[mattyrobo]

i have just got my new beardy 2 days ago and shes about 4 months old. she is my first lizzard and would just like to know whats the ideal temp for the basking and cool sides

basking is currently 30c

cool side is 24c

i am currently using a bright sun uv 35w bulb for her with 14hours daylight

is there anything i should know to keep her nice and healthy

 

[imginy]

107f (42c) basking temp taking with a infrared
cool end of around 80f (27c)

This is a good place to start but you may have to adjust the temps to suit your dragon.

 

[mattyrobo]

thanks i was just wondering tbf as this is the bulb that the shop have gave me

 

[imginy]

The wattage of the bulb you need depends a lot on the temperature of your room and the size of your viv.

By the sounds of things you need to a 50w.

A dimming thermostat will help you fine tune your temps and stop the viv overheating.

I use 40w bulbs in most of my vivs throughout the summer months and then 60w bulbs the rest of the year.

 

[mattyrobo]

i have a 4ft viv and is a spot bulb that i am using and it says that where her basking spot is is 28cm from the bulb and it says on the box at this distance the heat will be around 40c. i will go out and get a 50w this week though just to be safe i will message you the pic of what the box says

 

[mattyrobo]

the picture is in my album on my profile

 

[mattyrobo]

wouldd you say this is ok or should i get a brigher bulb?


bump bump

 

[imginy]

If the bulb isn't getting the viv hot enough then you need a more powerful bulb.

What is that a picture of?

 

[mattyrobo]

thats the temp that the buld gives out at the certain distance as its a spot buld

 

[imginy]

It would give off the correct temps in the right situation but as far as your setup goes it isn't giving off enough heat to warm up your viv.

The bulb will have to warm up the viv before the basking temperatures start to rise and 35w in your viv isn't enough to get things going.

 

[nicnet]

Temps are way too cool by the sounds of it, swap to a higher wattage bulb, but your also going to have to add in UV and a dimming thermostat.

That bulb you have is a compact with uv in also. Not idea as they rarely give off enough uv for your dragon.


For UV I'd suggest Arcadia T5 12% 36" tube with matching ballast and reflector. That will provide UV the entire length of the viv and not just on the basking spot. Dragons shouldn't really be basking for more than 5 mins at a time if your temps are right, so that also mean that they are only getting 5 mins of UV at a time instead of 14 hours of it.

As Imginy said, where and how are you checking your temps. A photo of your viv setup would help also.


Look at surrey pet supplies online for your UV and Dimming thermostat. Go to locall supermarket and get a standard reflective spotlight bulb for your basking. You don't need those specialist reptile bulbs, most of the time they cost a fortune and are the same as the ones from the shop.

Order UV first, before swapping out bulbs. Your dragons is better of a bit cool for a day or two rather than having no UV. As long as she is cool you need to cut her diet down also, less heat = less digestion.

Lift her basking spot up a bit. You can go as close as 10 inches to the heat source, after that its a burn risk. Lift basking or lower light, either works. A couple inches at a time until that basking spot reading is around 40C. A degree either way is fine and basking spots do tend to fluctuate on temp a bit during the day.

 

[mattyrobo]

 

[mattyrobo]

there my set up and if i was to pur a bigger bulb in would it affect the ballast as its a 35w ballast

 

[nicnet]

Ok two issues with that setup to start with.

Your using stick on thermometers.. Bin them, they are totally useless. get 3 digital thermometers with probes off ebay. one on each side of the viv and one at basking spot. You have no clue what your temps are with those stick on's

Ideally at some point you will want to buy an Infrared heat gun. They are point and click thermometers and you can spot check your temps fast and accuratly. Around £10 on ebay again.

Your using a compact UV, means that she is only getting UV when she is basking. Not good, since once her temps are right she will spend less time basking and in which case she will be getting very little / no UV. You need to get that UV I suggested in my last post here.

For now until you get those digital thermometers, do not change her heating. How exactly are you measuring her basking temp and where are you measuring it.

I have found that new keepers quite often mix up their basking temp and their hot side temp, completly different things.

Hot side is the temp in 1/4 of the viv containing the heat lamp. Generally taken in the middle of the side wall.

Basking temp is the temp direcly under the heat light where dragon warms up. Follow the beam directly to its hottest spot, thats your basking temp area.

If you accidently confuse your hot side temp and your basking temp you are in danger of overheating your viv. if hot side is set at basking temp then your actual basking temp will be around 15 degree higher than it wants to be. Be very careful of this distinction.

there my set up and if i was to pur a bigger bulb in would it affect the ballast as its a 35w ballast

Was wondering what you were on about and why your spotlight would be on a ballast, its a mercury vapour. Which means its not a standard spotlight system and the lower wattage is actually putting out more heat.

yes the UV would need a complete setup. I still stand by that as your current light is not giving out enough UV and she will only be getting it when she is basking.

 

[imginy]

Didn't realise the bulb you were using is a mercury vapor/compact and there is no way that little bulb is ever going to heat that viv.

Compacts and mercury vapor are not very well suited to bearded dragons as they only give off good uvb to the basking spot and none anywhere else.
(Not sure why they put pictures of bearded dragons on the box)

What you need for your sun light is a 42" uvb 12% tube running the full length of the viv .

Then for your basking spot you should use a normal household spot bulb or a reptile halogen bulb.

 

[mattyrobo]

thats what i got when i bought the viv and my dragon

 

[mattyrobo]

if you would like to ring me about it my number is 07592176096

 

[imginy]

Here is stuff you need for your light and heat hope this helps.

UVB STARTER UNIT
Reptilekeeping The Online Reptile Shop, Selling Livefoods Reptile Accessories and Equipment.
£20

UVB TUBE
Reptilekeeping The Online Reptile Shop, Selling Livefoods Reptile Accessories and Equipment.
£26

THERMOSTAT
Reptilekeeping The Online Reptile Shop, Selling Livefoods Reptile Accessories and Equipment.
£39

HEAT BULB
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-60W-...6026156?pt=UK_Light_Bulbs&hash=item1c19729dac

 

[Karen-H]

You cool side is fine but your basking sight needs to be approx 34 degrees

 

[mattyrobo]

this is what the pet shop gave me and i dont see why he would give me stuff that wasnt good enough she seems happy at the end of the day and im happy with that