Help with positioning basking bulb.

[Teeeeoooo]

Hi everyone,

I have recently acquired the tank that I will be keeping my future bearded dragon in, it has a custom 3D backing that creates quite a good looking basking spot for the beardie. It is a 120x60x60cm enclosure.

The issue i’m having is - especially considering I am in the colder months of the UK at the moment, I am trying to find the best place to mount the basking bulb. The middle platform with the small bowl on it, can get to 30 degrees celsius using a heat gun, but I cannot seem to get it close to 40. It is a 100W bulb.

I was thinking about repositioning the basking bulb to directly above the platform however I think that would definitely hang too low. I am trying to avoid putting a heat lamp above the enclosure because: 1, there is no mesh for it to go on above, and 2, I was planning on using the top for storage of other things.

Any recommendations? There is a UVB strip you can see that covers the entire length of the enclosure. However it is a 10% desert arcadia one and I was wondering if I should maybe change that out for a 14% considering the positioning of it? Or a 12%?

Perhaps changing the basking bulb to a 150W would help me achieve the correct temperature though I’m not sure. Pictures attached.

P.S. I am planning on adding more enrichment across the enclosure.

Thanks in advance,

Theo

 

[Sadie]

Hi everyone,

I have recently acquired the tank that I will be keeping my future bearded dragon in, it has a custom 3D backing that creates quite a good looking basking spot for the beardie. It is a 120x60x60cm enclosure.

The issue i’m having is - especially considering I am in the colder months of the UK at the moment, I am trying to find the best place to mount the basking bulb. The middle platform with the small bowl on it, can get to 30 degrees celsius using a heat gun, but I cannot seem to get it close to 40. It is a 100W bulb.

I was thinking about repositioning the basking bulb to directly above the platform however I think that would definitely hang too low. I am trying to avoid putting a heat lamp above the enclosure because: 1, there is no mesh for it to go on above, and 2, I was planning on using the top for storage of other things.

Any recommendations? There is a UVB strip you can see that covers the entire length of the enclosure. However it is a 10% desert arcadia one and I was wondering if I should maybe change that out for a 14% considering the positioning of it? Or a 12%?

Perhaps changing the basking bulb to a 150W would help me achieve the correct temperature though I’m not sure. Pictures attached.

P.S. I am planning on adding more enrichment across the enclosure.

Thanks in advance,

Theo

Ok for one you dont want that basking bulb closer than 6" to the decor piece- mounted inside I would put it in a cage -- next you want actual surface basking temps take w/ a digital probe thermometer -IR guns are good but certain decor pieces can throw them off -- solid tops your gonna have hotter temps -- 12% for the UVB-- distance should be 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor piece --

 

[Teeeeoooo]

Ok for one you dont want that basking bulb closer than 6" to the decor piece- mounted inside I would put it in a cage -- next you want actual surface basking temps take w/ a digital probe thermometer -IR guns are good but certain decor pieces can throw them off -- solid tops your gonna have hotter temps -- 12% for the UVB-- distance should be 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor piece --

Hi - thanks for this.

There is a digital probe thermometer in the top left corner of the middle platform that is reading about 27 degrees at best but of course it’s on the wall and not directly on the platform where i measured with the IR gun and got 30 degrees.

So definitely need to increase the temperature. If I put it in a cage, where should I position it? I’m starting to think it may be better to create a basking area on the right side of the enclosure that is low enough to have the bulb directly above in a cage.

The UV strip I will move to the back of the enclosure then? Right above the decor?

 

[Sadie]

Hi - thanks for this.

There is a digital probe thermometer in the top left corner of the middle platform that is reading about 27 degrees at best but of course it’s on the wall and not directly on the platform where i measured with the IR gun and got 30 degrees.

So definitely need to increase the temperature. If I put it in a cage, where should I position it? I’m starting to think it may be better to create a basking area on the right side of the enclosure that is low enough to have the bulb directly above in a cage.

The UV strip I will move to the back of the enclosure then? Right above the decor?

Your getting ambient temps w/ the probe on the back wall -- place it under the basking bulb where hes gonna sit for basking -- 95-100 F-- you can create a basking area where ever you want but you want him to be able to go to a cool side of the tank 80ish F-- the UVB should not be on the back wall it can be towards the back but pulled away from the wall -- what is the distance from the top of the tank to the shelf highest iin the tank -- it should be 12-15 inches w/ a 12% bulb--- also is the tank on the floor-- I would get it up off the floor and onto a old dresser or some sort of stand

 

[Teeeeoooo]

Hi - well the probe is literally about 5 cm off of where he would be basking. So it definitely isn’t high enough of a temp anyway. The top shelf is about 21cm away from the ceiling and the middle shelf is 30cm away from the ceiling - so middle shelf is 12 inches from the ceiling but ofc the bulb will hang low. I think I will move the basking bulb to an elevated level on the right side of the enclosure and make the levels the cool side on the right. Perhaps I put the UVB light 2/3 to the back or about in the middle? I will get a 12% light also. Will test temps with the basking bulb directly above the basking area by making the area on the right hand side of the enclosure.

 

[Sadie]

Hi - well the probe is literally about 5 cm off of where he would be basking. So it definitely isn’t high enough of a temp anyway. The top shelf is about 21cm away from the ceiling and the middle shelf is 30cm away from the ceiling - so middle shelf is 12 inches from the ceiling but ofc the bulb will hang low. I think I will move the basking bulb to an elevated level on the right side of the enclosure and make the levels the cool side on the right. Perhaps I put the UVB light 2/3 to the back or about in the middle? I will get a 12% light also. Will test temps with the basking bulb directly above the basking area by making the area on the right hand side of the enclosure.

Sounds good -- as long as that basking bulb is at least 6" above him your good the middle shelf will work good for the UVB--

 

[Teeeeoooo]

Ok thank you - thing is the middle shelf might work well for uvb but the basking bulb defo can’t go above it as he’d be way too close to it with or without a cage around it. Will test temps with a make do basking platform on the right side and let you know - thanks!

 

[Scotjess]

Ok thank you - thing is the middle shelf might work well for uvb but the basking bulb defo can’t go above it as he’d be way too close to it with or without a cage around it. Will test temps with a make do basking platform on the right side and let you know - thanks!

Please get a guard for your basking bulb (a cage). With the shelves you have (looks really nice) your beardie can easily jump & burn themselves on the bulb.
If you want to check the exact temps, you cash get a temp gun. You aim it at the place just under your basking spot & it'll tell you the temp.

Welcome to your beardie when it comes!