uromastx lighting

Question

My Uro's   QUESTION: I have 2 uromastx, they are about a year and a half. The breeder says we probably have a male and female.  We've been trying to create the right temp in the tank. The tank is 50 gal, 4ft long/ 1ft wide/ 2 ft height.  We had a 150 watt basking bulb (just burnt out), but it would only get  in the 80's.  For night time we have a blue light 150 watt.   Today we bought a red bulb for heat, but i was just reading about how this might not be good for their eyes.  I was also thinking if maybe we could use the red bulb for the one side of the tank, where they don't really spend too much time, and use the other side for the basking bulb.  They have a big basking rock, where Wilma likes to be, she usually chills on the side of it.  And we have a rock cave where fred usually is, in the middle more by the basking spot for heat.
I would really like to find the perfect setup for these guys, could you please help??

ANSWER: Hello Alex,

The tank size is pretty good, not too bad.  
What are you using to measure the temps with?  A 150watt bulb should be getting hotter than the 80's.  
If you are using a stick on type of thermometer, that would most likely be the problem.  They are not accurate for reading basking spots, but just the ambient air temps & humidity.  The best thermometers you can use are either a digital probe or a temp gun.
These reptiles need bright white light, & do not do well with colored lighting.  
Are you using any UVB lighting?  If not, they need full spectrum UVB, or they wont be able to absorb their calcium & vitamins & will fall prey to metabolic bone disease.  
I highly recommend getting a digital probe or a temp gun so we can determine the temperatures.  The best basking light you get to use is a halogen flood light which they get hot.  
Or, you could invest in a mercury vapor bulb which is high output UVB along with heat.  I would get either the Megaray or the T-rex active UVB heat, & get the 100 watt since your tank is 2 feet high & you have a basking rock.  The distance requirement for them is 12 inches from your dragon, for safety.  The temperatures usually are around 105-108 with those lights.  Then, you could supplement that light with a halogen 50-60 watt to get the basking temps to the proper ranges of 120-130 or so.  
At night, they do need to cool down into the upper 70's to low 80's or they will become heat stressed.  So, you should not need much if any heating at night, unless your house gets too cold.  If you are going to use any heating at night, a ceramic heat emitter would be better to use because it only puts out heat but no light so they can sleep better.
You could get a long regular flourescent daytime tube to put on top of the tank, just to add some extra brightness without adding much if any heating for them.  
I would maybe add a few more climbing places for them, they love rocks & climbing apparatus.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help. Do I only need one bulb on at a time, like just the basking on?  Then if i want to i can also add the long flourescent tube?

Answer
Hello Alex,

No you will need to keep the basking light on as well as the flourescent tube bulb to keep the brightness in the tank.  You can have it run three quarters of the length of the tank, so they have a little corner where there is dimmer light.  
One basking light most likely will not be enough to get the temps up to 120-130, so you will most likely need one of the mercury vapor bulbs I suggested, along with another lower wattage type of halogen bulb.

Tracie