Help for a Lizard Sitter

[Dragon Babysitter]

Hi All!
We are "babysitting" my daughter's science class's bearded dragon for the summer. I just brought him home. He is about 10 years old and came in a 40 gallon tank with no cover. Today he has been very active and trying to climb the sides of the terrarium, which has freaked me out a bit. I decided to buy a screen at Petsmart, but I'm worried my lightbulb is too high if it's on top of the cover. He came with a Powersun 100w UV bulb. Am I okay putting the light above the cover? Also if the light sits on the cover is that a danger to start a fire in the house?

I appreciate your help in advance!!!! Very much a newbie to all of this!

 

[Hdrydr31]

Hi All!
We are "babysitting" my daughter's science class's bearded dragon for the summer. I just brought him home. He is about 10 years old and came in a 40 gallon tank with no cover. Today he has been very active and trying to climb the sides of the terrarium, which has freaked me out a bit. I decided to buy a screen at Petsmart, but I'm worried my lightbulb is too high if it's on top of the cover. He came with a Powersun 100w UV bulb. Am I okay putting the light above the cover? Also if the light sits on the cover is that a danger to start a fire in the house?

I appreciate your help in advance!!!! Very much a newbie to all of this!

He is likely just figuring out where he is now and is glass surfing, so maybe bring him out and if you have a spot that's safe from him eating things or getting stuck somewhere to let him run around a bit..
Is the screen wire or mesh? If wire you will be fine, if mesh that will burn.

 

[PatsyB]

The only problem I see is that the screen is going to block out about 35% of the UVB. That's if it's mesh, not sure about the wire screen.

You can also make sure he gets enough UVB by taking him outside as much as you can and letting him get natural light. I take mine out on a leash, so they they don't run off if they get spooked.

 

[Dragon Babysitter]

Thanks so much! We actually bought him a leash and took him out to our screened in porch to lie in the sun. He is getting spoiled at our house!

This is the cover: https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/ha...e-reptile-screen-cover-15053.html?cgid=500115
Shows it is a mesh screen cover with a metal frame.

 

[Dragon Babysitter]

Actually this is it: https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/ha...grreat-choice-reptile-screen-cover-37908.html

 

[PatsyB]

It's all metal, it shouldn't cause any problem if the dome is sitting on top of it.

I have a pac man frog and I have that screen on his tank and all his lights sit on top of it.

 

[LavishLizards]

Do you know what the hot side temperature is now with the new cover? I use 40 gallon tanks with a metal grate top. The front swings open and the back stays stationary. To get the temperature I need on the hot side, I have to use a dual dome with 2 basking bulbs to get the temperature right.