My beardie used to bask a lot - gaping all the time. He then started to climb on the guard of the ceramic heater that I had on the tank for nights and chilled on the guard most of the time - I now took the guard off. I bought him a bit of wood that sits under the UVB tube. After I took the guard off and put the branch in he only chills under UVB. He doesn't bask anymore. He's not impacted as he poops normally. Once I thought he was impacted as his belly was quite puffy as fed him too much morio worms. I gave him a bath in warm water while massaging his belly downwards which made him make a massive poop so Def not impacted. He doesn't seem I'll either. I'm just worried about him not basking. Temps under basking light around 40-41 degrees View attachment 368477

Hi, how are you measuring the ambient and basking surface temps plus the humidity range, and what is the latter?
The enclosure is far too sparce, you need to add more "furniture", the hammock is virtually useless, personally I would remove it..
What type and wattage is the basking bulb?
It`s not easy to see in the above pic but I get the impression the UVB tube needs to be more in line/closer to the heat bulb.

 

I have two probe thermometers attached to each side. I also use a infrared heat gun to measure each bit of tank to make sure temps are fine. Cool side is around 29 middle bit around 32-34 basking spot 40-41. Humidity around 35%. I don't know what other "furniture to add to make it practical for him - could you advise something? Why the hammock is pointless? Should the UVB tube be in the middle of the tank? Right now it's rather closer to the back of the viv.

 

You haven`t said what type and wattage the basking bulb is?
The hammock is serving no purpose, it`s useless as a basking object because it won`t hold much heat..
The UVB tube should be in line with the basking bulb so the animal gets the benefit of both at the same time, it should also be towards the side that the heat bulb is on (move it left and towards the center rather than towards the back).
How big is the enclosure?
You basically need to know two temps during "activity time"; the lowest ambient in the cooler parts @ approx. 21 to 24c, then the surface temp @ between approx 40 to 43c.. Nighttime, I would personally not go lower than around 19c (unless the dragon is brumating)..
The humidity should range between approx. 30 to 60% or so, the lower figure will be around the basking site, the higher in the cooler places..
You can add a few more firmly fixed flat stones and some stout, firmly fixed branches/other.

 

UVB and heat lamp placement diagrams below. My enclosure is set up as in the second diagram. Also more ventilation, low on cool side and high on hot side. Correct humidity has been mentioned. Basking area should be the brightest area, I've added a 30 watt LED flood to increase the light. Heat and light is provided by an 80 watt halogen flood on a dimming stat. I've included a pic of my enclosure which my Beadie enjoys exploring although he's brumating at present so all lights are off. It has a CHE on a pulse stat to stop it getting too cold as it's built into a hole in the wall between my lounge and garage and can get very cold in the garage at night.

 

Add branches under the heat lamp rather than the rubbish net hammock thing. Add lots of branches.

Move the UVB nearer the heat source so he doesn't have to choose between heat and UVB

 

Hi, just bought more stuff for my buddie. He seems to enjoy it so far. Let me know if I can do something else to make it better for him

 

The UVB tube still hasn`t been moved, and you still haven`t said what type and wattage the basking bulb is?.
The added "furniture" is better but still lots of unused space.
I cannot see a specific basking object other than the hollow bark tube, it would be more beneficial to the dragon if you provided a large flat stone/similar which would hold more heat.
These modifications are very important.

 

Basking bulb is a 100 Watt ProRep bulb + UVA. Well somebody here said to add branches under the basking spot - I had a flat stone there before. Should I buy more branches or what? The tube I'll move today - should I also buy a daylight to put in the cool end? If I move that UVB tube to the left the right side will have barely any light

 

Basking bulb is a 100 Watt ProRep bulb + UVA. Well somebody here said to add branches under the basking spot - I had a flat stone there before. Should I buy more branches or what? The tube I'll move today - should I also buy a daylight to put in the cool end? If I move that UVB tube to the left the right side will have barely any light

 

If you want to use something like an Arcadia jungle dawn daylight LED use the diagrams I posted above for placement of all lights. The warm end/basking area should be the end with the brightest light and the cool end should have a lower ambient light, the light and shade method. It enables your dragon to thermoregulate better as they associate bright light with warmth and lower light with a cooler area to retreat to if they feel the need to cool down. A 30 watt LED floodlight can also be positioned to further light the basking area to encourage them to recognise the warmest place. I would encourage you to join the Reptile lighting Facebook group administered by Frances Baines which has a wealth of science and research based information regarding the heating and lighting for Reptiles. 'How not to slay the Dragon - Pogona vitticeps ' is another excellent Facebook group.

 

I have now moved the rock under the basking bulb and he seems to enjoy it. Temp on the rock is 41 degrees

 

Much better! Good to see someone taking on board the advice given.

 

Okay, so once I get paid this week I will buy the Arcadia LED bar and easi link it to my T5 Tube. The UVB is now moved to the left as per the second diagram. I will also use move the other ceramic lamp holder in line with the basking light and maybe screw in an led bulb to give him more light in the basking spot? As the CHE I have in now hooked into a thermostat is no use as my house never drops down below 20 degrees anyway. What do u guys think?

 

Here is a picture of the UVB now moved as per your advice guys. Question is should I put in an additional light bulb in the spare ceramic holder? I have removed the CHE as my room never gets colder than 20 degrees anyway so CHE is pointless. Also thinking about more furniture/hides, any ideas please?

 

@Tymon94 may I please ask where did you get those branches from ? Thank you

 

At my local reptile shop. Can't remember the brand name...

 

Hiya they are ament to have a light and dark spot as in the wild when they go under the trees for coolness it would be shaded and darker 🙂