New beardie can’t nail down temps

[3kidsandadragon]

Hi all, seeking advice on our husbandry.

We are using a 40 gallon tank-planning to get a larger one as soon as possible. At present, I have a 30” ZooMed T5 HO set atop the enclosure. I cannot get a proper distance from basking area if I mount the T5 inside. I have read up on the screen deflection and think it’s ok for now. I put foil around the last couple inches to ensure one end of the tank is UVB-free.

We had been using a basking bulb that is 125W, and then swapping to another that is 100W and with either, the basking platform gets too hot- at around 115 to 120deg and my beardie won’t sit on it or does and his toes are raised up bc it’s too hot. He ends up sitting under the UVB, just outside of the basking area, which is around 85 degrees ambient temp. I swapped to a 75 W basking bulb and now the basking platform sits closer to 100 to 105°, but he still sits on his tree branch outside the basking area which is at that pointed down to 85deg.

With 75W basker, cool side ambient is 70deg, warm side is 80 degrees. Both seem too cold but again if we move up to 100W or 125W bulb, the basking surface is super hot and ambient only rises about 5deg.

Thoughts and opinions welcome- I felt like we had it nailed down and now every day I am changing one thing or another and cannot get temps I feel good about.

Covered cool portion with cardboard to increase humidity. It’s noaround 20% and without its >10%.

He eats and poops well. Seems happy enough. He is ~8-10 weeks and the runt of the clutch.

 

[Sadie]

View attachment 36910View attachment 36911View attachment 36912Hi all, seeking advice on our husbandry.

We are using a 40 gallon tank-planning to get a larger one as soon as possible. At present, I have a 30” ZooMed T5 HO set atop the enclosure. I cannot get a proper distance from basking area if I mount the T5 inside. I have read up on the screen deflection and think it’s ok for now. I put foil around the last couple inches to ensure one end of the tank is UVB-free.

We had been using a basking bulb that is 125W, and then swapping to another that is 100W and with either, the basking platform gets too hot- at around 115 to 120deg and my beardie won’t sit on it or does and his toes are raised up bc it’s too hot. He ends up sitting under the UVB, just outside of the basking area, which is around 85 degrees ambient temp. I swapped to a 75 W basking bulb and now the basking platform sits closer to 100 to 105°, but he still sits on his tree branch outside the basking area which is at that pointed down to 85deg.

With 75W basker, cool side ambient is 70deg, warm side is 80 degrees. Both seem too cold but again if we move up to 100W or 125W bulb, the basking surface is super hot and ambient only rises about 5deg.

Thoughts and opinions welcome- I felt like we had it nailed down and now every day I am changing one thing or another and cannot get temps I feel good about.

Covered cool portion with cardboard to increase humidity. It’s noaround 20% and without its >10%.

He eats and poops well. Seems happy enough. He is ~8-10 weeks and the runt of the clutch.
View attachment 36910View attachment 36911


View attachment 36912

First how are you getting the surface basking temps? Digital probe thermometer- is the most accurate - the basking piece is it slate? Next is the screen on the tank a fine mesh like a screen door or wide hole type?

 

[3kidsandadragon]

First how are you getting the surface basking temps? Digital probe thermometer- is the most accurate - the basking piece is it slate? Next is the screen on the tank a fine mesh like a screen door or wide hole type?

The basking temp is a measured with a digital infrared thermometer (this one; https://ooni.com/products/ooni-ir-thermometer). Yes, the basking surface is slate now- it was a random hide thing from PetCo when it was measure 120-125 with 100W bulb. Screen is pictured here. Thank you for your help.

 

[Sadie]

The basking temp is a measured with a digital infrared thermometer (this one; https://ooni.com/products/ooni-ir-thermometer). Yes, the basking surface is slate now- it was a random hide thing from PetCo when it was measure 120-125 with 100W bulb. Screen is pictured here. Thank you for your help.

Slate gets too hot please replace w/ something else other than slate the dragon is burning his feet -- please get 2 digital probe thermometers you want surface basking temps of 95-100 no hotter - IR guns are good and the temp may be correct but digital probe thermometers are best -- the screen is a wide hole type the UVB can sit on top just make sure the basking decor piece is directly under it 8-10 inches

 

[3kidsandadragon]

Slate gets too hot please replace w/ something else other than slate the dragon is burning his feet -- please get 2 digital probe thermometers you want surface basking temps of 95-100 no hotter - IR guns are good and the temp may be correct but digital probe thermometers are best -- the screen is a wide hole type the UVB can sit on top just make sure the basking decor piece is directly under it 8-10 inches

Thanks Sadie. What would I replace it with- please offer the material as I have tried 3 that all remain too hot. I do have one digital prob thermometer as well that I’d used to measure ambient temp- I will use that on the basking surface. Thanks for your help

 

[Sadie]

Thanks Sadie. What would I replace it with- please offer the material as I have tried 3 that all remain too hot. I do have one digital prob thermometer as well that I’d used to measure ambient temp- I will use that on the basking surface. Thanks for your help

I personally use resin decor from PetSmart - easy to clean but a lot of people use wood from outside but that would need to be baked in the oven to kill whatever is living in it -
https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/ha...cor/thrive-driftwood-reptile-decor-54734.html I have the same piece but its made out of resin - I use this w/ the stick part layed on the floor and the thicker part under the basking light -
hammocks can be used but if you decide on that please get them from Etsy you want one that is fleece or made out of cloth - the green mesh or grass ones cause feet and toe injuries --
you can use hides under the basking lamp as well - I see Petsmart has gotten rid of some of the decor that I have and I like resin because you can clean it in the sink - you can check Amazon or some of your websites where you get insects/ worms from -- I have this cave as well https://dubiaroaches.com/products/e...x-large?_pos=1&_psq=X+large+cave&_ss=e&_v=1.0