• Extra-deep polished aluminium reflector — the dome extends beyond the end of most bulbs, so more of the output goes down into the enclosure.
• Heat-resistant porcelain socket — rated for basking and heat lamps, which will destroy the plastic socket on a general-purpose lamp holder.
• 75 W maximum — the ceiling for this size. Exceeding it is a fire risk, not a performance question.
• Accepts screw-base bulbs — incandescent basking and heat lamps, and compact fluorescent UVB lamps.
• 180 cm cord with an on/off switch — six feet of lead, and a switch you can reach without disturbing the animal.

• Aluminium dome fixture, 15 cm reflector, with porcelain socket
• 180 cm power cord with in-line on/off switch

• Any bulb — basking, heat or UVB lamps are all sold separately
• A lamp stand or hanging bracket, if you do not want the dome resting on a screen top
• A thermostat, which any heat-producing bulb in this fixture requires
• A lamp guard, if the dome is within reach of the animal

Exo Terra makes this fixture in two sizes, and the wattage ceiling is the deciding factor rather than the diameter.

Choose the Small if your bulb is 75 W or less and your enclosure is compact. If you are running a 100 W or 150 W basking lamp, this fixture is not rated for it and you need the larger dome.

This is an empty fixture, so it has no temperature-at-distance curve and no UV index curve of its own. Those figures belong to the bulb you fit, and they are what you should be reading before you buy.

What the dome does change is the shape of that output. A deep reflector concentrates light and radiant heat into a narrower, more intense column than a bare bulb or a shallow dome, which means the temperature and UV index at a given distance can be higher than the bulb's open-air chart shows. Measure the basking site with a thermometer and, for UVB, a UV meter, rather than assuming the bulb's published chart applies unchanged.

Suitable for

• Basking, heat and compact fluorescent UVB bulbs up to 75 W
• Sitting on a mesh screen top, or hanging from a lamp stand
• Compact and mid-size terrariums
• Indoor household use

Not suitable for

• Bulbs over 75 W — use the 21 cm PT2349 dome instead
• Therapeutic lamps, which Exo Terra specifically excludes
• Wet or misted positions — the fixture is not waterproof
• Commercial use — Exo Terra rates it for indoor household use only
• Any position where the animal can reach the hot dome without a guard

Exo Terra's own instructions for this fixture are worth following exactly.

• The dome surface gets hot. Avoid contact while it is running, and fit a guard if the animal can reach it.
• Allow the fixture to cool for 15 minutes before changing the bulb, cleaning or repositioning it.
• Keep it clear of curtains and other flammable material.
• It is not waterproof and must be kept away from water.
• The power cord cannot be replaced. If the cord or plug is damaged, the fixture must be discarded, not repaired.
• Any heat-producing bulb in this fixture should be controlled by a thermostat. A dimming thermostat is generally used with incandescent basking lamps; check what your specific bulb requires, as a pulse-proportional thermostat will destroy an incandescent lamp.

• Wipe the reflector with a dry cloth when cool. A dusty or fogged reflector loses output, which is the entire reason for buying an aluminium dome.
• Check the cord and switch for heat damage each time you change the bulb.
• Replace UVB bulbs on the interval the bulb manufacturer states, not when they stop emitting visible light. UVB output falls long before the lamp dies.

• Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 Desert Compact Fluorescent — a screw-base compact UVB lamp that fits this socket.
• Eco Tech EZY SET Digital Thermostat — required for any heat-producing bulb.
• Zoo Med Repti Lamp Stand Unit — lets you set an exact mounting distance instead of resting the dome on the screen.
• Eco Tech Dual Probe Digital Thermometer — to confirm the basking temperature the dome and bulb actually produce.
• Exo Terra Low Terrarium 45 × 45 × 30 cm — an enclosure sized to a 75 W fixture.

Exo Terra warrants this fixture against defects in materials and workmanship. Any manufacturer warranty applies in addition to the consumer guarantees you have under the Australian Consumer Law, which cannot be excluded.

Supplied for 240 V, 50 Hz mains with an Australian plug. The cord is not user-replaceable, so cord damage means replacing the fixture.

What is the maximum wattage for the Exo Terra small aluminium dome?

75 W. The 21 cm version, part number PT2349, is rated to 160 W. Fitting a bulb above the rated wattage is a fire risk and is not covered by warranty.

Does it come with a bulb?

No. The fixture is sold empty. Basking lamps, ceramic heat emitters and compact UVB lamps are all bought separately.

Can I use a ceramic heat emitter in it?

The socket is heat-resistant porcelain, which is the socket type ceramic emitters require, and the 75 W ceiling still applies. Check the emitter manufacturer's own fixture requirements, as some specify a fixture with no reflector or a wider dome for heat clearance.

Can I put it on a dimmer or a timer?

An incandescent basking lamp in this fixture can be dimmed. A compact fluorescent UVB lamp cannot — dimming will damage it and gives unreliable UV output. Match the control to the bulb, not to the fixture.

Will it sit on a mesh screen top?

Yes, and that is the common way to use it. Remember that the dome runs hot, so keep it clear of anything flammable and allow 15 minutes of cooling before you move it.

Why buy an aluminium dome instead of a cheap clamp lamp?

Two reasons: the porcelain socket survives heat that melts a standard plastic holder, and the deeper polished reflector directs more of the bulb's output down into the enclosure instead of out into the room.