Proper Temperature In Enclosure

[Dolphin28]

Hello,

Ever since I upgraded my beardie’s enclosure to a 4x2x2 I am having trouble raising the temperature to the proper level. I started using two 100W basking bulbs in a double dome ceramic lamp, as well as a 100W ceramic heat emitter. He has his UVB tube lighting fixture mounted inside and it is the 12-15” distance from his basking platform.

What else can I use in order to get the temps up to the correct level? Right now the temps are right around 75 degrees and it is way too low for the hot side. I do have a portable heater in his room and he goes towards it during the day. I asked his vet what I can use and she suggested adding more heat lamps on top of the enclosure, but wasn’t helpful as to specific wattage or specific lamps. I was looking online and saw a deep heat bulb that I thought I would get to try but I wanted to check here first, it’s from Arcadia and I’ve heard great things about their lighting products. Right now the little guy, he’s 2 and a half, has pinworms and is getting his first round of medicine this morning. He came out of brumation a couple weeks ago with abnormal poop so I had it tested and that is what was found. He has not had an appetite for quite awhile and with his temperature being low, that is not helping matters either. Any suggestions to warm up his home are greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Sadie]

Hello,

Ever since I upgraded my beardie’s enclosure to a 4x2x2 I am having trouble raising the temperature to the proper level. I started using two 100W basking bulbs in a double dome ceramic lamp, as well as a 100W ceramic heat emitter. He has his UVB tube lighting fixture mounted inside and it is the 12-15” distance from his basking platform.

What else can I use in order to get the temps up to the correct level? Right now the temps are right around 75 degrees and it is way too low for the hot side. I do have a portable heater in his room and he goes towards it during the day. I asked his vet what I can use and she suggested adding more heat lamps on top of the enclosure, but wasn’t helpful as to specific wattage or specific lamps. I was looking online and saw a deep heat bulb that I thought I would get to try but I wanted to check here first, it’s from Arcadia and I’ve heard great things about their lighting products. Right now the little guy, he’s 2 and a half, has pinworms and is getting his first round of medicine this morning. He came out of brumation a couple weeks ago with abnormal poop so I had it tested and that is what was found. He has not had an appetite for quite awhile and with his temperature being low, that is not helping matters either. Any suggestions to warm up his home are greatly appreciated!!!

Ok first how are you getting those temps? All those lamps and your temp should be there or actually I am thinking its too hot -- you need a digital probe thermometer to get actual surface basking temps 95-100- hot side ambient around 100 and middle of tank 90's and cool side around 80ish during the day -- your digital probe thermometer is going to tell you what wattage you need - I have a 4x2x2 tank and am currently using 1 150 watt 1 100 watt on hot side and a 100 watt in the middle of the tank which is around 90's or so all on top of the screen and its below zero here today -- my heat emitters are off at the moment I havent used them yet this winter as the tanks have been staying around 68-72 at night -- you dont want temps over 75 during the night - w/ him going on meds please keep him hydrated and its probably going to effect his appetite - I would get him on a probiotic to help w/ the stomach - this is what I used when Blaze was on meds for parasites https://bug-de-lite.com/Item/Reptophilus this is Tracies website she can help as well w/ meds etc if you have questions - please post a pic of the tank and lighting

 

[Dolphin28]

Ok first how are you getting those temps? All those lamps and your temp should be there or actually I am thinking its too hot -- you need a digital probe thermometer to get actual surface basking temps 95-100- hot side ambient around 100 and middle of tank 90's and cool side around 80ish during the day -- your digital probe thermometer is going to tell you what wattage you need - I have a 4x2x2 tank and am currently using 1 150 watt 1 100 watt on hot side and a 100 watt in the middle of the tank which is around 90's or so all on top of the screen and its below zero here today -- my heat emitters are off at the moment I havent used them yet this winter as the tanks have been staying around 68-72 at night -- you dont want temps over 75 during the night - w/ him going on meds please keep him hydrated and its probably going to effect his appetite - I would get him on a probiotic to help w/ the stomach - this is what I used when Blaze was on meds for parasites https://bug-de-lite.com/Item/Reptophilus this is Tracies website she can help as well w/ meds etc if you have questions - please post a pic of the tank and lighting

I took it with the heat gun which was giving me a false read. I just got a probe thermometer and I put it in the tank and it looks like his basking spot is now at 96 degrees. That is with the 2 lamps and 2 100w bulbs (I took the second bulb out of the dual mini done fixture and put it in the larger dome). I also turned off the heat emitter, I’ll recheck the temps when he goes to bed to see if I need to turn it back on or not.

