Newbie need help please

Lissy123

Member
Beardie name(s)
Henry
Hi everyone I’m new here need some advice please, so got my baby beardie last week, I’m really struggling with temperature issues at the moment, I feel really bad as I just can’t seem to get everything right. the top of the basking platform seems to be getting really hot, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong he seems to be sitting on the stairs of the platform instead of the top of it, also the basking light keeps dimming so it’s not very bright in his cage is it ok that it’s dimmed down or should it be bright. Please help
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Hi everyone I’m new here need some advice please, so got my baby beardie last week, I’m really struggling with temperature issues at the moment, I feel really bad as I just can’t seem to get everything right. the top of the basking platform seems to be getting really hot, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong he seems to be sitting on the stairs of the platform instead of the top of it, also the basking light keeps dimming so it’s not very bright in his cage is it ok that it’s dimmed down or should it be bright. Please help
Welcome lets see if we can get this straightened out - please post a pic of the tank so we can see what is going on in there
Next please post what your using for a basking bulb brand and wattage -- how your getting a surface basking temp ? Stickons do not work for this - digital probes only and next critical thing is the UVB is it a coil or a long tube fixture - if its a long tube I need the brand and bulb please
 

Lissy123

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Henry
Welcome lets see if we can get this straightened out - please post a pic of the tank so we can see what is going on in there
Next please post what your using for a basking bulb brand and wattage -- how your getting a surface basking temp ? Stickons do not work for this - digital probes only and next critical thing is the UVB is it a coil or a long tube fixture - if its a long tube I need the brand and bulb please
Hi thank you so much for getting back to me I’ve got a Arcadia pro t5 UVB 12% 39W. the basking bulb is habistat 100W I’m going to add some pictures for you, I’m using a gun to get the temperatures also have digital compact thermometers in the tank one on hot end one on cooler end, they are telling me different temperatures to the gun, I’ve ordered a Digital probe thermometer which should arrive today. I hope I’ve answered everything oh I’ve also got a dimming thermostat
 

Attachments

  • A103B79B-82F0-401D-B3CC-3F2D1A566328.jpeg
    A103B79B-82F0-401D-B3CC-3F2D1A566328.jpeg
    158.4 KB · Views: 90
  • 48AA8A6B-5D4C-427A-9E1F-DBD3E090AF08.jpeg
    48AA8A6B-5D4C-427A-9E1F-DBD3E090AF08.jpeg
    154 KB · Views: 95
  • CE63D753-C772-40F7-9AE7-02032A970D2D.jpeg
    CE63D753-C772-40F7-9AE7-02032A970D2D.jpeg
    195 KB · Views: 104

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Hi thank you so much for getting back to me I’ve got a Arcadia pro t5 UVB 12% 39W. the basking bulb is habistat 100W I’m going to add some pictures for you, I’m using a gun to get the temperatures also have digital compact thermometers in the tank one on hot end one on cooler end, they are telling me different temperatures to the gun, I’ve ordered a Digital probe thermometer which should arrive today. I hope I’ve answered everything oh I’ve also got a dimming thermostat
When you get the digital probe place it on top of the platform under that bulb - w/ her sitting off to the side its telling me the top is too hot - 105-110 no hotter please you may need to raise the bulb or go down to a lower wattage - or the habistat is that a dimmer? If so turn it down to what I posted for temps -- next your UVB looks to be to high-- you want a distance of 12-15 inches directly over a piece of decor -- I would get another digital probe for your tank middle of the tank should be 90's - I will post a pic of my Zen and you can get some ideas for your dragon -- I have set up 2 basking spots for him one w/ the hot side and the log offering different gradient heat - the other another behind the UVB - there is a basking bulb that is a 75 watt temps there are in the 90's - I also use 2 digital probes one stick on and a IR gun --
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20210920_080952243.jpg
    IMG_20210920_080952243.jpg
    123.7 KB · Views: 83

Lissy123

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Henry
When you get the digital probe place it on top of the platform under that bulb - w/ her sitting off to the side its telling me the top is too hot - 105-110 no hotter please you may need to raise the bulb or go down to a lower wattage - or the habistat is that a dimmer? If so turn it down to what I posted for temps -- next your UVB looks to be to high-- you want a distance of 12-15 inches directly over a piece of decor -- I would get another digital probe for your tank middle of the tank should be 90's - I will post a pic of my Zen and you can get some ideas for your dragon -- I have set up 2 basking spots for him one w/ the hot side and the log offering different gradient heat - the other another behind the UVB - there is a basking bulb that is a 75 watt temps there are in the 90's - I also use 2 digital probes one stick on and a IR gun --
Hi yes the habistat is a dimmer and it seems to be dimming down so isn’t very bright in there, I will check the top of the platform when it arrives. Shall I get a lower wattage bulb then? When I turn it down the bulb seems to switch off then her tank seems too cool. Do I need to Move the UVB light? I don’t think I can lower it as it’s screwed into the ceiling.
 

