Changing Poppy to a new tank

[cygbeardie]

Hi there,
We got a 75 gallon tank ready to upgrade our 18 mo old beardie’s home. My husband built rock/cave style walls around inside the terrarium with hiding places underneath and a platform for her to bask. Pretty cool. I’m wondering if you have any advice on changing beanies to a new home. Also recently I’ve noticed that she likes to hide underneath her hammock to sleep even during daytime. She used to only do that at night. When I get her out and give her some roaches she jumps over and devours them in a second! So obviously she’s not sick. But is that normal? If not will it cause any problem if we change her into a new environment?
attached is a picture of Poppy. She’s getting a bit chubby now…
Any advice would be appreciated!
Cynthia

 

[Sadie]

Hi there,
We got a 75 gallon tank ready to upgrade our 18 mo old beardie’s home. My husband built rock/cave style walls around inside the terrarium with hiding places underneath and a platform for her to bask. Pretty cool. I’m wondering if you have any advice on changing beanies to a new home. Also recently I’ve noticed that she likes to hide underneath her hammock to sleep even during daytime. She used to only do that at night. When I get her out and give her some roaches she jumps over and devours them in a second! So obviously she’s not sick. But is that normal? If not will it cause any problem if we change her into a new environment?
attached is a picture of Poppy. She’s getting a bit chubby now…
Any advice would be appreciated!
Cynthia

Cute pic-- are you using a yellowish basking bulb? I kinda see a hue there ? And are you using long tube fixture for a uvb? I am asking to determine cause of the behavior-

 

[cygbeardie]

Cute pic-- are you using a yellowish basking bulb? I kinda see a hue there ? And are you using long tube fixture for a uvb? I am asking to determine cause of the behavior-

Thanks Sadie. We are now using a 160w mercury bulb in a 40 gallon tank. It should be covering both uva/b but might be too hot (115-120F). We’re planning to install the long tube uvb for her new tank, since the distance between the top and the mercury bulb will be to close.

 

[Sadie]

Thanks Sadie. We are now using a 160w mercury bulb in a 40 gallon tank. It should be covering both uva/b but might be too hot (115-120F). We’re planning to install the long tube uvb for her new tank, since the distance between the top and the mercury bulb will be to close.

We often recommend a extra UVB w/ a MVB most do not emit enough UVB rays - what brand are you using for your MVB? I would look at getting either a 24" Zoo Med this comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you want to get a 22" Reptisun bulb place it in the big tank approx 12-15 inches directly above your basking decor piece or you can get a Arcadia Pro T 5 w/ a 12% bulb -- check www.pangeareptiles.com they are very good fast shippers and they ship Fed Ex - most of those MVB are good heat bulbs for basking but no so good for UVB output

 

[cygbeardie]

We often recommend a extra UVB w/ a MVB most do not emit enough UVB rays - what brand are you using for your MVB? I would look at getting either a 24" Zoo Med this comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you want to get a 22" Reptisun bulb place it in the big tank approx 12-15 inches directly above your basking decor piece or you can get a Arcadia Pro T 5 w/ a 12% bulb -- check www.pangeareptiles.com they are very good fast shippers and they ship Fed Ex - most of those MVB are good heat bulbs for basking but no so good for UVB output

Sadie,
The MVB is a Mega Ray 160w. Her vet said it should be enough source of UVB and we cut a hold on the screen so it’s direct. For the new tank we’ll have a T5 24” and plan not to use the MVB anymore because the distance between the built-in basking platform and the top is only 10” so a normal basking light is better (lower heat). How long does it take for a beardie to get used to the new tank? What could help with the transition?
Cynthia

 

[Sadie]

Sadie,
The MVB is a Mega Ray 160w. Her vet said it should be enough source of UVB and we cut a hold on the screen so it’s direct. For the new tank we’ll have a T5 24” and plan not to use the MVB anymore because the distance between the built-in basking platform and the top is only 10” so a normal basking light is better (lower heat). How long does it take for a beardie to get used to the new tank? What could help with the transition?
Cynthia

Taking all her normal decor w/ her will help+ she will go thru relocation stress- not sure how long it will take all dragons are different - it will be trial and error w/ your basking bulb but you want a clear bright white bulb examples would be a Exo Terra intense basking bulb or a Zoo Med repti basking- please have a digital probe thermometer- that's going to give you accurate temps-- and you want surface temps- good luck I am sure she will like her new tank

 

[cygbeardie]

Taking all her normal decor w/ her will help+ she will go thru relocation stress- not sure how long it will take all dragons are different - it will be trial and error w/ your basking bulb but you want a clear bright white bulb examples would be a Exo Terra intense basking bulb or a Zoo Med repti basking- please have a digital probe thermometer- that's going to give you accurate temps-- and you want surface temps- good luck I am sure she will like her new tank

The digital probe reads the surface temperature is 105F in the new tank. Should be sufficient right?

