Do I need to make changes?

[Jon Jackson]

I'm a new dragon owner and trying to find someone who is experienced that I can show my cage and lighting setup to and let me know if it's fine for the time being or should make changes.

 

[finn-stagram]

I'm a new dragon owner and trying to find someone who is experienced that I can show my cage and lighting setup to and let me know if it's fine for the time being or should make changes.

i got my beardie about a month ago but i have learned a lot and think i can help you with your cage

 

[Jon Jackson]

i got my beardie about a month ago but i have learned a lot and think i can help you with your cage

Awsome I'm going to see if I can post pictures on here, at first I had a dual light fixture but have read bad things about the compact bulbs. So I went and got the zilla t8. I'm not sure if my cage is to small to hang under screen,or remove the screen totally.as of now I have the uvb against my wall with the screen pulled back a little with the heat bulb still on the screen.im not sure if it's enough or if I should mount lights differently.

 

[Jon Jackson]

 

[Jon Jackson]

Awsome I'm going to see if I can post pictures on here, at first I had a dual light fixture but have read bad things about the compact bulbs. So I went and got the zilla t8. I'm not sure if my cage is to small to hang under screen,or remove the screen totally.as of now I have the uvb against my wall with the screen pulled back a little with the heat bulb still on the screen.im not sure if it's enough or if I should mount lights differently.

 

[finn-stagram]

Awsome I'm going to see if I can post pictures on here, at first I had a dual light fixture but have read bad things about the compact bulbs. So I went and got the zilla t8. I'm not sure if my cage is to small to hang under screen,or remove the screen totally.as of now I have the uvb against my wall with the screen pulled back a little with the heat bulb still on the screen.im not sure if it's enough or if I should mount lights differently.

yes that is enough. the lights look fine to me!

 

[Sadie]

I'm a new dragon owner and trying to find someone who is experienced that I can show my cage and lighting setup to and let me know if it's fine for the time being or should make changes.

The T 8 needs to be directly above the basking decor piece 6-8 inches --- I would recommend tho changing the bulb out to a Reptisun 10.0 T 8 they are a way better bulb than the Zilla and if there is a clear plastic cover over the bulb take it off and leave it off -- also basking temps need to be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer - place the probe on the spot where he basks for 10 min get the temp - for a baby 105-110 and juvie / adult 95-100

 

[Jon Jackson]

View attachment 29089

yes that is enough. the lights look fine to me!

 

[Jon Jackson]

Okay thanks for the info, as of right now the cheap temp gauge it came with says about 95 degrees. But I have some better probe and Bluetooth boxes that can connect to my phone and tell me temp and humidity. It seem as he will lay on the carpet above the heating pad under the cage so im not sure if that's him getting to hot and retreating under the log onto the heating pad area. I will have more accurate Temps soon.

 

[Jon Jackson]

The T 8 needs to be directly above the basking decor piece 6-8 inches --- I would recommend tho changing the bulb out to a Reptisun 10.0 T 8 they are a way better bulb than the Zilla and if there is a clear plastic cover over the bulb take it off and leave it off -- also basking temps need to be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer - place the probe on the spot where he basks for 10 min get the temp - for a baby 105-110 and juvie / adult 95-100

Yes the plastic is off, and the light fixture I have has a reptisun 10.0 but is a compact do you recommend using both ubv lights? It seem like the compact was maybe doing something to his eyes to the effect where his eyes would be shut anytime under it now with the t8 that has stopped.

 

[Jon Jackson]

Yes the plastic is off, and the light fixture I have has a reptisun 10.0 but is a compact do you recommend using both ubv lights? It seem like the compact was maybe doing something to his eyes to the effect where his eyes would be shut anytime under it now with the t8 that has stopped.

 

[Sadie]

Yes the plastic is off, and the light fixture I have has a reptisun 10.0 but is a compact do you recommend using both ubv lights? It seem like the compact was maybe doing something to his eyes to the effect where his eyes would be shut anytime under it now with the t8 that has stopped.

