Hello all!
A few months ago, I acquired a 55-gallon fish tank for my beardie, Tazo. The dimensions (as measured by me) are roughly (48" x 13" x 21"). The tank has no lid/top/cover, so it is completely open.
Current Lighting Setup:
- Daytime: 160W Powersun Mercury Vapor UVB Lamp
- Nighttime: 50W ExoTerra Night Bulb
Positioning / Temps / Other:
- Powersun Mercury fixture hangs 11" from basking spot, 21" from ground of tank
- ^ Openly hanging dome fixture above tank
- Basking daytime temps 95F. Nighttime temp, 75F.
(NOTE: It is in the 85-95F range in NYC this summer | Tazo's tank temps are measured with temp gun)
When I took Tazo to the vet recently for a checkup, the vet recommended I use the Powersun bulb since it provides both UVB and heat sources. Prior to this, I was using a 100W ExoTerra Daytime Heat Lamp, and a Reptisun 10.0 UVB bulb in a T5 fixture. I was using the same brand of nighttime lamp.
I am responding to Tazo's recent behavior by writing this post. Though the vet recommended the Powersun Mercury Lamp, it seems that Tazo is uncomfortable with something in her setup. Her diet and decor has remained the same, and when I first put her in this 55-gal tank months ago (with prior lighting setup), she seemed to be way happier, basking and crawling on her ladders and branches.
The past month, I've noticed she is hiding under her branch on the cooler side of the tank (Reading 78F in the middle of the day), all day. When I take her out of her tank to run around or cuddle, she is curious, active, and her colors pop, often showing no sign of any stress marks (even when she basks in natural sunlight). I am not assuming it is brumation, as she often does that in the winter time (she has an insulated box she likes to crawl into), and she is still eating well.
Any advice, suggestions? Please let me know!
Thanks a bunch,
Essie
A few months ago, I acquired a 55-gallon fish tank for my beardie, Tazo. The dimensions (as measured by me) are roughly (48" x 13" x 21"). The tank has no lid/top/cover, so it is completely open.
Current Lighting Setup:
- Daytime: 160W Powersun Mercury Vapor UVB Lamp
- Nighttime: 50W ExoTerra Night Bulb
Positioning / Temps / Other:
- Powersun Mercury fixture hangs 11" from basking spot, 21" from ground of tank
- ^ Openly hanging dome fixture above tank
- Basking daytime temps 95F. Nighttime temp, 75F.
(NOTE: It is in the 85-95F range in NYC this summer | Tazo's tank temps are measured with temp gun)
When I took Tazo to the vet recently for a checkup, the vet recommended I use the Powersun bulb since it provides both UVB and heat sources. Prior to this, I was using a 100W ExoTerra Daytime Heat Lamp, and a Reptisun 10.0 UVB bulb in a T5 fixture. I was using the same brand of nighttime lamp.
I am responding to Tazo's recent behavior by writing this post. Though the vet recommended the Powersun Mercury Lamp, it seems that Tazo is uncomfortable with something in her setup. Her diet and decor has remained the same, and when I first put her in this 55-gal tank months ago (with prior lighting setup), she seemed to be way happier, basking and crawling on her ladders and branches.
The past month, I've noticed she is hiding under her branch on the cooler side of the tank (Reading 78F in the middle of the day), all day. When I take her out of her tank to run around or cuddle, she is curious, active, and her colors pop, often showing no sign of any stress marks (even when she basks in natural sunlight). I am not assuming it is brumation, as she often does that in the winter time (she has an insulated box she likes to crawl into), and she is still eating well.
Any advice, suggestions? Please let me know!
Thanks a bunch,
Essie