How to get a light fitting i an all glass viv

[lindseykim13]

Picked up a viv tonight for free so cant be bad! but it is all glass my other is a wooden so drill hole in top, put light fitting in but how the heck do i do that with glass! Its just a basic light fitting as its for a gecko, any tips?

[BELIAL]

what as in the spot light fitting? i take it the top is glass as well then? does it not have a mesh vent anywhere?

[lindseykim13]

yes glass top, there is a mesh fitting at the back top, i just need a basic light fitting to house a 15w pygmy bulb, as it gives off a little extra heat at well as being the daytime light.

[bev336]

Can you not push the wire through the mesh and hang a spotlight fitting from one of those hooks on a rubber suction pad, like you can buy for hanging towels on.

[Athravan]

You could either utilise the mesh somehow, or put the heating elements outside the tank not inside (although this doesn't work with UVB).

I have also asked the glass place to melt a hole in a tank before, I don't know if your glass cutting place can do it at all - it depends on the thickness/integrity of the glass. Wouldn't recommend it though - looked messy and they told me there was a chance the whole glass would break.

[Graham]

You can drill a hole in the glass with a diamond drill, or just take it to your local glaziers and ask them to do it for you. But if you have the option of feeding the cable through the mesh I'd do that, it's cheaper and safer.

[lindseykim13]

excellent answers everyone, i am going to have a go at feeding the wire through the mesh and one of the sticky clothes hooks to the top! thanks

[Graham]

I don't think I'd trust a sticky clothes hook, the heat will soften the adhesive and the bulb may fall and shatter, same with the suction cup type, better to rig up something to screw the lamp holder to if you can.

[lindseykim13]

its only a 15w pigmy bulb, so not too worried about the heat and ive got a couple of sticky ones as backups all the way along the wire incase 1 came off.

[tom1400]

you have to be very careful drilling through glass as it can crack if your not careful. You could always take it to your local glazier and ask him or her about drilling holes in it to be on the safe side. But you could always convert the top of the viv into mesh and some of it wood.