No get rid of the coil completely coils are NO good they cause all kinds of health issues and usually lead to death -- you need one good bright white basking bulb of which I think you have and the UVB the Zilla fixture is fine but I would change the bulb out to what I posted -- the Reptisun long tube fixtures are really good the T 8 will need to be changed out in 6 months they loose the rays and are not as strong as the T 5's -- I recommend changing the T 8 in approx 5 months - you have a wide hole screen you can put a 24" Zoo Med or Sunblaster or Arcadia T 5 on top of your screen w/ a distance of 8-10 inches directly above the basking decor if you like

 

[Jon Jackson]

No get rid of the coil completely coils are NO good they cause all kinds of health issues and usually lead to death -- you need one good bright white basking bulb of which I think you have and the UVB the Zilla fixture is fine but I would change the bulb out to what I posted -- the Reptisun long tube fixtures are really good the T 8 will need to be changed out in 6 months they loose the rays and are not as strong as the T 5's -- I recommend changing the T 8 in approx 5 months - you have a wide hole screen you can put a 24" Zoo Med or Sunblaster or Arcadia T 5 on top of your screen w/ a distance of 8-10 inches directly above the basking decor if you like

Thank you for the info, and was possible thinking of taking the compact uvb and replacing with a heat emitter bulb would that be beneficial in your opinion?

 

[Sadie]

You only need it if

Thank you for the info, and was possible thinking of taking the compact uvb and replacing with a heat emitter bulb would that be beneficial in your opinion?

If your tank is falling below 65 at nite--- dragons like cool and dark 65-75 at nite--- you will need a ceramic dome- place on top of screen center of tank - your stick on is good for ambient temps

 

[Jon Jackson]

You only need it if
If your tank is falling below 65 at nite--- dragons like cool and dark 65-75 at nite--- you will need a ceramic dome- place on top of screen center of tank - your stick on is good for ambient temps

Okay I appreciate the help thank you.

 

[Sadie]

Okay I appreciate the help thank you.

A ceramic socket dome

 

[Jon Jackson]

A ceramic socket dome

Awsome thank you I belive the tank over night stays at about 75 but he never leaves the warm side when I turn the lights off if he's on the log basking which isn't a lot he goes to his common spot right over where the heating pad is thats under the tank,which I leave on over night.im not sure if that's a sign that the cage isn't as warm as it should be...but he does lay with his mouth open realesing heat so im kinda stuck on that situation. Idk if I should add more heat or if it's to hot because since I got him he hasn't went from the heat side unless its me bonding with him.i checked the gouges at the petco where he was purchased and the temps were alot lower at around high 80's maybe low 90's so it doesn't make since to me he and the other seem really active in the petco cages and now he seems to not want to move around unless I'm feeding him worms he will move a little or while bonding he will move around on my sholder.

 

[Sadie]

Awsome thank you I belive the tank over night stays at about 75 but he never leaves the warm side when I turn the lights off if he's on the log basking which isn't a lot he goes to his common spot right over where the heating pad is thats under the tank,which I leave on over night.im not sure if that's a sign that the cage isn't as warm as it should be...but he does lay with his mouth open realesing heat so im kinda stuck on that situation. Idk if I should add more heat or if it's to hot because since I got him he hasn't went from the heat side unless its me bonding with him.i checked the gouges at the petco where he was purchased and the temps were alot lower at around high 80's maybe low 90's so it doesn't make since to me he and the other seem really active in the petco cages and now he seems to not want to move around unless I'm feeding him worms he will move a little or while bonding he will move around on my sholder.

Please take the heat matt out--- you don't want temps over 75 at nite and dragons heat front their backs- did Petco have a digital probe thermometer getting those temps? If not they were inaccurate- basking temps need to be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer- that's normal for not leaving the warm/ hot side of the tank-- you should have 3 temps in the tank basking 105-110 for a baby+ juvie/ adult 95-100-- middle of the tank 90's cool side of the tank 80's

 

[Jon Jackson]

Please take the heat matt out--- you don't want temps over 75 at nite and dragons heat front their backs- did Petco have a digital probe thermometer getting those temps? If not they were inaccurate- basking temps need to be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer- that's normal for not leaving the warm/ hot side of the tank-- you should have 3 temps in the tank basking 105-110 for a baby+ juvie/ adult 95-100-- middle of the tank 90's cool side of the tank 80's

Okay unless they have a heat emitter bulb I didn't see any basking lamps only ubv. I was just comparing the ambient temp if the ambient in their tanks were lower I figured they weren't putting off as much heat since the tanks they have are really small like 20 gallons I'd guess and I will unplug the pad.

 

[Jon Jackson]

Okay unless they have a heat emitter bulb I didn't see any basking lamps only ubv. I was just comparing the ambient temp if the ambient in their tanks were lower I figured they weren't putting off as much heat since the tanks they have are really small like 20 gallons I'd guess and I will unplug the pad.

I know basing off ambient isn't accurate I was just guessing from the small size of the tank and what the ambient was my tank is quite larger and is holding almost 10 degrees warmer