I’ll get a probiotic for him while he is taking the meds. The problem is, he won’t eat, he hasn’t in quite awhile. Granted he was brumating but he has been woken up for a bit now and he refuses all food. Can the probiotic be given orally by syringe? If so I can try that and I’ll make sure he is hydrated also. Pictures of tank lighting are attached.

 

[Sadie]

I took it with the heat gun which was giving me a false read. I just got a probe thermometer and I put it in the tank and it looks like his basking spot is now at 96 degrees. That is with the 2 lamps and 2 100w bulbs (I took the second bulb out of the dual mini done fixture and put it in the larger dome). I also turned off the heat emitter, I’ll recheck the temps when he goes to bed to see if I need to turn it back on or not.

I’ll get a probiotic for him while he is taking the meds. The problem is, he won’t eat, he hasn’t in quite awhile. Granted he was brumating but he has been woken up for a bit now and he refuses all food. Can the probiotic be given orally by syringe? If so I can try that and I’ll make sure he is hydrated also. Pictures of tank lighting are attached.

The probiotic I posted is liquid and has a eye dropper- what brand of basking bulb are you using? How long has he been w/out eating? What was his weight when he went into brumation? Has he lost a lot of weight - it may take a little bit for his appetite to come back that is normal- you need to check temps in the morning before lights on to see what the tank is dropping to over night- 96 is good surface basking temps - the probe will give ambient temps as well just stick the probe on the reader wrap it around it you want temps 65-75

 

[Dolphin28]

The probiotic I posted is liquid and has an eye dropper- what brand of basking bulb are you using? How long has he been w/out eating? What was his weight when he went into brumation? Has he lost a lot of weight - it may take a little bit for his appetite to come back that is normal- you need to check temps in the morning before lights on to see what the tank is dropping to over night- 96 is good surface basking temps - the probe will give ambient temps as well just stick the probe on the reader wrap it around it you want temps 65-75

The brand of basking bulb I am using is a ZooMed Repti Basking Spot Lamp 100w. I’m attaching a picture of the box. Our beardie has not eaten well in a few months, he was brumating from roughly late September through November/December of 2024. I attempted to give him some critical care supplement and he did lick some off the syringe I used. I give him fresh greens daily with bee pollen and he ignores them. I’ve tried superworms which were the only thing he would eat at one point and he isn’t interested. He finally went number 2 and it smelled awful so I knew he had parasites so I had it tested on Wednesday last week and I just got the results and picked up his meds yesterday. He has not lost any weight and he even gained a little bit is about the same weight he was in August at the last vet appointment I took him to when we wasn’t eating well.

 

[Sadie]

The brand of basking bulb I am using is a ZooMed Repti Basking Spot Lamp 100w. I’m attaching a picture of the box. Our beardie has not eaten well in a few months, he was brumating from roughly late September through November/December of 2024. I attempted to give him some critical care supplement and he did lick some off the syringe I used. I give him fresh greens daily with bee pollen and he ignores them. I’ve tried superworms which were the only thing he would eat at one point and he isn’t interested. He finally went number 2 and it smelled awful so I knew he had parasites so I had it tested on Wednesday last week and I just got the results and picked up his meds yesterday. He has not lost any weight and he even gained a little bit is about the same weight he was in August at the last vet appointment I took him to when we wasn’t eating well.

Ok work on your surface basking temps and I would get him on the probiotic -what meds were prescribed? This would have an effect on his appetite and now on meds as well- make sure you have as little decor in the tank as possible you want to disinfectant that tank / spot where he goes and sits after pooping - F10 vet disinfectant/ concentrate found on ebay

 

[Dolphin28]

Ok work on your surface basking temps and I would get him on the probiotic -what meds were prescribed? This would have an effect on his appetite and now on meds as well- make sure you have as little decor in the tank as possible you want to disinfectant that tank / spot where he goes and sits after pooping - F10 vet disinfectant/ concentrate found on ebay

I will grab the probiotic and the disinfectant as well. I’ve been cleaning as soon as he goes to get rid of everything. He was prescribed Panacur Liquid per ML, the dose is one dose by mouth (0.15ml) Once Every 2 Weeks For 3 Treatments.

 

[Sadie]

I will grab the probiotic and the disinfectant as well. I’ve been cleaning as soon as he goes to get rid of everything. He was prescribed Panacur Liquid per ML, the dose is one dose by mouth (0.15ml) Once Every 2 Weeks For 3 Treatments.

Ok you can use paper towels for substrate till he's done - I had textured ceramic tile at the time so it was really easy to keep clean and my decor is resin so it took was easy to spray w/ F10 and wash

 

[Dolphin28]

Ok you can use paper towels for substrate till he's done - I had textured ceramic tile at the time so it was really easy to keep clean and my decor is resin so it took was easy to spray w/ F10 and wash

Will do, thanks!