 

[Sadie]

The digital probe reads the surface temperature is 105F in the new tank. Should be sufficient right?

Most juveniles and older don't like the real hot temps usually it's 95-100- does your platform offer different heat gradient?

 

[cygbeardie]

Most juveniles and older don't like the real hot temps usually it's 95-100- does your platform offer different heat gradient?

Yes the platform in the new tank is going upwards from one side to the other offering heat gradient. Today I gave Poppy a bath. She ate some roaches and went back to hiding. Is it possible that she’s getting into brumation? If so would it be bad to change her into a new home?

 

[Sadie]

Yes the platform in the new tank is going upwards from one side to the other offering heat gradient. Today I gave Poppy a bath. She ate some roaches and went back to hiding. Is it possible that she’s getting into brumation? If so would it be bad to change her into a new home?

She could be just slowing down for the weather - they tend to brumate more toward fall and into early winter but its possible - I would go ahead and move her if shes out eating etc is she also doing some basking?

 

[cygbeardie]

She could be just slowing down for the weather - they tend to brumate more toward fall and into early winter but its possible - I would go ahead and move her if shes out eating etc is she also doing some basking?

I have to get her out of her hide (under the hammock) to eat. Otherwise she’d stay there. She didn’t bask at all yesterday just went right back to hide after eating. Basically starting from a few days ago I have to either get her out to eat or put her on the basking spot. Should I be worried?

 

[Sadie]

I have to get her out of her hide (under the hammock) to eat. Otherwise she’d stay there. She didn’t bask at all yesterday just went right back to hide after eating. Basically starting from a few days ago I have to either get her out to eat or put her on the basking spot. Should I be worried?

Not sure - if your temps are 115 and being taken w/a digital probe thermometer it is too hot - one reason for not basking - second if the bulb is giving off a yellow hue another reason for not basking - older dragons like 95-100 temps and the bulb should be a clear bright white basking bulb - if shes not coming out on her own to bask I would get the temps situated and the basking bulb to a clear bright white bulb - then we can go from there - it is a guessing game w/ the behavior and we need to start w/ the basic husbandry and go from there

 

[cygbeardie]

Not sure - if your temps are 115 and being taken w/a digital probe thermometer it is too hot - one reason for not basking - second if the bulb is giving off a yellow hue another reason for not basking - older dragons like 95-100 temps and the bulb should be a clear bright white basking bulb - if shes not coming out on her own to bask I would get the temps situated and the basking bulb to a clear bright white bulb - then we can go from there - it is a guessing game w/ the behavior and we need to start w/ the basic husbandry and go from there

She has not come out of the hide all day nor eaten any food. Would it be a problem if we just change her to the new tank where the temperature is lower with a T5 24” UVB tube? Or is it going to cause too much stress from changing home?
Cynthia

 

[Sadie]

She has not come out of the hide all day nor eaten any food. Would it be a problem if we just change her to the new tank where the temperature is lower with a T5 24” UVB tube? Or is it going to cause too much stress from changing home?
Cynthia

I would get her into the new tank- it's possible she needs the uvb-- if you were only using the mvb she has not been getting enough- the T 5 needs to go inside the tank approx 12-15 inches directly above her basking decor

 

[cygbeardie]

I would get her into the new tank- it's possible she needs the uvb-- if you were only using the mvb she has not been getting enough- the T 5 needs to go inside the tank approx 12-15 inches directly above her basking decor

Ok we’ll do that. With the built-in platform going upwards the highest spot maybe less than 12” above her, unfortunately. I guess she could bask at midway or we could cut off the bottom part to keep 12”. Thanks for the advice Sadie.

 

[Sadie]

Ok we’ll do that. With the built-in platform going upwards the highest spot maybe less than 12” above her, unfortunately. I guess she could bask at midway or we could cut off the bottom part to keep 12”. Thanks for the advice Sadie.

Ok post back on here after you get her moved - she is going to go thru relocation stress so her eating will be off but watch her behavior all together -

 

[cygbeardie]

Ok post back on here after you get her moved - she is going to go thru relocation stress so her eating will be off but watch her behavior all together -

We might have a problem here. The new tank is pretty short in height, so at the highest basking spot there’s only 9.5” direct from the ceiling. Attaching a picture here… can the T5 be installed across from the platform decor side? It’s bumpy on this end.

 

[Sadie]

We might have a problem here. The new tank is pretty short in height, so at the highest basking spot there’s only 9.5” direct from the ceiling. Attaching a picture here… can the T5 be installed across from the platform decor side? It’s bumpy on this end.

How tall is the tank? Please post a pic if the whole tank

 

[cygbeardie]

How tall is the tank? Please post a pic if the whole tank

The tank is 16” tall. See the pic.

 

[cygbeardie]

The tank is 16” tall. See the pic.

Another picture…