Hello Everyone,
My family and I are new to beardies and about to get our first one in a few days. I have done lots of research but I have several questions. We have a 40 gal tank with ceramic tile flooring. I have a high "branch" like climbing structure under my basking light (100W) at a distance to confirm 110 max F with a digital probe thermometer. The tank came with a compact Flourescent 5.0 set up (which is what I have in the photo) which I am planning to get rid of. I am in the process of acquiring a UVB T5 10.0 Reptisun 24" long 24W light fixture to put in a T5 10.0 24W 22" long flourescent bulb. The middle of the cage is around 82 deg F with a digital therm I have in there and the cool side is showing around 75-77 (with a stick on therm.)
Question 1 - for a 40 gallon (36"x18"x18"), with my flooring the distance from top to bottom is closer to 16", will the T5 10.0 UVB be too powerful?
Question 2 - my basking area is high up, will it be too high for having the T5 10.0 UVB on the top of the lid? Should I move the UVB further from the Basking bulb? If so, how many inches away from the basking spot (where the driftwood and climbing structure meet)? I'd like to move everything around now and have it set before we get the little one (baby - around 6 wks).
Question 3 - Should my hide face away from the front of the cage and should it be a certain distance from the water bowl? I am planning on getting a larger hide soon.
Question 4 - We have a red light for at night. The room is usually pretty constant temp but when winter comes it will change. Can I use this red light (if and when needed) until I can get a CHE bulb?
Question 5 -Would you skip feeding the baby the first day so it can settle in, or feed it so many hours after being in the tank? And how many hours should you wait? And how long after getting it should you wait to try and handle it?
I have pictures posted below. I apologize one of them is pretty dark. Please let me know what you think.
My family and I are new to beardies and about to get our first one in a few days. I have done lots of research but I have several questions. We have a 40 gal tank with ceramic tile flooring. I have a high "branch" like climbing structure under my basking light (100W) at a distance to confirm 110 max F with a digital probe thermometer. The tank came with a compact Flourescent 5.0 set up (which is what I have in the photo) which I am planning to get rid of. I am in the process of acquiring a UVB T5 10.0 Reptisun 24" long 24W light fixture to put in a T5 10.0 24W 22" long flourescent bulb. The middle of the cage is around 82 deg F with a digital therm I have in there and the cool side is showing around 75-77 (with a stick on therm.)
Question 1 - for a 40 gallon (36"x18"x18"), with my flooring the distance from top to bottom is closer to 16", will the T5 10.0 UVB be too powerful?
Question 2 - my basking area is high up, will it be too high for having the T5 10.0 UVB on the top of the lid? Should I move the UVB further from the Basking bulb? If so, how many inches away from the basking spot (where the driftwood and climbing structure meet)? I'd like to move everything around now and have it set before we get the little one (baby - around 6 wks).
Question 3 - Should my hide face away from the front of the cage and should it be a certain distance from the water bowl? I am planning on getting a larger hide soon.
Question 4 - We have a red light for at night. The room is usually pretty constant temp but when winter comes it will change. Can I use this red light (if and when needed) until I can get a CHE bulb?
Question 5 -Would you skip feeding the baby the first day so it can settle in, or feed it so many hours after being in the tank? And how many hours should you wait? And how long after getting it should you wait to try and handle it?
I have pictures posted below. I apologize one of them is pretty dark. Please let me know what you think.