Heating A 280 Gallon Tank

[Ashytree]

Hey!
My grandpa built a 280.5 gallon tank for my beardie and I don't know what heat lamps (wattage and whatnot) to get. The tank is about 5'8" tall and has a two foot gap between hot high my beardie can go and when the heat lamps would be at the top. I am not concerned about the bottom being too cold if the gentle under-vivarium heaters are a safe choice. My main concerns are heat lamps and proper UVB.
Thank you so much for your time!!

 

[Canicke]

Welcome. that's a HUGE viv !! would you mind posting a photo? typically, vivs for beardies are longer than they are tall - beardies will climb, but they are more on the ground. That tall a viv might be better suited for something else. but - lets work with it. might want to section it off - like have 2 "floors" for him to explore. a photo would help, please

 

[Hdrydr31]

Agreed that's big a big thing about having a tall tank is 1. hard to heat 2. can hurt the dragon when they fall (they will fall eventually)
Don't put a UTH (under tank heater) as beardies can not sense heat from their bellies they only feel the heat from above so they can burn their bellies.

 

[PatsyB]

That was nice of your grandfather to build that for you but I do agree with the others. It's way too high for a bearded dragon. NOW, he could put a shelf in the middle and you could have TWO viv's and get 2 dragons...i'm just saying

 

[Ashytree]

Dividing it into two sections sounds like an easy fix; she'd have two houses which us cool. The dimensions are 36in wide, 27in deep 45in to top perch from bottom and 24in from top mesh (where I'll put the lights) to top perch.

 

[Ashytree]

I forgot to add: I'm doubling the boards you see in width since they are too narrow and might be adding 'reptile ladder' mesh all down the sides.

 

[Ashytree]

I just want Goonie to have a dragon castle since my first beardie, Roo, was a failure to thrive from PetCo. After experiencing that, I want Goonie to be happy, healthy and spoiled rotten.