Bearded Dragons at night

[Razaiel]

Heat rocks are fine - just cut the cord

I used to use a CHE for overnight temps but honestly have found that it isn't needed so just have the UV and basking lights for daytime and they go off at night. I try to simulate nature a big by shortening and lengthening days.

Hickman - your dragons look really cute - but I would separate out the male once they're a bit older in case they breed too young. Sorry if you were anyway - but just thought I'd mention it!

[hickman2342]

Originally Posted by Razaiel

Heat rocks are fine - just cut the cord

I used to use a CHE for overnight temps but honestly have found that it isn't needed so just have the UV and basking lights for daytime and they go off at night. I try to simulate nature a big by shortening and lengthening days.

Hickman - your dragons look really cute - but I would separate out the male once they're a bit older in case they breed too young. Sorry if you were anyway - but just thought I'd mention it!

What age would you suggest, they are 4 month old at the minute?

Im getting a new vivarium around march, a much taller one, so there are different intensities of heat

How do you keep the temp up for night time?

What would you suggest to increase the temperature further if not hot enough, a higher watt bulb? or is that a stupid question, (dont forget im a new keeper) I'm just trying to get as much info as possible to ensure my beardies are happy

[lee young]

Hickman, I'd say you need to seperate the male within the next couple of months, from 6-9 months males can become sexually mature, but its dangerous for females to mate before theyre 18 months old minimum, plus if you got them all at the same time theyre probably siblings, and so mating is not advised?

Night time temps are usually ok with everything off, but if your house gets really cold at night then use a ceramic heat bulb with a ceramic holder and heat resistant cable. Contrary to populat belief, Beardies CAN see red light, they have a broader visual spectrum than humans do, and red light will keep them awake, at night it needs to be dark in their viv.

To raise your temps a bit either turn up your stat, or if you dont have a stat, buy a more powerful basking bulb and get it on a dimming thermostat. When theyrte babies they eat more and need higher temps to help their faster metabolism. cool end of 85, hot end of 95-100 and basking temps of 110-115 for babies really.

[Breadrun]

split them as soon as possible as a male beardie can get sexually active at 6months

keep temps up at night time by using a heat mat with a matstat

increase the temperature by using a habistat and put the prob at the cool end and then set it to about 85, this should heat the bulb up to the required 110c in the hot end

[Antw23uk]

A simple subject made exceptionally confusing by people but welcome to the club of owning beardies

10% or ideally12% UVB tube the length of the vivarium. your beardie needs to be able to get within a few inches of this. Attach to a timer for 12 hours a day.

Basking bulb (think Sainsburys) NOT RED .. beardies are sun worshippers and like someone has said they like to bask under the bright light of the 'sun'....... ALWAYS attached to a thermostat, ideally a habistat dimming thermostat, and also attached to a timer set for 12 hours a day.

The thermostat will have a heat sensing probe which i have in the cool end of a 4ft viv. When the cool end reaches 80-85F the sensor tells the basking bulb to 'dim' a little until its cool enough to brighten up again. It will dim and brighten throughout the day (think clouds obstructing the sun!)

And thats pretty much it. Heat mats and heat rocks are only good if you cut the plug off and chuck them away. Simple as that, you dont need them and they are renowned for going faulty and causing serious belly burns.

Unless your house temps drop below 60-65F at night you dont need to supply extra heating. Infact a temp drop at night is important for beardies so they can get a decent nights sleep. 70-75F at night is ideal ... yes this is cold but YES they will appreciate it.
If you live in a dungeon and it goes colder than that then i suggest a 2nd bulb but make it a ceramic ... again attached to a thermostat and on a timer for the coldest hours of the night.

Thats it, thats how simple it is. Daunting at first but you will get the hang of it.

P.s ... NO HEAT MATS OR HEAT ROCKS

My beardie is currently brumating. She is tucked away in a wooden box with a few air vents and a bowl of water and she is stuffed at the back of the coolest cupboard in the house where she will remain, asleep until the beginning of next year. Trust me its around 60F at its coldest.
Brumation is just another worry but take it one step at a time and get your beardie first
Happy to advise via PM is you like. Ant.

[pete-vtr]

some good advice there.

just to add; brumation isnt completely necessary unless your getting them ready for baby making machines

but thats a comletely different subject

[Antw23uk]

Originally Posted by pete-vtr

some good advice there.

just to add; brumation isnt completely necessary unless your getting them ready for baby making machines

but thats a comletely different subject

Not entirely true but some people do use brumation to kick start a breeding season … personally I don’t see the point, beardies tend to breed like there is no tomorrow without any help from us, Lol

Brumation is a natural cycle that occurs in the wild that ‘some’ beardies do naturally in captivity, mine being one of them.

Personally I’m anti bearded dragon breeding. I think there are enough of these poor creatures in rescues up and down the country without people adding to the issue just because they feel the urge to try and breed something