Lissy123

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Henry
Hi yes the habistat is a dimmer and it seems to be dimming down so isn’t very bright in there, I will check the top of the platform when it arrives. Shall I get a lower wattage bulb then? When I turn it down the bulb seems to switch off then her tank seems too cool. Do I need to Move the UVB light? I don’t think I can lower it as it’s screwed into the ceiling.
Sorry forgot to say the UVB has a reflector aswell
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Sorry forgot to say the UVB has a reflector aswell
Ok get your surface basking temp first then make the decision on the wattage- next is your tank a zen? If so where is the screen? You can move the uvb towards the front of the tank and get your distance 12-15 inches- it's easier to get your uvb situated then place your decor- but you want that decor directly under it w/ distance I posted- you can also use different decor pieces for basking bulb that one you have looks like it draws a lot of heat- like a sidewalk they can get really hot that's why the digital probe is going to give you an actual surface temp
 

Lissy123

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Henry
Ok get your surface basking temp first then make the decision on the wattage- next is your tank a zen? If so where is the screen? You can move the uvb towards the front of the tank and get your distance 12-15 inches- it's easier to get your uvb situated then place your decor- but you want that decor directly under it w/ distance I posted- you can also use different decor pieces for basking bulb that one you have looks like it draws a lot of heat- like a sidewalk they can get really hot that's why the digital probe is going to give you an actual surface temp
Sorry I’m going to sound really dumb not sure what a zen tank is, my tank has glass at the front is that what you mean? Sorry if I’m sounding stupid, shall I move the uvb light so it’s above his basking area? As close as I can get it to the basking bulb? So it’s directly above his basking area? And will it be ok to move the wooden log that he has in his tank for him to bask on and take away the basking platform? Thank you
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Sorry I’m going to sound really dumb not sure what a zen tank is, my tank has glass at the front is that what you mean? Sorry if I’m sounding stupid, shall I move the uvb light so it’s above his basking area? As close as I can get it to the basking bulb? So it’s directly above his basking area? And will it be ok to move the wooden log that he has in his tank for him to bask on and take away the basking platform? Thank you
Get a temp on the platform first then you can move the log if you want - its up to you - Zen Habitat is what my tank is Large Reptile Enclosures and Habitats | Zen Habitats
Is your tank homemade? It looks a lot like the Zens that is why I asked and when you said wood top it thru me as these tanks come w/a stainless steel mesh screen --
It is optimal for the UVB be next to the basking bulb - so if you want to move it over there that is fine - what you want is distance and for it to be directly over her -
 

Lissy123

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Henry
Aw I understand now sorry, no it’s not a zen one, it’s not homemade it’s a large viv I’ll add a picture it’s glass at the front and wooden top. I’ll be moving the UVB light Tom thank you and I’ll update you on the temp of the basking platform when when the digital probe arrives, with the gun it’s saying 120 on the top of the platform.
 

Lissy123

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Henry
Aw I understand now sorry, no it’s not a zen one, it’s not homemade it’s a large viv I’ll add a picture it’s glass at the front and wooden top. I’ll be moving the UVB light Tom thank you and I’ll update you on the temp of the basking platform when when the digital probe arrives, with the gun it’s saying 120 on the top of the platform.
 

Attachments

  • ED2A8B36-98C5-4CCC-A0F6-9BCADAB67CD8.jpg
    ED2A8B36-98C5-4CCC-A0F6-9BCADAB67CD8.jpg
    79.1 KB · Views: 78

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Aw I understand now sorry, no it’s not a zen one, it’s not homemade it’s a large viv I’ll add a picture it’s glass at the front and wooden top. I’ll be moving the UVB light Tom thank you and I’ll update you on the temp of the basking platform when when the digital probe arrives, with the gun it’s saying 120 on the top of the platform.
Yes I am guessing its over 110- ok sounds good --
 

Lissy123

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Henry
Get a temp on the platform first then you can move the log if you want - its up to you - Zen Habitat is what my tank is Large Reptile Enclosures and Habitats | Zen Habitats
Is your tank homemade? It looks a lot like the Zens that is why I asked and when you said wood top it thru me as these tanks come w/a stainless steel mesh screen --
It is optimal for the UVB be next to the basking bulb - so if you want to move it over there that is fine - what you want is distance and for it to be directly over her -
Also
Yes I am guessing its over 110- ok sounds good --
 

Lissy123

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Henry
Also does it matter about height from the basking platform to the basking bulb? If I put the wooden log there it’s lower then his platform does it matter about distance? Thank you
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Also does it matter about height from the basking platform to the basking bulb? If I put the wooden log there it’s lower then his platform does it matter about distance? Thank you
Yes you dont want it any closer than 6" we recommend 8"
 

Members online

No members online now.

Still Needs Help

Latest resources

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

I miss you so much, Amaris 💔
What is a quick way to warm up a cold beardie? His heating element went out overnight and now he's very cold.
Pearl Girl wrote on moorelori1966's profile.
i feel so sad reading your about me 😢
Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

Things to do:
Buy calcium powder
Material to raise surface for basking spot
Scenery decals for back of tank

Forum statistics

Threads
155,897
Messages
1,255,656
Members
75,965
Latest member
williamyoung
Top Bottom