Your tank is either 16” or 18” tall correct? And you’re using a 150 watt bulb….
Does your light sit directly on top of the tank (like on a screen cover?)?
What is the height of the basking spot? And your dial thermometer reads around 90? Not that it will help much, but where is the thermometer placed in the tank?
I’m not trying to be a pain, but everyone else is talking about whether it’s warm enough or not. I have the opposite worry!!! Our starter tank (that we only used for a short time) was 12” tall…it came with a 50 watt bulb. I tried to use a 75 watt and couldn’t use it for long…too hot. Granted, my tank is at least 4” shorter…but anything 75 watt or above made the basking area incredibly hot and that’s in a 75 degree room. I could not imagine doubling that, even if the basking area I had was lowered to the floor making it 12” away from a 150 watt bulb.
Just like at a beach, the air temps may be 90 degrees (in the case of a dial thermometer in a tank that reads 90 degrees but that could be 20 degrees off-maybe 110 degrees), but the sand (basking spot/carpet) can be so much hotter!
Maybe I’m completely wrong on this, and I don’t mean to be confusing to the poster, but I am asking everyone here if overheating is a possibility, all factors considered. At this point, with the baby not eating, which would be OK for a few days, what should the temperature focus be on?
Until they get a good way to gauge temps and different lights, what does everyone recommend? Since the baby isn't really eating, should the focus be on being extra warm (close to normal basking temps) or should the focus be on maintaining a livable and comfortable temp (just in case the dial thermometer they are using is not showing that it's too hot).
Once again, I truly apologize if this is confusing. I really have lost a reptile (a tropical) to temps that we thought were OK according to the dial thermometer. She had brain damage and acted completely weird. To Jodi (and spouse), I am really hoping everyone else chimes in here.
I can and do recommend a
bath, hoping some of the water gets absorbed through the beardie's vents, which would help with dehydration. There are plenty of posts here concerning baths. I also recommend making a "beardie burrito" and holding the baby close - since we all know what temps our bodies are. IF the beardie lets you
The baby food and dropper ideas are great as well.
Hang in there