Need advice on my new viv

[Dweebster]

Hi i am new to RFUK and i am looking for some advice on the custom viv i am building for my Bearded Dragon.
here are a couple of pics as it is @ the min





the measurements of my viv are 5' 10" width x 3' 1" height x 2' 1" depth

i would like some info on where the best place to put heat mat, basking spots, UV light, night light, thermostat sensor, ventillation fans or anything else you think i may need.
Any help/advice would be grateful

[xsmithx2]

heat mat under the hide.

then basking light on top of the heat mat.

then themo stat in the middle of viv.

uv tube in middle of the viv, but on top on the roof

[xsmithx2]

were u get the poly from??

[Dweebster]

So use the heat mat in his hide for night time heat?? i had planned to use the hide end as the cool end of viv and use the left hand side as the warm end, or would that be wrong???? There are still some ledges to be stuck to the wall if you look at the photos closely you can see outlines on the side + back wall where ledges/rock features are going, so i was thinking of having a basking spot on one of the ledges or above the larger rock on left hand side. I was thinking of putting 2 basking spots in viv also, as i am looking to put at least a female in with him at a later date so they would both have a basking spot, or would that be too much????

in regards to the polystyrene, i got it from local B&Q thx for reply also all info is welcomed

[cubeykc]

god DONT use a heat mat what ever you do beardies get heat from above so there is a strong chance of it getting a burn on its tummy

use a heat bulb on 1 side witch is ran by a stat and a 10% uv strip in the middle

[Kyukaji]

fo u plan on gluing your hides down after grouting ifso i can see cleaning them being an issue? as they look seeminly small to be able to clean lol..

[Meko]

heat mat in the drawer till you get something that needs one. You 'can' use one for night time heat if its needed but its pointless really as beardies don't have a bed. They sleep where they feel like.

UV tube - depends really on what else you're putting in there. They need to be able to get to (roughly) 8 inches from the UVB. If you attach it to the top they'll need to be able to get high up to benefit from the UVB, overwise you'll need to lower it the beardie can get near it.

Personally... if it was my viv:
you're going to need a 4ft UV tube and starter, plus a basking light and thermostat.. i'd go for an MVB which combines both the UVB and heat aspect.

[Dweebster]

I was only using the heat mat as a night time heat source if needed, was gonna check the temps when it was finished to see if it was needed or not. I did buy a 48" UV with controller, basking light & holder, & dimming thermostat last week.
As for the glueing question yes i had thought about that the other day, so either i will make the openings larger before i glue or i will just leave that section so it can be removed for cleaning.

[The Roach Hut]

Originally Posted by Dweebster

So use the heat mat in his hide for night time heat?? i had planned to use the hide end as the cool end of viv and use the left hand side as the warm end, or would that be wrong???? There are still some ledges to be stuck to the wall if you look at the photos closely you can see outlines on the side + back wall where ledges/rock features are going, so i was thinking of having a basking spot on one of the ledges or above the larger rock on left hand side. I was thinking of putting 2 basking spots in viv also, as i am looking to put at least a female in with him at a later date so they would both have a basking spot, or would that be too much????

in regards to the polystyrene, i got it from local B&Q thx for reply also all info is welcomed

stick to using the hide as a cool area mate it will also allow your dragon to get out of uv radiation when it is cooling down. by putting heat in there he is either getting warm with no uv or getting cold with uv its back to front....

check out my build for ideas on lighting and u will see that i have a coolend allowing them to get away from uv. the link in my signature

[The Roach Hut]

Originally Posted by xsmithx2

heat mat under the hide.

then basking light on top of the heat mat.

then themo stat in the middle of viv.

uv tube in middle of the viv, but on top on the roof

dont take this the wrong way but heat mats a real bad idea for beardies they thermoregulate through their backs and in wild will turn their back to sun to heat up and if no shade available will turn their chins to sun to cool as this will increase or decrease surface area.

be careful what advice ur giving... the hide would never be used in the day if there was a heat mat and a bukb on the same location as the dragon would want to get from the sun/bulb and then would need to cool down. by placing a heat mat in the hide this isnt possible