts off. I keep the room at 18c (64.4F) and when my daughter is over, I keep it at around 21c (70F). With our WBC now in that room permanently, I am assuming I should not be letting the ambient temperature drop to 18c like I do now when the room is not being used. What is the constant temperature I should be using? Should it vary night vs day?

During the summer, the house has AC, although I am guessing seeing as this is a tropical species this isn't a big deal if the room temp goes up to 24ish

And finally, especially during the winter months where the room is black by 5PM (finally getting better now YAY!) I would like to put a light on a timer for her so she's not in the dark until it's actually bed time.

Could I get some of you to chime in with your recommended light set ups including the actual model names/numbers of what you are using? It will have to be a plugin solution, not a ceiling fixture and I am totally confused by what lights I should use... daytime bulbs, full spectrum bulbs, fluro tubes vs CFL. And should I be using some kind of heating bulb during the winter or is that unnecessary?

Thanks!
Dan

Well, I wouldn't stick her in a bedroom. I would keep her in the main living area so she can be a part of her new flock. Secondly, I keep my house at 75 cuz I freeze but 70 should be perfect for her. No, I wouldn't change the temperature from day and night. Thirdly, for light, if kept around the family, she should be fine with the lights you are using. However, when we leave and it will get dark while we are gone early I do keave a light on for them.

Kiwi gets his cage and play tree by a floor-to celling window in the living room. He also likes to hang out near the SAD lamp, but he doesn't have a specific light source besides the natural light and SAD lamp. We keep it around 68-70 in the winter, and summer it usually stays in the low 80's. He seems to adjust fine to both, as it's a gradual transition of temperatures.

gizzygirl said:

Well, I wouldn't stick her in a bedroom. I would keep her in the main living area so she can be a part of her new flock. Secondly, I keep my house at 75 cuz I freeze but 70 should be perfect for her. No, I wouldn't change the temperature from day and night. Thirdly, for light, if kept around the family, she should be fine with the lights you are using. However, when we leave and it will get dark while we are gone early I do keave a light on for them.

Click to expand...

Hi GG

I'm afraid that the bedroom is the only room we'll be able to use due to space and practical reasons for the time being... there's no main living area that we can use for a huge cage like that for now. In a couple of years we will likely be building a solarium off the kitchen/ dining main area and that will be her new spot. Our house is empty most of the day so there's nothing she will see, and when we're home, she'll be out of the cage and with us, and she'll have an outdoor cage when we're outside. The cage in the room is located right beside a nice big window too.


Thanks for confirming that 70 is good, I figured that would be fine


As for light, Hydro is really expensive so that's why I want a timer. During the winter, it's already completely dark by the time we get home, so I'm thinking a timer that kicks in around 4PM until bed time would be best. I don't want to leave a light on in the room for nothing when I leave at 7AM. But if a regular ol' light is fine and I don't need anything special, that's easily arranged I'm just seeing people using special lights, full spectrum, featherbrite etc...

Thanks again
Dan

Kiwibird said:

Kiwi gets his cage and play tree by a floor-to celling window in the living room. He also likes to hang out near the SAD lamp, but he doesn't have a specific light source besides the natural light and SAD lamp. We keep it around 68-70 in the winter, and summer it usually stays in the low 80's. He seems to adjust fine to both, as it's a gradual transition of temperatures.

Click to expand...

Hi Kiwi,

OK greta, and your SAD lamp is a full spectrum light correct?

Thanks,
Dan